Had a great night. Early in the evening had a nice Starlink trail of satellites. Saw several other satellites and meteors. Had the Club 14" telescope up and running it is working great. Looked at the Moon before it got to low. Looked at several messier objects. Took this picture of M27 the Dumbbell Nebula using the Club telescope with 0.7x focal reducer and my Cannon T3i camera. Single 3 minute ISO 3200.
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Nice shot!
A very nice shot with a DSLR!
Next time, take a stack of about 45, 1-minute, ISO-1600 subs!!!
Well done 
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!
The next member night at CRO is on Saturday, September 9.
Okie-Tex is ongoing this night and many of our CRO Members will be in the Panhandle 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 1950 (7:50pm). Nautical twilight begins at 2016. Astronomical twilight begins at 2046. Twilight ends and true night begins at 2118.
The moon sets before sunset and doesn’t rise until 0250, so it will be a very dark night!
Watch the weather forecasts and hear 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.
Clear and dark skies!
I will be sure it’s open for OKCAC members.
I will be arriving early around 3pm to make sure it’s at least mowed. It would be nice if someone could join me 
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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!
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I am not planning to attend Member Night at CRO this Saturday night.
Feel free to criticize my priorities, but I’ll be attending the OU Sooners football game in Norman.
Tom
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Sounds fun to me! Safe travels we’ll miss you!
Tom,
One must set, and stick to, one’s priorities! Enjoy the game!
Hopefully it won’t be another 73-0 rout. Blowouts are boring imo.
I will be arriving out at CRO today about 3 pm [maybe a little later if I stop for food, lol]. I will post here when CRO is open. Weather seems to be favorable if a little windy @13mph this evening, I am looking forward to it.
CRO is open
Thanks Joel! Dave is watching you mow right now on the camera there. I hope you have great weather there tonight!
After 3 great nights (but only one true OTSP night), the clouds are moving in here this afternoon. Supposed to be cloudy until about midnight, then clear after that. Unfortunately the predictions for the rest of the week are getting worse, not better.
Who knows what the future will bring???
Am a star! 
Hoping the rain stays away at least, hate for it to be a burning man event, getting flooded out.
Main part of mowing is done now. I think Chris J(?) Will be here in about 30 to 45 minutes, maybe an hour.
Thanks for all you’re doing to keep CRO open and mowed, Joel! Hope the wind isn’t too strong for setting up!
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You are welcome!
It’s a beautiful night, low winds atm. Come on out! Even if you just bring a chair lol
There are 4 of us tonight. Sorry everyone, terrible with names, my apologies!
A couple of pictures from the evening so far. I used My Google Pixel 7 pro, 4 minutes exposure.
Random shot of Milky way [possibly North American Nebula?]
Shot of members out tonight
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Nice night at CRO. No wind, cool temps, and clear skies for a few hours at least. The clouds rolled in around 11, nothing heavy but enough to end the stargazing.
My light meter registered 20.67, for anyone keeping track.