For you Astronomy buffs............

[jostenmeat]

Altitude doesn't really make a difference in naked eye (or low power) viewing, the important thing is lack of light pollution.

Right, good point. It just seemed to me that getting up there will reduce the amount of light pollution and/or possibly get above some low lying fog, clouds, etc. YMMV! The extra couple thousand feet, plus, above the desert made all the difference for us that night. Or perhaps it was simply that the moisture was funneled down, or some other stroke of good chance. But, you're right. The Outbacks are supposed to be one of the least light polluted areas of the world, and I doubt they are very high in elevation.

 

[10010011]

Altitude doesn't really make a difference in naked eye (or low power) viewing, the important thing is lack of light pollution.

But altitude also means more stable viewing because you are looking through less atmosphere. The star party I just go back from was at an elevation of 6357 feet.

 

[mazersteven]

Where are the astro buffs in this forum?

I'm an astro buff. But have never been on an all night outing with others. I think that's cool. (I don't know if it's cool to think thats cool ) And don't get out with my telescope as often as I should.

I have an Orion Skyview 6 Deluxe EQ

 

[NicolasKL]

But altitude also means more stable viewing because you are looking through less atmosphere.

Yes, which doesn't really matter for naked eye or low power viewing.

And there's a lot more to the atmosphere than just elevation. Even with the same amount of light pollution being at sea level near a shoreline can be better than a 6,000 elevation because large bodies of water tend to create stable air while mountains can create updrafts which all but destroy viewing.

 

[10010011]

Yes, which doesn't really matter for naked eye or low power viewing.

And there's a lot more to the atmosphere than just elevation. Even with the same amount of light pollution being at sea level near a shoreline can be better than a 6,000 elevation because large bodies of water tend to create stable air while mountains can create updrafts which all but destroy viewing.

But large bodies of water tend to put a lot of moisture into the air leading to poor transparency. Poor transparency even means poor naked eye viewing.

I live at sea level in fact we are doing a public star party tonight at a park right along the bay. It's fine for public viewing but I prefer the seeing further inland and as high as possible.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

Light pollution is definitely the biggest killer of the night sky we face today. Light pollution aside, transparency is also important and altitude does make a big difference. The night sky will look different even with the naked eye.

Dry desert air is great......but dry desert air at altitude is even better!! I would love to live in a dry climate at 6,000ft. Instead...I live at 900ft in the humid midwest....

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

I just got home from TMSP

Someone brought a 40 inch dob this year!

I've seen that scope in pictures before...... It's a real monster!! When it was built....it was the largest dob in existence.

Soon after the 40" was built....someone else built one that was either a 41 or 42". .........LOL

 

[10010011]

I've seen that scope in pictures before...... It's a real monster!! When it was built....it was the largest dob in existence.

Soon after the 40" was built....someone else built one that was either a 41 or 42". .........LOL

Yeah, it's the new "space race".

(Hope the linked pic comes through)

I found this part quite interesting. The builder made the mirror out of 1/4 inch plate glass from Home Depot. He stacked them to about 2 inch thick, then fused and slumped them in his own kiln. After that he spent the next 7 years grinding and figuring by hand.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

The coolest thing I ever did "astronomy wise" was spend virtually the entire night at the eyepiece of a 32"..........

I went to the "MID-SOUTH" star gaze.....
http://www.rainwaterobservatory.org/
They have several scopes on site for anyone to use. As for the 32"....they dragged it out....and said "have at it".........BYO-EP.....bring your own eyepieces. They set it up...and whoever wanted to use it could. There was a big line early. Once all the lightweights went to bed, me and a small group of about 4-5 guys had the scope to ourselves for the entire night.

That was pretty cool......... the views were amazing.. The 15' tall ladder took some getting used to...LOL It was a 32" F-5.........The Rainwater observatory is a cool place!!

The 32" is a cool scope....

It had a telrad and a 6" finderscope........by the end of the night...I didn't need the finderscope....I'd hit stuff with the telrad......look into the eyepiece...and POW.....amazing views!! The night we spent at the 32" was amazing.........(two years running) I have not returned, but thinking about it reminds me of why I should...... My visits to French Camp Mississippi.....were way cool. (A very nice MSU golf course is only 1hr away) Golf during the day....astronomy by night...........what more can you ask for?

 

[10010011]

The coolest thing I ever did "astronomy wise" was spend virtually the entire night at the eyepiece of a 32"..........

I went to the "MID-SOUTH" star gaze.....
http://www.rainwaterobservatory.org/
They have several scopes on site for anyone to use. As for the 32"....they dragged it out....and said "have at it".........BYO-EP.....bring your own eyepieces. They set it up...and whoever wanted to use it could. There was a big line early. Once all the lightweights went to bed, me and a small group of about 4-5 guys had the scope to ourselves for the entire night.

That was pretty cool......... the views were amazing.. The 15' tall ladder took some getting used to...LOL It was a 32" F-5.........The Rainwater observatory is a cool place!!

Wow that must have been fun. A guy from the store we bought our 15 inch from let the wife and I spend a night at TMSP with his 29-er a couple years ago because we were still waiting for delivery.

Here is a 32 inch dob the Boing Astronomical Society brings every year.

BTW: None of our scopes have finders, only Telrads.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

Wow that must have been fun. A guy from the store we bought our 15 inch from let the wife and I spend a night at TMSP with his 29-er a couple years ago because we were still waiting for delivery.

Here is a 32 inch dob the Boing Astronomical Society brings every year.

BTW: None of our scopes have finders, only Telrads.

Gezus that thing is short for a 32!! What is that....a F-3?

A telrad is all you need to find the easy stuff, but IMO.....a right angle finder is extremely helpful when hunting challenge objects. I use the telrad only to locate the starting point............then I always star hop with a 10x50 to pinpoint the exact field if I am looking for something difficult. I don't use any of that GOTO stuff........ I am a traditionalist when it comes to observing.

 

[10010011]

I don't use any of that GOTO stuff........ I am a traditionalist when it comes to observing.

Me too, but I have to admit I am building my own digital setting circles.

I got the encoders at OSP a couple years ago. I figure if I design and build them, then it's not cheating.