Thanks Joe. I'll update it.

With the SCT ... it could be a combination of both poor seeing and collimation. While SCT's hold collimation well they are also very sensitive to good alignment.

Wait until you have a good night, stars (Sirius is a good indicator) should not be twinkling. Pick a moderatly bright (2nd, 3rd magnitude) star at a comfortable angle. Make sure the star is centered in the FOV and defocus slightly. The secondary shadow should be centered in the smeared star image. If you see that the image is boiling when defocused, its not the best night to try this. If you determine that you are out of collimation, I suggest you wait until you have someone to help you. Its difficult to accomplish alone using a star.

At this point, I'm hoping Bruce Bodner will chime in and explain how he had great success with an artificial star and daytime alignment (so much easier).

Ted




In a message dated 3/9/2003 8:22:59 PM Eastern Standard Time, "joseph_piotrowski" <joepiotrowski@...> writes:

Ted,
The title of the April talk I'm giving will be "Everything you always
wanted to know about Copernicus(but were afraid to ask)" if you want
to update the web page.

It's either 1 poor seeing 2 poor

colimation 3 something about the scope. I suspect a severe
collimation problem. Need to find a nightwatch where I can see what
you guys think.Any suggestions for SCT collimation would be welcome.
Joe Piotrowski

I'd like to wish a hearty WELCOME to our newest members and their
friends: Taylor Christy, Cliff Hedgepeth, Tamara Dykes, Dan Rodgers,
Penny Dudley, Joseph Merritt, Twila Driver, Dean Vines, and Lester
Chevallier.

To Grandpa Cliff I'd like to say, "Good for you!" for working with
your granddaughter Taylor to share the beauty and wonder of the night
sky. I have three very young grandchildren, ages 3 yr, 1 yr, and 5
months, but I look forward to the day I can take each of them out
stargazing, and show them the awesome expanse of God's Creation.

To those who have just joined, I encourage you to get as active as
possible as soon as you can. If you don't have a telescope yet,
don't buy one! Come to some of our Skywatches and other observing
events, as well as some of our outreach events. Look through the
telescopes of our members, ask questions, and decide what the best
scope for YOU will be, at the best value.

Come to the monthly meetings and catch the "fever". Take that
opportunity to talk to members over coffee and cookies and learn
about
stargazing and what to look for in a telescope. (Pun intended.)

If you MUST have something to look through, buy a moderately priced
pair of binoculars and get a star chart so you can start learning
your way around the sky. It's like learning a new town by looking at
the road map. Learn the constellations and where they are in the sky
tonight. Visit the BBAA Web site
() and my Solar System Ambassador
Web site (see address below) and get more links and references to
scads of sites where you can learn all about the solar system and
space.

Finally, log on to the backbayastro group
() on the Web, to get the
latest scoop on what's happening in the club. We're glad you joined!

George Reynolds
BBAA member and NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador
www.geocities.com/pathfinder027/spacex.html

The Caldwell is a PDF and the Messier is a stand alone Database.And
they are free. :)

Mat

Ted,
The title of the April talk I'm giving will be "Everything you always
wanted to know about Copernicus(but were afraid to ask)" if you want
to update the web page.
I have been on call continuously for several weeks and have not been
able to get the scope out for fear I would be called in and have to
put it all away fast.The few times I have had it out the stars don't
seem as crisp as I would expect. It's either 1 poor seeing 2 poor
colimation 3 something about the scope. I suspect a severe
collimation problem. Need to find a nightwatch where I can see what
you guys think.Any suggestions for SCT collimation would be welcome.
Joe Piotrowski

--- In backbayastro@..., "Dale Carey" <stargaz@e...>
wrote:

Hurry everyone, It's supposed to be clear
I'll be in my backyard obs with my LX for as late as clearnest

holds

up.
Anyone want to see what can be found in the middle of
light polluted VB come on over (call first)
Start your scopes
Dale

Hey Dale, tonight I think I might try to get some lunar points from
here near light-polluted Virginia Beach Boulevard.
Also, It looks like tomorrow will be clear and about 5:30AM or so,
Neptune will be coupled with Venus in the ESE (118 AZ 08 ALT).
Although Neptune will be pressing 8 mag, near Venus' blistering
-4mag., I'm thinking about sneaking out with my scope early to try
and see Neptune. It will be a first for me. If I get really brave,
I'll get up really early and go to Sanbridge to get a better view.
Rick Bish

I will have to go out tonight and see what I can see from the middle of the
Atlantic ocean then.

Larry

Hurry everyone, It's supposed to be clear
I'll be in my backyard obs with my LX for as late as clearnest holds
up.
Anyone want to see what can be found in the middle of
light polluted VB come on over (call first)
Start your scopes
Dale

Looks like there was another great turnout for Botanical Gardens!

I'm missing all the fun! :(

georgie
--- In backbayastro@..., twforte@a... wrote:

I've posted pictures from last nights Botanical Gardens "Starry

Night" event.

Go to the site: ,com/group/backbayastro and

click on

photos. Open the Botan Gardens album.

BBAA members Denice Woody, Lelane Arneson, Dale Carey, Kevin

Weiner, Rob

Schonk, Dick Moncure, George Reynolds and Ted Forte along with

Larry Meyer of

the TCC Club were at the event. There were clouds, but we had

decent views

of Jupiter, Saturn, and the Moon. I don't think anyone counted

the scouts

who arrived at the scopes in groups, but they expected about 50 or

60 and I

think we were close to that number. There were also 20 or so

adults that

enjoyed the view. Thanks to all of you who helped!

Ted

In a message dated 3/9/03 1:58:22 PM Eastern Standard Time,
doublestarjune@... writes:

<< You LIKE being on restriction don't you? >>


Oh no!

How was your outing last night? I assume you survived? Are you ready for
the Messier Marathon now?

Ted

We have so many new members this month, I have built a new page on the
website to welcome them. Please visit
and click on the "new" page, welcome to our new members.

Our very newest member (her dues just went in the mail) is a youngster from
Newsoms, Virginia, who observes with her granddad. Meet Taylor Christy on
our new members page.

Ted

Hey you guys!
How did everything go at the Botanical Gardens last night? I saw the
pictures...looks like we had a good turn out. I was sorry that I
couldn't make it! Also looks like everyone was able to stand on a
brick surface, so nobody had to worry about wet feet..I'm sure that
was a relief!
Great pictures of the group! The one of you, Ted with the little girl
at your scope, is priceless!
Seemed to me that the atmosphere was a little thick, but you had a
bit of the moon to see.
How was the "seeing" through the scopes? Those of you who were
there...I'm curious to know how it went for you.

Rick Bish

In a message dated 3/8/03 5:07:37 PM Eastern Standard Time,
backbayastro@... writes:

<< Description : Ruf idea for 25 yr logo.what does the group think >>

Not bad, Matt. And so far its the leading candidate! Actually, I saw an
entry from Marla Frye and George Reynolds has one ... "somewhere" so the
rumor that we haven't had any input is not entirely true. I like the tie-in
with the Mars apparition, but I wonder how it translates into black and
white? The winning entry should look cool in both color and B&W I think.
Thanks for your entry (you need to submit it to Chuck Dibbs) and good luck.

Ted

开云体育

In a message dated 3/9/03 9:00:23 AM Eastern Standard Time,
2bookworms@... writes:

<< How was the "seeing" through the scopes? Those of you who were
there...I'm curious to know how it went for you.

Rick Bish
>>

The seeing ranged from terrible to pretty decent on a minute to minute basis.
Most of what we observed was viewed through a thin haze of high thin cirrus.
A help actually with the moon ... natural filtration. Saturn was its usual
spectacular self, and we had a shadow transit across Jupiter. The GRS made a
brief appearance at the start of the event but soon rotated out of view.

The kids were great. They seemed interested, well behaved and enthusiastic.
I think a few of them had their first view through a telescope (some of the
adults too). The one snafu was the premature report that all the scouts had
cycled through the observing. A few minutes after most of us had packed up,
a final group came out. But George saved the day, er, night ... he had two
scopes still up and viewing. Larry Meyer was still set up too, so the kids
got to see a little. The clouds closed in about that time anyway.

The spot wasn't exactly dark, but it worked OK. Dale brought a cart that was
a big help in moving scopes and equipment through the building, and as you
mentioned, for once I was happy to be on pavement.

Ted

The amended minutes of the march meeting have been uploaded to the website.

Ted

I've posted pictures from last nights Botanical Gardens "Starry Night" event.
Go to the site: ,com/group/backbayastro and click on
photos. Open the Botan Gardens album.

BBAA members Denice Woody, Lelane Arneson, Dale Carey, Kevin Weiner, Rob
Schonk, Dick Moncure, George Reynolds and Ted Forte along with Larry Meyer of
the TCC Club were at the event. There were clouds, but we had decent views
of Jupiter, Saturn, and the Moon. I don't think anyone counted the scouts
who arrived at the scopes in groups, but they expected about 50 or 60 and I
think we were close to that number. There were also 20 or so adults that
enjoyed the view. Thanks to all of you who helped!

Ted

Sorry, but I just checked the attendance sheet and neither of you signed in
so you could not have been at the meeting. :>)

But for you ... I'll fix it.

Ted

Hey Ted! Just read the meeting minutes and you have me on the Blue Ribbon
panel in the third paragraph but not in the list of attendees in the first
paragraph....that's a pretty good trick on my part, huh?

And it looks like Bruce performed the same trick....

Also you didn't mention about my bringing copies of the Supercharge details
performed on my LX200 for everyone to read.

Should I be crushed?.... :-}

Denice

-----Original Message-----
From: Woody, Denice K
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2003 1:51 AM
To: 'backbayastro@...'
Subject: RE: [backbayastro] Botanical Gardens Lost & Found

Sounds like it might be Dale's....

Denice

-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Weiner [mailto:kevin.weiner@...]
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2003 12:39 AM
To: backbayastro@...
Subject: [backbayastro] Botanical Gardens Lost & Found

Someone left a small step stool at the Botanical Gardens Saturday
night. It has Costco printed on the steps. I have this in my car.
Please e-mail me if it is yours or you know who's it is.

Thanks,
Kevin



To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
backbayastro-unsubscribe@...



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To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
backbayastro-unsubscribe@...



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Sounds like it might be Dale's....

Denice

-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Weiner [mailto:kevin.weiner@...]
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2003 12:39 AM
To: backbayastro@...
Subject: [backbayastro] Botanical Gardens Lost & Found

Someone left a small step stool at the Botanical Gardens Saturday
night. It has Costco printed on the steps. I have this in my car.
Please e-mail me if it is yours or you know who's it is.

Thanks,
Kevin



To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
backbayastro-unsubscribe@...



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to

Someone left a small step stool at the Botanical Gardens Saturday
night. It has Costco printed on the steps. I have this in my car.
Please e-mail me if it is yours or you know who's it is.

Thanks,
Kevin