Member Night at CRO - September 16

Events
1

The second member night at CRO in September is on Saturday, September 16.

This is the last day of Okie-Tex and many of our CRO members will not be here this night. Regular Club members need to check back here to ensure that a CRO Member will be opening CRO this night before driving to the observatory.

Sunset is at 1940 (7:40pm). Nautical twilight begins at 2025. Astronomical twilight begins at 2035. Twilight ends and true night begins at 2106.

The moon sets at 2035 (8:35PM) and will be a waxing crescent, 2.7% illumination. So like last week, this will be a very dark night for observing!

Check the weather forecasts and check back here to ensure it will be good viewing weather and CRO will be open.

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.

Clear and dark skies!

2

I will make sure CRO is open if no one else can make it. Probably won’t be opening up the 14" myself. So if anyone else is available for that, see ya there!

2 Likes
4

I’m going to come out for this one.

I can open CRO and/or the 14" observatory, if needed.

1 Like
6

I’m currently planning to be there as well. If will be good to see you Marv :smile:

1 Like
7

Weather tomorrow evening is looking clear, cool and low winds. Dress warm :+1:

It will most likely be raining all day. With that in mind, people may want to stay on the paved roads as long as possible!

I will possibly be arriving around 5pm. See you there and if anyone needs a guide, let us know so we can meet.

1 Like
8

CRO is open little cloudy right now no wind but it looks like it’s going to clear off

1 Like
9

I’m on my way. ETA 7:15.

All-Sky camera looks good!

1 Like
10

Beautiful sunset, got a decent picture of some sun spots rotating into view

PXL_20230916_235907748~2
PXL_20230916_235907748~21099Ă—1483 88.2 KB

Cool evening, 3 members are out. Marv, new member Scott and myself. Perfectly clear skies and the Milky Way is decently bright for this area.

1 Like
11

A couple of Milky Way images for you :grin:

PXL_20230917_015915600.NIGHT~2
PXL_20230917_015915600.NIGHT~21920Ă—2550 607 KB

PXL_20230917_015204268.NIGHT~3
PXL_20230917_015204268.NIGHT~31920Ă—1684 238 KB

12

i really wanted to go tonite but moneys been really tight.maybe next time?

13

Totally understandable!

14

It really was a beautiful night! Joel’s done a great job keeping CRO spiffy. He’s got real talent with his astrophotography gear.

Scott has been an astronomy buff and photographer for a long time. He marveled at our facilities and development over the years. I don’t doubt he’ll be getting back into club activities and CRO in no time.

I spent the evening doing just visual astronomy. And boy was it enjoyable (once i got everything up and running). Planets Saturn and Jupiter were awesome, and i pulled out Uranus and even Neptune late. Andromeda was gorgeous. Pleiades sparkled. I got on a roll late and split 5 or 6 doubles.

Then the dew point hit! About midnight, everything got wet. Luckily i was prepared with dew shield, but I couldn’t keep my observing chair dry; but i was on a roll, so I slogged it out and enjoyed the beautiful sky!

I left about 1:45 after shutting down and locking up. Took trash home. I hope many members who went to Okie-Tex had some great viewing! CRO provided great viewing both Member Nights!

3 Likes