Why you should come to CSSP

[The Warthog]

Friday night was poor transparency, but still better than most places on a good night, and tonight looked like it might clear up, but I had to come home today. Thursday night, however, was magnificent, easily mag 6, and one lad told me he could see a couple of mag 7 objects. I saw the North America nebula for the first time, and it was almost a naked eye object. I stayed up until 4 am, and topped off the night with the Moon and Jupiter.

Today, I missed a lecture that I wanted to go to, by not paying attention, but later I went to the vendor tent, and spent 25 minutes listening, and sometimes chatting with the lecturer, a Mr. Al Nagler, who was showing people his new 8mm Ethos, and his 2 - 8mm (IIRC) zoom eyepiece. How often do you get to talk to one of the gods of astronomy?

The pictures I brought back are not very good, as most of the big scopes were put away by the time I got up on Friday, about 11:00. The weather was threatening, and these people didn't want to risk their investments. I had the pleasure of looking through a friend's 25" Obsession dob. It has a goto system that is truly magnificent. When the scope moves to a new object, it looks like a naval cannon acquiring a target. He was using a 13mm Ethos in the scope.

Anyway, it was a good time, wish you were there.

[beamish]

Sounds like you had a fab time there Warthog. Nth Am nebula as an almost naked eye object ?? Fat chance of that happening over here, :D . The Obsession, wow now that must have helped make the whole thing worth while too. Nice report,

Karlo

[barkis]

One always takes something away from these events, mostly memories, but good ones.

Meeting Mr Nagler and having a converation with him is something you will always remember.

Theres always the sense of being amongst good friends, and that's something you can't put a value on.

You will soon be preparing for the next one WH, and wondering where the intervening months went. Look forward to your pics.

Ron.

[phillc]

Great news that you had at least one clear night, all we are getting here is :D

Hope to see the photos you took posted here soon.

All the best, and many clear nights

phillc

[Sam]

I bet the 25" Obsession was amazing and well done and talking to Mr Nagler - sound like the skies there are brilliant.

[SteelRat]

Glad you had such a great time mate 8)

[supernova]

WOW 25 inch

And meeting Mr A Nagler. :hello1:

Any freebies. Ahem.

Glad you had a great time WH. Lets see the pics.

[Sam]

Yes, pics please WH - especially you up the ladder testing out the 25".

[Talitha]

Glad you had such a great time, WH! So what did you see Thursday night? I bet the Milky Way was almost bright enough to cast a shadow.

Btw, try wearing an O-III filter like PM's monacle some time.. you'd be surprised how much it helps a non-magnified NA Neb 'pop'.