[Chaos-l] the Staunton River Star Party

[Allen Davis]

Well, I left Friday morning.a bit later than I wanted but no worries really.
Robert Nielsen had saved me a spot and I was able to get in on the action
around Robert and John Miller, and Michael Hrivnak, Matt, and Jim Palermo.  

 

I was so tired Friday after running around and staying up late to configure
my Nexus astrodevice the night before, that I was unable to really enjoy the
long clear night like some that Friday.  But as I get older I realize that
if something is starting to "disturb the aura" around you, then it's within
you and you need to just back off.  So I left alone the new stuff and tried
to concentrate a little more on other things.  But after some nice views and
conversation I hit the sack early...

 

But Saturday was different.  I got up early and had an excellent breakfast
at the "star grill" there at the party.  Wonderful.  In fact, I enjothat yed
the food all weekend long.  it was a great addition to the star party.

 

Glad to have Mark Clegg show up Saturday and make things more complete with
his presence.

 

Saturday I played with my new stuff and made a little progess, and layed
around.walked down to the river with Jason, and visited and read a little.
I finally was able to relax, something very hard for me, and concentrated
that night on observing and visiting with others.  We had I think even a
better night that the CSC was predicting, maybe not as clear overall as the
night before, but with some spotty haze and clouds here and there.  But
overall, excellent.

 

I was able to train the big scope on some very rewarding targets and receive
much needed photons.  What a site to see the central star once again in the
Ring Nebula.fleeting this time but it was there.  And I also was
particularly impressed with NGC 891 which showed full extension and a dark
lane from top to bottom.(oh yeah.there is no top or bottom in the universe
is there?)..well you know.  And m74 in Hydra actually showed some
detail.that amazing face on that is often so very difficult and elusive.
The Swan and the Lagoon in Sag were great....the swan just showing loads of
detail.  Caroline's Rose always is a great view.I think it is my favorite
open cluster.  And of course M15 and M13 are always those "blow your retinas
off" objects that inspire visions of diamonds dumped  on velvet.  Caroline's
rose exhibits more like...diamonds scattered like a flower across dark
velvet.

 

I had my refractor on M31 for a long time.all the companions easily visible
in a wide field with my Leitz 30mm.  I finally switched that eyepiece over
to the big scope while drooling over anticipation of the Veil.  My goodness,
that was a popular object and with good reason.lots of detail in the broom
and "the claw" with Pickerings triangle so evident you could forget that is
sometimes considered the more difficult part of the stellar explosion we
call the veil.

 

So the Veil was lifted for me Saturday, as I finally left cares behind and
enjoyed the skies and the camaraderie of friends under the beautiful skies
at SR.  that's what is important.  Great views and wonderful conversations
and shared experiences.

 

BTW, Jupiter was really a great site as well, with seeing good enough that
my big scope outperformed the refractor.  

 

I enjoyed some very nice views through all the other scopes around me too.
Thanks everyone for sharing.

 

I decided to stay Sunday and was glad I did.  I got a lot of my stuff packed
then, and still left my Obsession set up.  We actually got some pretty good
suckerholes and I proved that I could still star hop.  I had already put
away the battery and computer and Nexus etc.  WE looked at several
targets.m27, m15, m31, and Caroline's Rose again.and also the central star
in M57 barely peeking through.  

 

I enjoyed meeting and talking with Pete across the way, and also am very
glad that John Charles and Kumar and his friend came by.  It is always nice
to meet folks that previously have been "online only."..And also Walter good
to meet you as well.

 

Nice to see John Raymond, who startled all with his channeling of that
specTACular attendee who was really absent, but who was maybe well,
there...hmmmmmmmm.

 

And Jim and Jenna, and Robert F, and Jim P and Pat from RAC, 

 

And low and behold late yesterday. Kirby and Keith ride up.  I wondered
about them and was really happy to see them.  

 

A big THANKS TO JAYME AND ROBERT AND ALL YOU CHAOS FOLKS FOR MAKING THIS
GREAT.

 

Now we are going to medoc this weekend.any takers?  allen

 

 

 

E. Allen Davis

starstorm151 at embarqmail.com

 

"M'Illumino              "I am enlightened

D'Immenso"              by the immensity."

 

   -Ungaretti               -Ungaretti

 

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