This month First Friday is right before the weekend of the eclipse. While I’ll be in the city that night, I’ll be packed (or still packing!) to leave the next morning for Texas and will not want to go out the night before. Others may be in the same boat.
So should we have an April First Friday? The long range forecast is partly cloudy with winds 10-15mph.
If anyone on here wants one, reply to this and I’ll get it posted on the club calendar. Otherwise let’s try again in May.
Honestly, I think waiting until May is best for this time around.
Since it isn’t on the calendar and didn’t make the monthly email reminder I thought it was not really scheduled due to the eclipse being that Monday. I will be heading out for that as are a lot of members.
We can have it again in May which needs to be added to the calendar.
I’ll add the May First Friday to the Calendar llater today.
@Mitche
While you’re at it, could we have the club’s regular Member Nights on the Events calendar sooner? The NEXT monthly MNs are decided PRIOR to the club meetings every month. May MNs are known as of 4/12 meeting. If you could get to posting in Events the MNs for the next month, it could facilitate CRO member’s planning.
I put NEXT month’s MNs in my personal calendar as soon as the club’s meeting announcement comes out. We CRO members could then commit on the Forum sooner. At the very least we could mark WATCHING those posts.
Thanks for all you do for the club!
Marv, not sure what calendar you’re looking at. The dates for all CRO Member Nights are on the club calendar on the Night Sky Network for the entire year. Links to it are on the club website. Jan to Jan. Dave Huntz posts them there every year.
I don’t post them to the forum until the first of the month as I’ve found that when I post them too early they get lost. The top threads are the ones with the newest responses on them. If I post them say a month in advance, they’ll be buried after a dozen or more other threads by the time they get close.
I think he is talking about 1st Friday not NM nights.
Not First Fridays. Member Nights. But i get it that if you post them too early, they can get buried.
I just like to see them early enough to respond, or at least start “watching” them.
Not to worry. Just asking.
I’ll try to start the thread here about two weeks before the first MN for the new month. If folks start responding to it, that will keep it at the top of the list of posts.
Can i ask what is the difference between 1st Friday & Astronomy day viewing vs member night? Is viewing at a more local location vs member night is at CRO? Forgive my ignorance.
No problem! I didn’t understand the differences when I first joined either.
First Friday Public Viewing night is held the first Friday (of course) of each month, is held in the metro area (currently at Arbor Gardens Park in Moore), and is primarily intended as a public outreach event. It’s open to anyone who shows up.
Member Night at CRO is held 1-3 times a month, on Saturdays, at the club observatory at Cheddar Ranch. If you pay the extra dues for a Cheddar Ranch membership, you have access to CRO 24/7/365. But the regular member’s dues also support CRO, so a CRO member will ensure the observatory is open at least once a month (weather dependent) for any member to use and enjoy. Member Nights are scheduled around the New Moon to get the darkest skies, so the exact days vary each month, but always on a Saturday. Guests and prospective members are also invited to Member Night.
We also hold a “Novice Night” quarterly. That is also in the metro area, alternating between a location on the north side and south sides of the city. Novice Night is so experienced members can assist anyone with equipment problems, learning how to use new equipment, learning night sky viewing, etc. It’s also open to anyone, club member or not. It’s held on either a Friday or Saturday night. Our last Novice Night was last Saturday, so the next one will be in July on the south side. If the weather is bad, we will reschedule the next month.
Hope this clarifies it!
Interestingly enough 1st Fridays are my favorite events. I get to meet new people, help others with their equipment and get new ideas and insights. I look forward to attending more
CANCELLED! The forecasts are calling for mostly cloudy and it doesn’t look like they’ll be much observing tonight.
The next First Friday Public Observing Night be held at 7pm on May 3, 2024.
Weather permitting, we’ll meet at Arbor Gardens Park, 1695 SW 34th St, in Moore, towards the east end of the parking lot, near the walkway.
I will notify the Moore Parks Dept and ask they open the indoor toilets for us.
This event is for both club members to get together to observe in the metro area, and for prospective members and the general public.
Please check back here the afternoon of May 3 to see if the weather will cooperate. The long range forecast is “Widely scattered showers or a thunderstorm early. Then partly cloudy. Low 56F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.”
We’ll try to hold it if it’s partly cloudy, depending on wind and percentage of cloud cover, but we’ll definitely cancel if completely overcast.
I really hope the weather behaves. I just had emergency gallbladder surgery last Monday, and it would be wonderful to get to do some observing after all this. Plus, i got my scope back from school… finally…
How is it looking down in Moore? It looks like there might be a small window around the start time. I think I’m going to pass on this one.
It was calling for rain at five, now it isn’t
But it’s cloudier again from the west. Broken clouds to the S. E
One app I have says mostly cloudy all evening in Moore. The other shows there might be a window of some partly cloudy before sunset, but the clouds will move in again starting around sunset.
I cannot make it in any case, but it looks to me like a bust. We will try again next month! Hopefully I’ll have finished moving in by then and I should be able to make it!
Don’t work too hard Mitche
Thanks, Rachel, but way too late for that sentiment… 
The next First Friday Public Observing Night be held at 7pm on June 7, 2024.
Weather permitting, we’ll meet at Arbor Gardens Park, 1695 SW 34th St, in Moore, towards the east end of the parking lot, near the walkway.
I will notify the Moore Parks Dept and ask they open the indoor toilets for us.
This event is for both club members to get together to observe in the metro area, and for prospective members and the general public. If you need help with equipment, or general observing, that will be available, too!
Please check back here the afternoon of June 7 to see if the weather will cooperate. The very very long range forecast is for good viewing weather! But this is Oklahoma in the springtime, and that can change quickly.
We’ll try to hold it if it’s partly cloudy, depending on wind and percentage of cloud cover, but we’ll definitely cancel if completely overcast.