I intend to be at CRO tonight, staying until 11 or 12 if the sky is clear enough. I’ll have either an 8SE or a 5" Newtonian. Right now I do visual observing only,
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Ida and I will be coming out tonight about an hour before Sunset.
@DaveNH6SM @drmarvh44 @Mitche … If an older couple, Deb and McCall, drop by up this evening, they may be interested in becoming members. They mentioned calling and leaving a voice message. McCall has an 8 inch scope and Deb works with a digital camera. Very nice couple…
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Back up on I40. Exit Calumet if you can.
CRO is OPEN! Mostly cloudy but no rain.
Windy, too. Check the AllSky camera for status.
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It looks like the storms are/will go north of you.
Was thinking about coming out for moral support, no telescope, but it rained a bit here so I’m going to stay home and watch my grass grow.
CRO is closed. We had 4 CRO members doing lots of cleaning and organizing. Robert Weston got his tour and orientation. No rain, but totally overcast.
Thanks for opening and cleaning everyone! Sorry there was no viewing.
Chris fixed the inside WiFi. Tested it on my SeeStar S30 Pro. We can now run the SeeStar’s using the WiFi and it now stays connected when you go inside the building.
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That’s great news! Thanks Chris!
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WooHoo Thanks Chris, that is going to make it a little bit more comfortable in the coming months 
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The next All Members Night at CRO is on Saturday, October 3.
The forecast is looking mixed right now. One of my weather apps has it partly cloudy early, but clearing at sunset. Another has it at least partly cloudy all night. Winds should be light and the temperature will be in the 60s. Remember to dress for 20 degrees colder than it is! Fall is here, folks, so be sure to have a jacket, and maybe a hat and gloves with you in the car!
But this is Oklahoma and all 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 1915 (7:15pm). Nautical twilight begins at 1940. Astronomical twilight begins at 2010. Twilight ends and true night begins at 2039.
The moon sets before sunset, so it will be a very dark night! It will rise at 0053 and will be a Waning Crescent at 36.2% illumination.
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!
I’ll come out and open for all club members. I plan to arrive by 6:30.
I’ll open and offer training on the C14. The 30" dome is still not useable.
Please post here if you’re coming out.
I will not be able to make it tomorrow, but the forecast is looking better! Will probably be clear around sunset.
I plan to come out and will be bringing a friend.
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Despite it being cloudy and rainy at my house right now, the forecasts are all calling for it to clear up in the Watonga area, so there should be clear skies all evening at CRO!
This should be a great viewing night!
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Right you are, Mitche. Satellite imagery shows cloud trail moving off to the NE. Should be clear by sunset.
I plan to open at 6:30, traffic permitting, unless someone else opens earlier.
Happy viewing!
CRO is open!!! Clearing skies. Light wind from the East 5-8 mph.
Come on out!!
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It was, indeed, a gorgeous night for viewing and astrophotograpy. Jessica and her friend came out and set up on a pad. Not sure what imaging device they were using, but I’m sure she’ll share her photos. They brought out their binoculars, and with help from my laser pointer were able to see Andromeda, M13, and Saturn, of course. The skies were wide open from horizon to horizon. We all marveled.
Chris Petroff was out and did a great deal of maintaining and reorganization in the building; hanging pictures, putting magazines into plastic sleeves etc.
The grounds looked excellent in daylight. Very few sand burr seedlings have been left sprouting. I walked all the way out to the rv pads to check the water valves (stiff but working fine), and didn’t bring home one sand burr!!
We knew attendance might be down prior to Okie-Tex, but this was one of the best nights all year with the Milky Way bright from NE to SW. And the dark skies all the more appealing .
I plan to open CRO next Saturday, too. So watch the weather and come out if you’re free.
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