Sept. Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. Sept. 17th -- 7:00pm is a GO!!

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

Sept. Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. Sept. 17th -- 7:00pm is a GO!!

Post by Sureshks »

Hi everyone,

The next MAS Beginner group (B-SIG) observing session is scheduled for Saturday September 10th at Metcalf Field at Belwin Conservancy, near Afton (weather permitting). It will start at 7:00pm (sunset is at 7:33pm that night). If it is cloudy on Saturday night, the backup night will be the previous night (Friday Sept. 9th) 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.

Everyone is welcome at MAS Beginner events, and there is no charge to attend!! So bring your family and friends. The purpose of these events 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 Moon will be nearly full that night. Despite the bright Moonlight and we can still view many deep sky objects, including nebulae, clusters and galaxies. Three planets (Saturn, Neptune and Jupiter) are now visible in the evening sky, and will be the "stars" of the show this night. Uranus also comes up a bit later in the evening and Mars will clear the treetops around midnight.

If you'd like to join us, please bring a lawn chair or blanket. Also, bring a few extra clothing layers as temps can 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/

Driving 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. There will be a white "MAS" sign and 2 small reflectors on poles marking the entrance.

When you arrive, enter the dirt path and park on the left side. If you have a telescope with you, you can also park on the right (north side) of the field. If we have a large crowd, we may have someone at the front to direct you to a parking spot.

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 9/08. 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 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: Sept. Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. Sept. 17th -- 7:00pm -- Metcalf Field at Belwin Conservancy

Post by Sureshks »

Hello everyone,

After reviewing the weather forecasts, it looks like both Fri. 9/09 and Sat. 9/10 will be clouded out.

We've decided to reschedule the next Beginner Observing session to next Saturday Sept. 17th at 7:00pm back at Metcalf Field.

Hopefully, that night will actually be clear. Please respond here, or send me an email at sureshks1@msn.com if you can make it out that night.

I will send out reminder emails next week as we get closer. Sorry for the inconvenience. 🙁

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: Sept. Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. Sept. 17th -- 7:00pm TBD

Post by Sureshks »

Hi all,

The weather forecast is still uncertain for this weekend. Friday still looks very bad, but there's hope for Saturday night.

So, instead of canceling I will wait to make the Go/No Go call on Saturday afternoon. Please check back here for updates, or drop me an email at sureshks1@msn.com and I will keep you updated.

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: Sept. Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. Sept. 17th -- 7:00pm is a GO!!

Post by Sureshks »

Hi everyone,

After reviewing the weather forecasts for tonight, we've decided to give it a GO!!

Let's plan on meeting at Metcalf Field at 7:00pm. There's a 35-40% chance of rain during the evening, so please bring some rain clothing... just in case.

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: Sept. Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. Sept. 17th -- 7:00pm is a GO!!

Post by Sureshks »

Hi all,

We ended up with a successful BSIG event on Saturday night, despite the various weather forecasts calling for clouds all night.

We had 40 attendees, and perhaps 20 telescopes of various types and sizes set up across Metcalf Field. Early on we had moments of thick clouds, but then a gap would come thru and we were able to view Saturn, Jupiter and then some deep-sky objects such as the Andromeda Galaxy, M13, M27 and a few others. The vast majority of attendees were first-timers, which was GREAT!

And most of them had never looked thru a telescope before, which was also GREAT! And we had perhaps the most children we've had at a BSIG in recent memory (another GREAT!). Needless to say... there were a lot of "Saturn gasps" and "Jupiter Wows" this night. :D

Later on the clouds surprisingly left for good, and we had an amazingly clear and pretty transparent night just at the 3Q Moon was beginning to rise in the trees to the east. We observed Neptune/Triton, Uranus/Titania/Oberon, Mars (Syrtis Major) as well as a few other objects before packing up after 2am.

It ended up a very good night... Here is a link containging some pics taken during the event:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/35knh5iy8mqq ... rugea?dl=0

The next BSIG event is scheduled for Saturday Oct. 15th.

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
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