GawnFishin Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 Just wondering if we had any amateur astronomers in our midst. I'm getting a new more portable telescope soon and have been thinking about posting a weekend cache in star party type deal. Perhaps next spring. Once Ive scouted out a nice remote location. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment
+KC0GRN Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 Can't say I'll be of much help, but I do know there's a local in my area that's setting up a Star Party event at the Onan Obervatory (Near the Twin Cities, in Minnesota). Quote Link to comment
Curious George Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 Sounds like a cool idea - try to plan it when there are some Iridium Flares Quote Link to comment
GawnFishin Posted August 19, 2004 Author Share Posted August 19, 2004 I was thinking more along the lines of a camping star party type weekend, with a cache hunt into the site then maybe we could have some members with telescopes doing observing sessions after dark. Rather than using an observatory or organised astronomy club events. Quote Link to comment
+geoSquid Posted August 27, 2004 Share Posted August 27, 2004 (edited) I have a Celestron nextar 8i with GPS, and two pairs of binoculars (80mm and 100mm) that I use for casual observing. I also use an Acuter camera for taking pictures, and a friend of mine who is a photographer has been known to pop by with camera equipment. You can view some of my photos at: First pictures Lunar Eclipse, 8 Nov 2003 Miscellaneous All pictures were actually taken from my back yard or driveway in the south end of Ottawa, near the airport. It might be fun to have a get-together if the weather is cooperative. I actually had the telescope out on the weekend just past (21/22 Aug) and it was mediocre seeing but the sky was clear and I got to look at some objects that have eluded me for a while: Uranus Dumbbell Nebula (can see this from my driveway, but under a dark rural sky it's much nicer) Triffid Nebula Eagle Nebula Edited August 27, 2004 by geoSquid Quote Link to comment
GawnFishin Posted September 6, 2004 Author Share Posted September 6, 2004 What I think I'd like to do is find as many people as possible who are interested in doing this. I had given thought to this being held some time in late spring next year as my equipment situation isn't as I would currently like it to be. So far I'm still without observing equipment of my own, though I'm working towards a new Meade LX90 8" SCT to use as my travel scope. I have worked for Observatories doing public awareness of astronomy and have attened several star parties. Now that I'm getting closer to having my own equipment at last I thought why not see who else is interested in getting something like this organised. Maybe even an annual event, anyway I had thought we could do some type of whole "Geo-Astro weekend" where people could get an understanding of astronomy, satellites, what it takes to get a satellite into orbit and, how stars were used in navigation. I had thought of using Iridium flares as well as a host of other satellites. But at this stage it's just talk, ideas need to be discussed so planning can begin. So I'm trying to get the ball rolling or should I use the phrase let the countdown begin. Anyway ideas for location, activities, and anything that might be useful are welcome. I live in Abitibi and have so far been looking at possible sites along the Quebec Ontario border. I live approximately 16km from a fairly small town with very little light pollution, I have an observing site I like which is about 40km from any light and really nice and dark but for anyone in Ottawa this is going to be a nine hour drive, it would be a weekend event but how far are people willing to drive? Quote Link to comment
61 Cygnus Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 The President of the London Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) is a cacher and maintains 2 caches at the London dark sky site. It's in the Fingal Wildlife Conservation Area, west of St. Thomas, Ontario. One of the caches is called Mini Me (I think). I forget the other. Search for user, 'Astronomizer'. He may be interested in participating in something. I play with an 8 inch dob and a pair of 20x80 binocs in my backyard. Might be fun to do a caching/observing event. Quote Link to comment
+Hard Oiler Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 One of the caches is called Mini Me (I think). I forget the other. Surprised you couldn't remember the other one - it's called Dark Skies! http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...47-d73a66e868ea Quote Link to comment
+MedicP1 Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 Hey HardOiler way to look after your OGA area withthat answer. You get a gold star at the next OGA AGM. Quote Link to comment
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