We've had very few nice evenings in Hamburg, NY this summer so it was impossible to pass this one up for another observing mission to the moon. It was great just to set up quickly in the backyard and take in the beautiful sunset over Lake Erie while glimpsing through the TV101 at a magnificent 6 day old waxing moon.
The new 9mm Nagler and the 7mm and 5mm University optics eyepieces were a joy to use.
Around 9PM my friend Don showed up with son Jake to say hello and take a quick peak through the scope which I think both have done only one time before a couple years ago (in fact it may have been the 10" Dob). Don had to leave so I suggested that 12 yr. old junior astronomer Jake stay and do a little time at the eyepiece. Pictured below is Jake and my son Mike "Jr" who actually came outside to spend some time observing too.
Well the moon didn't disappoint either of these guys. It was Jake's first time seeing the moon through a telescope. We spent about 20 minutes observing together all the while trying different eyepiece. Both were impressed with the amazing detail in the lunar surface.
Well I couldn't expect them to stay on the moon like the rest of us luna-tics do so we moved on to looking at the spiders on the light at the Seaway Trail Visitor Center across the street. (The site of my next public "Solar SUNday" event).
Well Jake wasn't satisfied with that and Mike "jr" was ready to watch ESPN. So I set Jake up with a few instruction on how to use the TV Starbeam and he was finding for himself with a bit of guidance from me Albireo, Beta Scorpii, e-Lyra, the Owl Cluster/ET in Cassiopeia, Alcor and Mizar, M11, M23, M4 and Jupiter with its moons which was just clearing the roof of the house across the street. Jake even asked about the life cycle of a star and gave me a little talk on binary star system.
Packed it up around 11 PM. Took Jake home and he proceeded to direct me to his backyard where he thought it would be a much better place to observe from. He was right and we need to just get a clear night for it.
The "SUG" was kept updated periodically during the observe via my Astro-Berry.
Great you took advantage of the "Summer that isn't" in the Northeast. Hopefully I'll be out Saturday night...keeping fingers crossed
ReplyDeleteNice to see that other lives are being infected by you! Other Drive By's in the making! Great pics too - always fun to see the faces involved.
ReplyDeleteBTW excellent pic of the Drive By; for in this we truly capture the essence of the man and his intrepid scope! What is that essence?
Focused, confident, generous, curious, somewhat childlike FLIG that is ready to conquer the heavens!