It was a beautiful night. Clear, low wind, cooled off nicely. Bill ran the C14 and i ran the 30". Random Joe and Dru showed up, and our new member couple, Mike and Dorothy Harney, seemed to enjoy the facilities and the views Bill and I provided.
Special kudos to Bill And Tom Graham for getting most of the area mowed before the mower had a flat. But the upper area was great! However, the stickers are everywhere and at their worst.
The AC was working fine, and i replaced the entire fill valve in the women’s toilet. No more squealing and wasting water.
We were sorry to hear of the rainout at Okie-Tex! Wish you were here!
Can’t see the rover. But I think I see Neil Armstrong attempting a 1000 foot putt for a birdie into Theophilus; the lower of the 3 centered craters. Looks like he left the flag in the center of the hole, as well
Cyrillus and Catharina are the next holes above. Par 3 and 4.
OH YAY this is great news – was wondering/hoping for info about Oct 18. I’m a new member (since April '25) and have only been to CRO once as a visitor several years ago. The experience was overwhelming and I’ve been talking about it to all my friends since then! Finally signed up this year and have been waiting for a dark moon to happen on a weekend.
I plan to bring a little contingent with me if that’s OK – just 4 people probably. What do I need to know and to tell them? Which road once we get off the highway has better access in–the more southern one or the more northern one?
I remember the time I was there I had a horrible time walking around in the pitch dark . . . is it true that I can cover a flashlight bulb with red cellophane or something to help me see where I’m walking? Thanks for any advice / tips in advance.
Yes, you’re welcome to bring visitors! We call them “prospective club members…”
If you search for “Cheddar Ranch Observatory, Watonga, OK” in either Apple Maps or Google Maps, CRO should pop up as a destination. (Just Cheddar Ranch Observatory might work, but I know adding the town works). If you want a guide, post that on here and someone can make arrangements to meet you someplace along the way to guide you the last few miles.
If you don’t have a red headlight (recommended) or flashlight, you can put red cellophane over the lens and that will work. Tail light repair tape, available at almost any auto parts store, works great, too. Headlights are much better, as it keeps your hands free. You just need to watch shining it directly in someone’s face. Even red light can be blinding. And it’s easy to do.
We recommend closed shoes or boots, not sandals, as the stickers may still be bad. Also, dress for 20 degrees colder than the forecasts are calling for. You don’t expend any energy that keeps you warm just standing or sitting there and looking at the sky. Though if you do get cold, the building is there to warm up, and we have the mixings for hot drinks inside. Just don’t drink the water from the faucet. We have a water cooler there for drinking water.
I should be there, so looking forward to seeing you there! But if the weather forecast is at all iffy, please check back here before you leave that day to ensure CRO will be open.
Either route should be fine since there has not been any rain. Both have paved roads to about 2 miles from CRO. E CR 870 is graveled and N CR2510 is dirt but well maintained.
Hello Marcia! Welcome back. I’ll try to answer your question, in reverse.
Yes, ypu need a red flashlight and can cover one with ted cellophane. Your guests should each have one, or stay close. Please arrive before sunset so you don’t need headlights into the observatory. White light spoils our night vision..
The best road in is the south one. Turn off the highway at Greenfield and turn left at the T, Then right on 870. Go to 2520. Turn right on 2520. Go 2 miles north to 890. Turn left and go sbout 3/4 mile to the observatory, on your left.
You need to tell your guests that our club is not responsible for accidents. There are forms in the building for them to sign. They come at their own risk. It’s dark and the ground is uneven. We all must be careful in the dark. We have full bathroom and covered facilities.
I hope I’ve answered your questions.
We hope to have the 14" and 30" scopes active.
All that said, you and they are very welcome to experience the club’s dark site observatory.
Thanks for the extra info about the roads – the one time I ventured forth, the south road, while dry, was challenging to navigate, as I recall, with many deep potholes, etc. Which is fine, of course, provided one knows in advance and can drive an SUV or some such.
Looking forward to introducing my friends to the spectacular star-studded skies out there!
Marcia
Tom Graham mowed and trimmed earlier, and I just finished trimming the lower pads, so the grounds are looking great for Saturday. Stickers are there, so if you come out Saturday, be sure to clean off your shoes before you enter your house. But don’t brush them off in the drive or grass, or you’ll have a nice lawn of stickers next summer.
Sadly the forecast is not the best for Saturday. It looks like it will be clear, but it’s going to be cooler (temps in the 50s) and very windy. 15mph with gusts to 25 or more. Might be a good night for visual observing, but probably not for astrophotography.
Just took a look at the conditions at CRO. It is almost completely clear and no rain recorded on the on-site weather station. It should be a good night tonight. I’m planning on bringing out my zero g chair. Comets C/2025 R2 and C/2025 A6 will be up, not naked eye visible.
It didn’t rain until this morning in Yukon. 0.14" at my house. The forecast is still clear for tonight, but the winds will be high.
If it did rain a bit at CRO, it will dry out fast. I’ll look to see how the dirt roads are for the last 2 miles, and will stay on the paved roads if they look at all muddy.
I think I’ll stop at Swadley’s El Reno on the way out this evening. So, sunset is just before 7, so i’ll plan on being at Swadley’s 5-5:15. Will leave no later than 5:30.
If anyone would like a guide to CRO, you can meet me there. Or just join me for dinner, even if you don’t need a guide!
Please post on here you’re planning that so I can look for you. I’ll wear my blue OKCAC hat, if case you don’t know what I look like.
We had a pretty good night. Had 7 club members and a visiting family of 5 from Geary. We opened up the 14” telescope it was well protected from the North wind. Was able to take a couple of pictures of the two comets with the Seestar S50. They were also visible with binoculars. We left a little after 11pm.
As the forecasts predicted, it was very windy. Though not quite as bad as I feared. I didn’t set up, but it was good to view the night sky visually, and socialize with fellow astronomers!
