I took my telescope to Florida's Winter Star Party
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- Опубліковано 6 кві 2023
- Fed up with grey, cold winter skies? Join us as we escape to the Winter Star Party for a week of observing from the tropical Florida Keys.
Not only is it great fun observing with so many other fellow astronomers, we get to see objects that simply aren’t visible from back home and through some pretty big scopes (22 and 28 inch dobonians).
Highlights include distant Abell and Hickson galaxy clusters in the big dobs, tracking Jupiter’s moons every evening, solar observing and taking timelapses of the night sky. - Наука та технологія
Jim’s another salt of the earth person from the Winter Star Party. Friendly and shares his knowledge freely with everyone. He loves to show what can be seen through his herd of scopes, and what a herd it is!! Nice job in covering the star party as well.
Super video, Mark - great to be somewhere so dark surrounded by likeminded people. I’m particularly envious of those Milky Way core views at the end! 🤩
You and me both, Paul. The first time I went I thought the rising Milky Way was a cloud bank coming in from the sea!
Wow !!!! NIce telescope. The largest I have ever owned was a 17.5 that I built with a kit and a Coulter mirror. Thanks for the video.
I bet your 17.5" had great views, David.
@@RefreshingViewsYes, I did.
Spectacular- thank you - hope to see you there next time - Cheers!
I hope so too - and in fact I’m typing this on my way home after fantastic week in the Keys.
Love it. Good job. Great seeing you as always.
Thanks and you too, Sergio. Oh and thank you once again for the awesome footage you sent me. I am now counting off the days until 2024. Wishing you clear skies!
Well done Mark, another style of video, I like too!
Michel
Merci Michel
When is the extended version coming out Mark? I could watch this stuff all day!
Hi Barry - I have some longer videos of the scopes (the big planetary newtonian and Jim's set ups) so more to follow. Oh and just seen your email so will check diary ....
Wow what an amazing time you had thanks for sharing 👍
Cheers Terri - hope you are well!
Wonderful would love to look through that 28-incher with one of my 50mm 2-inch eyepiece!
That would be amazing wouldn't it?
Mark, thanks for sharing…great shots! The WSP is on my bucket list of star parties and astronomical sites. It’s a 14 hour drive for me so I really should get it checked off my bucket list. Did you manage to view the Southern Cross?
You should definitely do it, Mike. I do more observing there in a week than I do in months back home (and see objects that simply do not rise from 51N. And yes, Southern Cross, Eta Carina, Oh My God Centauri ticked off.
Great video Mark, it’s another world of Astronomy heaven over there! What was your most memorable view?
Everything, Rob but it's really hard to chose! Distant galaxies in Abell 1367 were amazing, omega centauri in a 28-inch is pretty special, scanning the summer milky way in binos was beautiful. I guess it is the experience I love. It is wonderful to be surrounded by friendly, warm people in a glorious tropical location.
Been waiting on this since you were on Actual Astronomy!
Mentioned in passing to the wife about this star party and she has given authorisation that I can go soon™ lol
Mark must have an exceedingly understanding wife and family - unless he took them all with him!
You defo need to put your leave pass in! My submission for 2024 is pending approval ....
Ha - yes she is very understanding (thank goodness). Although she likes the idea of going to Florida, a star party fills her with horror as she wants a G&T with a movie which wouldn't go down with the white light rules!!
Viewing every night can be exhausting, guess you might like the odd cloud to come over and have a night off.
You're so right - I had to crash a couple of times at 0300-ish as I simply did not have the stamina to carry on. All good fun as always!
It's a great sky, the only thing I would be concerned about is the salt air and what they might do to optical coatings. But I guess a night here and there wouldn't hurt anything, right?
You raise a good point, Gregory but I certainly did not notice the tang of salt in the air so I guess it isn't a problem. Certainly no worse than the occasional smoker or mosquito repellent.
What kit did you take, apart from the nice Helinox chair?!
I had my 90mm Megrez on an altaz mount, Peter (plus camera, eyepieces, binoviewer). I think you could get by with a camera and binos as everyone is so welcoming.
Did you bring any set up with you?
Just my william optics Megrez 90. It just fits inside my airline portable camera case with the mount and camping gear in the hold.