Advice wanted for using an 82 inch

[George]

It's not a boy or a girl, it's an 82 inch diameter mama! Actually, it is not a mama but the Otto Struve (if it's got its own name - it's big ). I'm a little excited, though I still like my 8 inch (even if it's broke at the moment).

It's the McDonald's night program for $75. In January, my daughter and I will be doing their dinner with subsequent viewing at the observatory, no astrophotography. [Hmmm, maybe with a magnet, I could piggyback and they wouldn't even notice. ] [They also have a 107 inch, but with more limited observing dates.]

The program for the night of the 11th is not set, so I can offer input. Y'all got any suggestions? [I am sure we will nail all the planets available.]

[Kaptain K]

Don't drop it!

[George]

That is not all that bad of advice considering who it is that is going. Note I did say mine was broke. In fact, if you're thinking of going out there, you might want to go before the 11th.

[Dave Mitsky]

The maximum true field of view of the Otto Struve 82" is going to be very small so planetary nebulae such as IC 418 (the Raspberry Nebula), M76 (the Little Dumbbell Nebula), NGC 40 (the Bow Tie Nebula), NGC 2371-72, NGC 2392 (the Eskimo Nebula), NGC 7009 (the Saturn Nebula), and NGC 7662 (the Blue Snowball) should be good targets. M1 (the Crab Nebula), M2, M15, M30, M78, M79, and NGC 2261 (Hubble's Variable Nebula) are other possible targets as are some of the late fall galaxies like NGC 891 and NGC 7331.

After the December DVAA meeting last Friday night, I met and had a conversation with a new member who is in the process of writing a book about observatories. He had used the 82" and mentioned how wild the Trapezium area of M42 had looked through it.

A fellow Astronomy Magazine Forums moderator had an observing run with the 82" not too long ago. He was able to get a very nice image of Saturn.

http://www.astronomy.com/ASY/CS/foru.../ShowPost.aspx

Dave Mitsky

[George]

Thanks Dave, the planetaries should be quite a treat.

Your link was enjoyable, too. I was unable to log in to that forum to add to the thread. I was going to add that the scope is available for all night use for a flat fee of about $1,500 and can accomodate up to about 15 people ($100 a head ain't bad). We have about 30 to 40 folks attend the club meetings, so maybe an all nighter will happen in the future. As was stated, the room rate is high - it's $128 a night. I pointed out that Kitt Peak was only $60, but to no avail.

[Dave Mitsky]

Thanks Dave, the planetaries should be quite a treat.

Your link was enjoyable, too. I was unable to log in to that forum to add to the thread. I was going to add that the scope is available for all night use for a flat fee of about $1,500 and can accomodate up to about 15 people ($100 a head ain't bad). We have about 30 to 40 folks attend the club meetings, so maybe an all nighter will happen in the future. As was stated, the room rate is high - it's $128 a night. I pointed out that Kitt Peak was only $60, but to no avail.

Yes, but, OTOH, you'd only have a 20", IIRC, at your disposal at Kitt Peak.

Dave Mitsky

[George]

Yes, but, OTOH, you'd only have a 20", IIRC, at your disposal at Kitt Peak.

KP offers three all night observation facilities (for the public and heliochromologists). Two are 20 inch and one is a 16 inch. They are RC design scopes, except one 20 inch is SC, IIRC.

The price/ sq. in. favors McDonalds if we only consider scope price and room. I get about 40 cents/in^2 of aperature at KP vs. 4 cents/in^2 of aperature at the Big Mac. Yet, this is not a fair comparison as each has other benefits that deserve consideration. I would love to get back soon to KP.

[pghnative]

KP offers three all night observation facilities (for the public and helicochromologists).

All night observations must really frustrate all of the heliochromologists out there.

[George]

For some reason, every time I mention heliochromology to those at the facilities I get a long pregnant pause. You may want to call them and see how much cheaper it is for non-heliochromoloigsts who want night viewing. [You would think at a solar institution that night pricing would be really cheap. .]

FWLIW (for what little it's worth), I was out there to get color images of 18 Scorpii, the closest match to the sun. So, the broader stellarchromology can be very helpful to heliochromology.

[jouster]

Take a look, then step back muttering to yourself about what you could do "if I had access to some REAL aperture...."

[George]

I already am, they offer a 107 inch, too.