July Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. July 9th -- 8:00pm -- Metcalf Field at Belwin Conservancy

This is the discussion forum for the Beginners Special Interest Group. Whether you just learned how to spell t-e-l-e-s-c-o-p-e or have years of observing experience you're welcome!

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Sureshks
Posts: 1220
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:43 pm
Real Name: Suresh Sreenivasan
Location: Hopkins, MN

July Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. July 9th -- 8:00pm -- Metcalf Field at Belwin Conservancy

Post by Sureshks »

Hi everyone,

The next MAS Beginner group (B-SIG) observing session is scheduled for Saturday July 9th at Metcalf Field at Belwin Conservancy, near Afton (weather permitting). It will start at 8:00pm (sunset is at 9:01pm that night). If it is cloudy on Saturday night, the backup night will be the previous night (Friday July 8th) also at Metcalf Field.

There are no COVID restrictions for this outdoor activity. If you are planning to attend please respond here (with your e-mail address) or drop me an e-mail at sureshks1@msn.com so I can keep you informed of changes due to weather.

There is no charge to attend a Beginner group event, and you do not need to be an MAS member to attend -- everyone is welcome!! The purpose is to help beginners learn the night sky, and how to set up and use a telescope. Volunteers from the MAS will be on hand to answer your questions.

You do not need to bring any equipment to attend. But if you have a telescope, bring it!! If you need help with learning how to set up and use it, we are happy to help. There is AC power available at Metcalf Field, so if you need power to run your telescope or other equipment, just bring an extension cord so you can connect!!

The 81% illuminated Moon will be out that night, and will set a bit before 2am. Despite the Moonlight, the Summer Milky Way will be high up after dark, and we can view the brighter deep sky objects, including nebulae, clusters and galaxies. Saturn now rises before 11pm, and will be viewable
by around midnight in the southeastern sky.

If you'd like to join us, please bring a lawn chair or blanket. Also, bring a few extra clothing layers in case temps dip at night.

Directions to Metcalf Field: (see this Google Maps link): https://goo.gl/maps/UNkt67YPWg4qAjuP6

Metcalf Field GPS Coordinates: 44.93734 N / 92.82157 W

For more information on Metcalf Field, see here: http://www.mnastro.org/facilities/metcalf/

Directions:
Head east past Woodbury on I-94 to the Manning exit (exit 253). Turn south and then take the first left onto Hudson Road S. Continue east about 1.5 miles and turn right onto Indian Trail. Check your odometer here, and then travel 1.1 miles. You'll see an unmarked chain-link gate on the right side. This is the entrance to Metcalf field. Enter the dirt path and park on the left side. There are 2 small reflectors on poles marking the entrance. If you have a telescope with you, you can also park on the right (north side) of the field.

If you haven't been to Metcalf Field, it can be a little difficult to locate the entrance. So please arrive in daylight.

I will make the final Go/No Go call weather call on the evening of Thursday 7/07. Please check this thread for updates, or e-mail me at sureshks1@msn.com to stay informed.

Also, if you'd like to volunteer to help out at this or any future Beginner group events, please let me know.

We hope to see you there!!

Suresh
Suresh Sreenivasan
B-SIG/FB/Metcalf Comm

Refr: AP 130mm GTX/SW 120mm/Borg 4"/Unitron 150 4"/Jason 2.25”
Dobs: ATM 16"/Orion 12”
Newts: Cave 8" RFT/Criterion RV6/Astroscan 4"/Orion 3.6" TCT
SNs: Meade 6"/Celestron 5.5"
SCTs: Celestron 9.25"/8”/B&L Criterion 4”
Maks: SW 7"/Quantum 4"/Meade 3.5” ETX
Cass: Vixen 8” VISAC/Simmons 4.5"
RC: MallinCam 10"
Sol: Lunt 80mm DS/PST
Bino: Vixen 12x80/Nikon 10x50
Mounts: CGX/EQ6r-Pro/AVX/GDPX/Porta II
User avatar
Sureshks
Posts: 1220
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:43 pm
Real Name: Suresh Sreenivasan
Location: Hopkins, MN

Re: July Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. July 9th -- 8:00pm -- Metcalf Field at Belwin Conservancy

Post by Sureshks »

Hi all,

After reviewing the weather forecast, we're going to go with Saturday July 9th for the next BSIG event at Metcalf Field!!!

The weather forecast for both Friday and Saturday nights are both a bit iffy... but we are going to give it a GO for Saturday night!!

Saturday is the more promising of the two nights, and we think there's a good chance we can do some observing... maybe with some high clouds in the sky.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING ROAD CLOSURE!!!

As of today, Hudson Road east of Manning Ave. is closed for road construction. The sign says it is expected to be completed around the end of July.

If Hudson Road is still closed on Saturday, follow this detour to get to Metcalf Field:

- Take the Manning exit off of I-94
- Continue South on Manning Avenue past (closed) Hudson Road
- About a mile down turn left (east) onto 15th Street S.
- Follow 15th St. S. for about 2 miles. Just after a small bridge turn left onto Indian Trail S.
- Metcalf Field will be about a mile down on the left side (west); the entrance is just before a left turn in the road

There will be a white MAS sign with red letters and two orange cones marking the entrance

You can also get to Indian Trail S. by taking the St. Croix Scenic Byway exit off of I-94 and going south.

Metcalf Field address: 796 Indian Trail S. Afton, MN. (This is not a precise address, but you can put it into your Navigation device to get you very close to the entrance as you are re-routed around the road construction.)

Metcalf Field GPS Coordinates: 44.93734 N / 92.82157 W

Please arrive in daylight so you can find us. If you have any issues, you can call my cell (612-910-0444).

I am attaching a map here that shows how to follow the detour to get to Metcalf Field from the Manning exit (on the left side). Follow the red lines to get around the detour and get to Metcalf Field from the south.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone. It looks like it will be another big crowd!!!

Suresh
Attachments
Metcalf Detour South to 15th Street
Metcalf Detour South to 15th Street
Metcalf Detour 2.JPG (47.99 KiB) Viewed 5734 times
Suresh Sreenivasan
B-SIG/FB/Metcalf Comm

Refr: AP 130mm GTX/SW 120mm/Borg 4"/Unitron 150 4"/Jason 2.25”
Dobs: ATM 16"/Orion 12”
Newts: Cave 8" RFT/Criterion RV6/Astroscan 4"/Orion 3.6" TCT
SNs: Meade 6"/Celestron 5.5"
SCTs: Celestron 9.25"/8”/B&L Criterion 4”
Maks: SW 7"/Quantum 4"/Meade 3.5” ETX
Cass: Vixen 8” VISAC/Simmons 4.5"
RC: MallinCam 10"
Sol: Lunt 80mm DS/PST
Bino: Vixen 12x80/Nikon 10x50
Mounts: CGX/EQ6r-Pro/AVX/GDPX/Porta II
User avatar
Sureshks
Posts: 1220
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:43 pm
Real Name: Suresh Sreenivasan
Location: Hopkins, MN

Re: July Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. July 9th -- 8:00pm -- Metcalf Field at Belwin Conservancy

Post by Sureshks »

Hi all,

Thanks to everybody who came out last night for our largest MAS Beginner Astronomy Observing session at Metcalf Field... maybe ever!

We finally broke 100 people for a BSIG event -- we had 103 attendees and at least 32 counted telescopes of all types and sizes set up all across the field. Everything from a tiny 40mm refractor to Trena's 14" Dob and Don's 15" Dob. There was a great energy on the field all night!!

We had excellent parking management by Alan Touchberry, Ron Cooper and Donald Gazdik, and they made sure that the field didn't feel overwhelmingly crowded.

We were quite fortunate that the forecasted clouds largely stayed away all night long... and it turned into a splendid & comfortably warm night.

I set up my Orion 12" Dobsonian and Astro-Physics 130 GTX refractor, and showed people the Moon, M13, M27, Eastern & Western Veil, Lagoon Nebula, Ring Nebula, NGC 7789, M15, Andromeda Galaxy, M32 and a few other DSOs. We also viewed Saturn, Neptune and Jupiter. Trena mentioned that she also showed people the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51). And others were busy showing other objects too thru their scopes...

Saturn put on a great show after it cleared the treetops around 12:30am. The rings casted a subtle narrow shadow band onto the planet that everyone was able to see. Three moons (Rhea, Dione, Tethys) were in a very tight diagonal line formation just off of the rings. Titan was it's usual beautiful orange self. And the 8th magnitude star (HD 207123) that it occulted some 22 hours earlier was now parked further to the east right next to Iapetus!

About 40% of the attendees were first timers, which is great!! A group of about 12 teen age scouts arrived around dusk. We showed them different telescope types. They were quite eager to showcase their knowledge of astronomy and cosmology... and also discuss man's place in the universe with us. :lol:

Special thanks to our MAS volunteers who set up their telescopes, helped others with their questions and equipment, and gave people a splendid sky tour -- Alan Touchberry, Phil Ramsay, Clayton Lindsey, Judy Babcock, Hal Yngve, Don Gazdik, Trena Johnson, Brent Emery, Laura Emery, Dave Falkner, Jason Asper, Ron Cooper, Jerry Jones and Bernie Stinger. Thank you again for all your time and effort. Everyone had a great time!

Here is a link to my Dropbox with additional pictures from last night's BSIG event: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9msst1uujo7n ... DcXRa?dl=0

The next BSIG observing event is scheduled for Saturday Aug. 6th at Metcalf Field.

We hope to see you!!

Suresh
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Suresh Sreenivasan
B-SIG/FB/Metcalf Comm

Refr: AP 130mm GTX/SW 120mm/Borg 4"/Unitron 150 4"/Jason 2.25”
Dobs: ATM 16"/Orion 12”
Newts: Cave 8" RFT/Criterion RV6/Astroscan 4"/Orion 3.6" TCT
SNs: Meade 6"/Celestron 5.5"
SCTs: Celestron 9.25"/8”/B&L Criterion 4”
Maks: SW 7"/Quantum 4"/Meade 3.5” ETX
Cass: Vixen 8” VISAC/Simmons 4.5"
RC: MallinCam 10"
Sol: Lunt 80mm DS/PST
Bino: Vixen 12x80/Nikon 10x50
Mounts: CGX/EQ6r-Pro/AVX/GDPX/Porta II
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