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The
Phoenix Astronomical Society Star Parties
This year we’re running two observing nights each month. The first is on the 2nd Saturday of each month and the second is after the Wairarapa meeting on the 4th Friday of each month. The first night is our dark-sky night and is an all-weather event with a BBQ to start with talks and AVs to follow; while the second night is our lunar, planetary and stellar night.
But, these observing nights won’t be a line-up a view session like you might have had in the past. We want you to bring your binoculars and telescopes with you if you can. Each night our experienced observers will provide you with talks, charts, an observing plan and all the help you need to learn our skies and become a Phoenix Expert Astronomer! Don’t have binoculars or a scope? No problem, use ours.
You can expect to see a similar programme two months running – this will help reinforce constellations and star-hopping patterns you found the previous month, and will provide us some backup in case of poor weather. In April and May we’ll move onto our Autumn Stars observing programme.
CANCELLATION warning: In the case of extreme weather we will cancel evenings – we don’t want anyone getting hurt on their way to the observatory. Notices will be posted on our web site also be sent via Phoenix Announce (
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). If you’re in any doubt please phone or text Cameron Jack on 021-232-6613 or Richard Hall on 027 2305 191.
Up-coming
Phoenix Star Parties Download Star Charts
Saturday
13th March 2010 (Rain or Shine):
Bring your telescopes and binoculars! Charts for all the objects presented tonight will be available on the web site and at the clubroom.
4pm: Observatory maintenance/training – we’re getting the Nankivell Observatory up and running at present. Basic training on all scopes can be given to anyone interested.
6pm: BBQ and Get-together
7:00pm: Planet Saturn with Richard Hall
8:00pm: Fading North: Orion, Monoceros, Canis Major and Gemini; with Cameron Jack
8:30pm: Night Sky AV – Summer Sky
9pm: Observing (or documentary if cloudy): Your hosts this evening are Cameron Jack and Roger Gibbs. We will be targeting the deep-sky objects in the northern Milky Way.
Friday
26th March (After the Wairarapa meeting):
9:30pm: Mars, Moon and Saturn. Bright star clusters of Carina.
Saturday 10th April (Rain or Shine): Note change in times due to daylight savings removed!
4pm: Observatory maintenance/training – TBD
5pm: BBQ and Get-together
6:00pm: Objects of Argo Navis: Southern Stunners
7:00pm: The Galaxies of Leo
7:30pm: Night Sky AV – Autumn Sky
8pm: Observing (or documentary if cloudy).
Saturday
26th April (After the Wairarapa meeting):
9:30pm: Mars, Moon, Saturn & double stars of the South. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Planetary and Lunar Observing Report from 26th March 2010 – by Cameron Jack
The excellent March Wairarapa meeting was followed by a largely clear and calm night, which lured several Wellington members across the hill in search of some good views of Mars and the Moon. The beautiful Peter Reid refractor held up its end of the deal, only to be let down a bit by average seeing – Mars and the Moon were quite low down in the sky as to be expected from observing at this time of the year. While the Moon was well on its way towards full, the use of the society’s Oxygen III filter helped to bring out the contrast across its face, in particular showing up crater rays quite well. With the filter in place Mars revealed its polar cap at a 10 o’clock position and Wellington expert stargazer John Field identified the dark marking present as Syrtis Major. In spite of the moonlight M42 gave a nice showing in the big refractor, with the four main Trapezium stars clearly separated. Many thanks to the group of observers who took the time to stay after the main meeting - I think we were well rewarded for our efforts.
 The Society holds regular observing evenings at its dark sky observatory in the Wairarapa. The societies first observatory - which was opened on 17th July 1999 - contains the refurbished 15cm (6") Peter Read refractor (on loan from The Carter Observatory) which is an excellent instrument for planetary observation,
an automated 20cm (8") Schmidt-cassegrain , a 12" Dobsonian (great for beginners), and a 58 cm (23") reflector (for deep space observation, including galaxies).
Observing Etiquette For many members observing at the Phoenix observatory is a new experience and like any social gathering there are some guidelines to make this enjoyable for everyone. Seeing Red It can take more than 20 minutes to fully 'dark adapt' for astronomical viewing. Simply turning on a white light or shining a white light flashlight around observers will set them back at least a half hour, depriving them of the possibility of viewing all the detail in dim objects. Dim red light doesn't cause this loss of dark-adapted vision. Please don't ruin a whole viewing session by turning on white lights or bringing and using a regular flashlight. An easy solution is to fix red cellophane over your flashlight using a rubber band or some cellotape. Vehicles If you have to leave the observing early park where your lights will not bother those who are still observing. If possible use your cars park lights to leave the parking area and switch on the main lights in the driveway area. Telescopes Experienced members will show you how best to view through a telescope by adjusting focus. Other than that, please keep touching of the scopes and other equipment to a minimum, unless invited to by the operator. Do not grab the scope or pull on the eyepieces.
Observing is more enjoyable for everyone when we practice observing etiquette. :-)
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