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A GREAT time was had by all at Okie-Tex. It was one fabulous week of stargazing. Warm days, cool nights, awesome skies with a much longer time to observe each night than the Nebraska Star Party.
Ellenvega did indeed get off to one of the most spectacular starts in Herschel 400 history. 82 in one week, wow. Jerome shined with the gear he brought with, Wall-E got one heckofa workout, Capt. Kirk's fine 12'5" Dobsonian is one sweet telescope, I got in some carbon stars, did some pretty good sketching of the Sun, both in white light and H-alpha while networking and delivering some (in Okie lingo) "Spring Grove Sody Pop". Randy pulled off the greatest deep sky coup by zeroing in on Einstein's Cross (photons from 8 billion light years away) and had a steady stream of envious visitors coming by to gawk at the OMI 30" EVO telescope.
I think Jerome has missed his calling, though. Instead of being the Mayo radiology department administrator, he should have gone into sales. Jody of Jody's catering and her husband Fred borrowed us their truck to go to Capulain Volcano in New Mexico one day and then Fred gave us a guided tour of the local Oklahoma area 2 days later. They really took a shine to us and it must have been to a phone conversation that they had with Jerome.
We didn't have as much luck with "Crazy Tom" in Kenton, Oklahoma, but that is, of course, another story….. It was A Glorious Week For Astronomy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
While Friday or Saturday "may" be clear, tonight looks pretty darn good. I plan to go to Keller this evening to try and capture the Pelican nebula.
Tomorrow night looks good until midnight. Steve and I plan on getting out. He is about 1 week away from completing radiation therapy, but would rather go to the Flatin Farm instead of Eagle Bluff because he gets tired easily.
If any of you want to come on down, but I know it is a long way, you are sure welcome to.
Going to head out to Keller tonight to try to catch Comet Siding Spring passing Mars. Looks like about an hour or so window between 7:30 and 8:30.
Hey Dean, did you perchance see comet Siding Spring (C/2013 A1) by Mars in Ophiuchus? WOW! Got out to Keller tonight with my lovely bride, Jan. She saw it, too. Used my C-11. Randy showed up a little after 7:30 and and we nabbed it in the 18-inch Obsession, also. AGNFA!
Steve, Ellenvega and I got out last night until 11 p.m. but did not catch Comet Siding Spring. I bet that must have been good.
We had OK skies here, but the transparency wasn't real fine. After everyone went home, it cleared up after 11:30 when I got back to town. You'll have those nights.
Barb and I and the Good Lord willing Steve, will be going to Okie-Tex 2015. We talked a lot about that last night. Ellenvega got to see 1st light though her 13mm Televu Ethos. 1st light included Vega, M57 and M11 "The Wild Duck". Her Herschel 400 total passed 90 last night.Between having Steve out there, Barb having fun with her new toys, the conversation and to just be outside was AGNFA!
Of course it's early in the week, but the extended weather report looks promising for Friday, 10/24. I have a question about Eagle Bluff. I seem to remember that someone said there was electricity available in the Eagle Bluff lot we usually set up in. Is that correct?
Yes there is power in the parking lot but I think the starbq is planned for Saturday night in Spring Grove.
Dean – What's the official plan?
I'm thinking that the 7th Annual Star B-Q is a GO for Saturday night.
Dugan will help me get the grill out there, I have the option to take Saturday off from Northern Enslaving and get the picnick tables out there with my truck, I'll have the taters done and ready to go and the whole field is in clover and we can set up wherever because it is a cover crop and it will be plowed under for organic nitrogen.
Weather wise, it is forecast for a 70 degree day with a night time temp of 40's I think. If you want, bring a steak or meat to grill, a dish to pass (optional) bring your own beverage and set your gear up to have A Glorious Night For Astronomy!
If the seeing and transparency are above average, we should have a great night.
Rough directions: (From Rochester)
Hwy 52 South, Through Chatfield, Preston
At Harmony: Stay on 52 as it turns East.
After 8.2 miles, Continue on Hwy 44 to Spring Grove. (Hwy 52 turns right and goes South.)
Continue on Hwy 44 13.0 miles through Mabel, into Spring Grove.
At Hwy 16 turn right (South).
Proceed 4.7 miles. At the top of a good sized hill, you will enter Iowa (about 500 feet).
Flatin farm is the first Driveway on the right.
You may need to proceed about 1000 feet on the driveway before you see others. Next to the Lone Tree Grill & Refreshments.I'll try to get GPS Cordinates, but google is not cooperating right now. I'll post the link on the Star Parties thread.
There is a map under the 2013 StarBQ thread, scroll down, near the bottom – here:
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