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Deep South Regional Stargaze October 2004

The annual Deep South Regional Stargaze at Percy Quinn State Park near McComb, Mississippi.

We had beautiful weather and clear skies for an excellent star party. And a good time was had by all.

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Deep South 041016_4306.jpg		 I wonder if I could get that in the trunk of my car without anyone noticing?
Whoa! Now that’s a TELESCOPE!

I wonder if I could get that in the trunk of my car without anyone noticing?

Frank explains the finer points (which is everything) of the Takahashi Telescope and Mount.
Frank explains the finer points (which is everything) of the Takahashi Telescope and Mount.
To own one of these you must sell your boat, gun collection, airplane and the summer home in Main.
To own one of these you must sell your boat, gun collection, airplane and the summer home in Main.		 Rod Molise, Pat Rochford and Jack Huerkamp discuss the new and impressive MallinCam video CCD camera for which Jack is the US distributor.
Yes it is a fact; my telescope IS bigger than yours.

Rod Molise, Pat Rochford and Jack Huerkamp discuss the new and impressive MallinCam video CCD camera for which Jack is the US distributor.

 Now in the daytime that cap’ll work a lot better if you turn it around so the bill is in front. Except when you’re looking through a telescope; but then that would be at night...usually.
Astronomers discussing the finer points of observing.

Now in the daytime that cap’ll work a lot better if you turn it around so the bill is in front. Except when you’re looking through a telescope; but then that would be at night...usually.

 Yah Right...
What do astronomers do in the daytime? They talk about women and politics.

Yah Right...
No they weren’t that common at the stargaze. I only saw two and neither one got away.
This is your basic Head and Shoulders shot of the common horse fly.

No they weren’t that common at the stargaze. I only saw two and neither one got away.

 He is mad as hell. You don’t suppose I let him go do you?
And this is a profile shot of the common horse fly.

He is mad as hell. You don’t suppose I let him go do you?

 Just kidding Craig ;o)
Now is this the end that you look in?

Just kidding Craig ;o)

I’m gonna get on the lathe and mill and whittle me a set of rings like these. That’s why I took this shot. No kidding.
Opps... More Tacky Hashi

I’m gonna get on the lathe and mill and whittle me a set of rings like these. That’s why I took this shot. No kidding.
Now this is your basic tricked out Meade telescope taking an afternoon nap.
Now this is your basic tricked out Meade telescope taking an afternoon nap.		 Craig has just retired from 30 years of teaching High School Science courses. So what is he doing now? Yep...teaching astronomy at the Highland Road Park Observatory.
Nice setup Craig!

Craig has just retired from 30 years of teaching High School Science courses. So what is he doing now? Yep...teaching astronomy at the Highland Road Park Observatory.

 Whatcha do is, you get these do hickeys aimed just right and you can see some pretty neat stuff.
Whatcha do is, you get these do hickeys aimed just right and you can see some pretty neat stuff.		 A fortune in scope rings alone!
A fortune in scope rings alone!
What in the Universe is he doing?
What in the Universe is he doing?		 Now once we get this little whatchamacallit adjusted just right we’ll be in business...maybe...
Now once we get this little whatchamacallit adjusted just right we’ll be in business...maybe...		 Don’t forget Ron, I get first dibbs on your C11/G11 rig if you ever decide to sell!
Don’t forget Ron, I get first dibbs on your C11/G11 rig if you ever decide to sell!		 I figure if I sell my boat and Kubota tractor (with front end loader and backhoe) this could be my new telescope...Uhhh...if Ron ever decides to sell, which I doubt will ever happen. So I guess I can keep my boat and tractor.
He'll Never Sell

I figure if I sell my boat and Kubota tractor (with front end loader and backhoe) this could be my new telescope...Uhhh...if Ron ever decides to sell, which I doubt will ever happen. So I guess I can keep my boat and tractor.
Can you tell Frank is not pleased with his Takahashi rig and is looking for something better? Yah right!
Can you tell Frank is not pleased with his Takahashi rig and is looking for something better? Yah right!		 At night you look through it. In the daylight you look at it!
At night you look through it. In the daylight you look at it!		 Ah yes! The sign of the “Double Double.”
Ah yes! The sign of the “Double Double.”		 Berry is trying to talk David into trading his Nagler collection for this old antiquated telescope.
Berry is trying to talk David into trading his Nagler collection for this old antiquated telescope.
OK...Formal group portrait...Every body get serious!
OK...Formal group portrait...Every body get serious!		 Ron’s brand new SV105 is out of collimation. What to do? After spending six hours of the preceding night determining it is nothing else, like the diagonal, or the Barlow or anything else under the stars but bad collimation, Ron decides to call Vic Marris. “Uh, say Vic would it be OK if I take this brand new expensive telescope apart and see if I can figure out how to collimate it?” Vic being the upstanding guy that he is says “sure, no problem.”
Dew shield's off. So now what?

Ron’s brand new SV105 is out of collimation. What to do? After spending six hours of the preceding night determining it is nothing else, like the diagonal, or the Barlow or anything else under the stars but bad collimation, Ron decides to call Vic Marris. “Uh, say Vic would it be OK if I take this brand new expensive telescope apart and see if I can figure out how to collimate it?” Vic being the upstanding guy that he is says “sure, no problem.”

 Now for the drop test. Lets just get this baby out of these rings and see what she’s made of.
Step Two

Now for the drop test. Lets just get this baby out of these rings and see what she’s made of.

 And nothing seems to be rattling inside. This is one tough little scope.
Well, Well that went nicely.

And nothing seems to be rattling inside. This is one tough little scope.
Seriously, It turns out there was a loose collimation screw. Once Ron figured out the tightening and loosening sequence for the six little collimation screws it was only a matter of time before he achieved perfect collimation. We had fantastic views that night through a nice four inch APO. Not once did we look through Ron’s big C11 that night. Nothing like a new APO!
OK...So what’s in here?

Seriously, It turns out there was a loose collimation screw. Once Ron figured out the tightening and loosening sequence for the six little collimation screws it was only a matter of time before he achieved perfect collimation. We had fantastic views that night through a nice four inch APO. Not once did we look through Ron’s big C11 that night. Nothing like a new APO!

 David if you stay up all day drinking coffee instead of taking a nap how do you expect to stay up all night?
How about another cup of coffee?

David if you stay up all day drinking coffee instead of taking a nap how do you expect to stay up all night?

 This is another thing astronomers do in the daytime.
If all else fails read the manual.

This is another thing astronomers do in the daytime.

 Nice shot…and by eyepiece projection no less! Ain’t digital amazing? Shoot it tonight and let Wal-Mart print it the next day.
The “Double Cluster”

Nice shot…and by eyepiece projection no less!
Ain’t digital amazing? Shoot it tonight and let Wal-Mart print it the next day.

And that’s another thing astronomers do in the day time…observe the Sun.
Ohhh...you won't believe what’s happanin on the Sun!

And that’s another thing astronomers do in the day time…observe the Sun.

 John has the best dressed telescope on the field!
John has the best dressed telescope on the field!		 Yes...Telescopes come in pairs...sometimes.
Yes...Telescopes come in pairs...sometimes.		 Little scopes are fun too! Especially if you have a big scope for back up.
Little scopes are fun too! Especially if you have a big scope for back up.
Bonnie I don’t think we ought to go wading here. Common lets go back to the observing field.
Do You Ever Get the Feeling You Are Being Watched?

Bonnie I don’t think we ought to go wading here.
Common lets go back to the observing field.

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