The next member night at CRO is on Saturday, November 11.
Sunset is at 1730 (5:30pm). Nautical twilight begins at 1757. Astronomical twilight begins at 1827. Twilight ends and true night begins at 1858.
The moon sets before sunset and doesn’t rise until 0622. It should be a great night for observing, weather permitting!
Watch the weather forecasts and here on the forum to find out if the viewing will be good that 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.
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.
I’m planning on coming out. We should have a M48 adapter to use if you don’t get it in time. I have a Canon t3i and there is also a Club T3i that is modified out at CRO.
Just checked the forecasts and it the clouds should be clearing at CRO right around sunset. By 6-7 it ought to be clear. I’m going to stop at Swadley’s in El Reno at 4:30, probably leave there by 5, and get to CRO by 6. Anyone is welcome to join me at Swadley’s and if you need a guide, that’s a good place to meet.
I think there’s still construction on I-40, so you might want to consider taking US66 from El Reno to Cherokee Trading post. Though the traffic usually flows fairly well through the construction, it does slow down a lot.
The predicted temperature has dropped about 10 deg though. It now looks like it will be about 55F at sunset and gradually drop to the mid 40s at midnight. So dress very warmly! And bring a blanket or two if you’re going to sit out to try to catch some of the Taurid meteors!
Turned out to be a crystal clear night with light winds. We had a few “technical difficulties” with the Arthurton Dome, but we got it fixed, and visual observing is still happening on the 30". The C14 is up and running, the second pier is being used, Mike M is running his EAA scopes, and everyone is having a good night. I’m adding two panels to a mosaic, all and all a good night
NGC 253 - Sculptor Galaxy from my Seestar (51 minutes) and my Stellina (60 minutes). Taken at the same time so you can compare the images. I wanted an hour each, but the Seestar’s power reached 10% and I think it auto shuts off at 10% and I didn’t want to push it. No post-processing for either.
I started the Seestar about 7 and it lasted to midnight. So about 5 hours at about 50F. I did not start the dew heater. How much that would reduce it I don’t know.
