The next All Members Night will be tomorrow, Saturday 15 Aug.
The weather forecast tomorrow is for clear skies, very warm temperatures (86F at Midnight!), but will be very windy.
Marv will be running the 14". It’s somewhat protected by the building and walls, so the wind will affect it less. I don’t recommend bringing a light telescope to set up on the pads without some weights attached to keep it from shaking or even blowing over. But even if it’s too windy for light scopes, it should be a great night for bringing a zero-G chair, laying back, and observing constellations, meteors, and Starlink chains, with binoculars or just your eyeballs!
The observatory should be open by 1930. Sunset is at 2023. The moon is a Waxing Crescent at 11.6% illumination. And it sets at 2159, so it should be a very dark night.
It’s always appreciated if you post on here if you intend to attend. It’s helps the CRO members who open the observatory to know to expect you. Also, always check here before you leave to go out to ensure that it will be open. We have a very weather dependent hobby, and in Oklahoma the weather can change extremely quickly.
I’ve only been to CRO once before, and didn’t bring any gear. I plan to come out tonight and set up a Celestron 8SE. I haven’t decided on what I’ll be ovserving. I don’t know what the protocol is for setting up out there, but I’m sure you will all show me the ropes when I arrive!!!
Welcome, Robert! We always recommend that you arrive well before dark, especially when setting up for the first time. Gates will be open by 7:30. Just pull in, then back up to an empty pad on the upper level. Most of them are public pads. 110V is readily available.
I have a 6SE, myself. Your 8SE is an Alt/Az unit that needs to face North and at the horizon (level) before alignment. Next, align your finder scope with the 8SE’s view at something distant on the horizon like a wind generator or distant tree. Then just wait for darkness to use Sky Align on 3 bright objects.
There are folding chairs in the building if you don’t want to bring your own.
Thanks for opening CRO Bill, and thanks to you and Marv for being there to ensure all our club members can use CRO to observe in the darker skies.
The forecasts have changed and for the better! It looks like the wind will be about half of what was previously forecast.
For anyone trying to decide whether to go out or not, I urge you to go! These may be the last really warm all member nights this year. The nights are going to get cooler very soon.
We had a wonderful evening out at CRO last night. The people and weather was great even got to see a star link launch. I have my little astro rig running through out the night along with my dwarf mini. End up with some great pics of our evening. Cant wait to get some more time under those stars. Thanks to everyone that my CRO what it is,
The next All Members Night at CRO is on Saturday, September 5.
Right now the long range weather forecasts are calling for clear skies, moderate winds, and temperatures in the 80s. But this is Oklahoma and this could change! As always, please watch the weather forecasts, and check back here to ensure the observatory will be open before you head out!
Sunset is at 1956 (7:56pm). Nautical twilight begins at 2021. Astronomical twilight begins at 2052. Twilight ends and true night begins at 2124.
The moon sets before sunset, so it will be a very dark night!
If anyone is coming that can open the 14” or 30” scopes, please post on here that you will be attending and it will be open.
If you’re planning to come out, please post on here that you are coming. Please ensure that a CRO member posts on here that they will have CRO open for all members!
If you want to be guided to CRO, please post here and check back to see if a CRO member can meet and guide you. CRO members, please post what time you can meet any members needing guides. Please make arrangements to meet directly with whoever will be guiding you.
The location of the observatory is also now searchable in both Google Maps and Apple Maps. Search for Cheddar Ranch Observatory, Watonga, OK, and it should appear and give you directions if you want. It might also appear in your GPS app/program.
Clear and dark skies! It should be a fantastic night for viewing the universe!
