April Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. April 29th -- CANCELLED

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

April Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. April 29th -- CANCELLED

Post by Sureshks »

Hi everyone,

The first outdoor MAS Beginner group (B-SIG) observing session of 2023 is scheduled for Saturday April 29th at Metcalf Field at Belwin Conservancy, near Afton (weather permitting). It will start at 7:30pm (sunset is at 7:55pm that night). If it is cloudy on Saturday night, the backup night will be the previous night (Friday April 28th), also at Metcalf Field.

This event also depends on whether the ground at Metcalf Field completely dries out after the snow melts. We will be monitoring the field condition in the days prior to the event, and will communicate updates here as we get closer.

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 and show objects thru their telescopes.

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 on the east side of Metcalf Field, so if you need power to run your telescope or other equipment, just bring an extension cord so you can connect!!

We will start out on the Moon this night. It will have a 70% gibbous phase, which is a great phase for viewing craters along the southern lunar terminator. I'm sure that every telescope on the field will be trained on the Moon, even before sunset. Venus will also appear high in the northwest, just after the Sun goes down. It will have a similar 67% gibbous appearance as the Moon. Mars will also be shining reddish high overhead. It'll be just 5.4" in size, about 31% as large as it was in early December, but we'll still take a look to see if we can make out any surface features, such as a polar cap.

Once it gets dark, we will turn our telescopes outside of the solar system. Spring is prime galaxy season. We will point our scopes towards the constellations Ursa Major, Virgo, Canes Venatici and Coma Berenices. We will seek out some of the brighter galaxies, such as the Whirlpool, Bode's & Cigar, Markarian's Chain, the Sunflower, the Black Eye and the Leo Triplet. This is also prime season for viewing globular star clusters, such as M3, M5, M13. Later on in the evening, the Summer Milky Way will clear the treetops in the east, and we can look for beautiful open clusters and nebulae embedded within it.

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 plan on making the Go/No Go call weather call Thursday April 27th. But if the weather forecasts are iffy, I may wait to give the final Go/No Go as late as Saturday afternoon. 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.

Let's hope the field dries out in time. 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
Jessi
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Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2020 1:23 am
Real Name: jessica palmer
Location: Saint Paul

Re: April Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. April 29th -- 7:30pm -- Metcalf Field

Post by Jessi »

I've never been there for a BSIG observing session. Is there a designated parking area?
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Sureshks
Posts: 1220
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:43 pm
Real Name: Suresh Sreenivasan
Location: Hopkins, MN

Re: April Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. April 29th -- 7:30pm -- Metcalf Field

Post by Sureshks »

Hi Jessi, yes you can park on the field.

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: April Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. April 29th -- 7:30pm -- Metcalf Field

Post by Sureshks »

Hello everyone,

The weather forecasts for both nights this weekend are trending bad. But 2 weather models (CSC and Astrospheric) appear to be suggesting that there's a reasonable chance for decent sky conditions on Saturday night. I'm going to wait till early Saturday afternoon to see how the models coalesce, and will post the Go/No Go decision here around 1pm.

Sorry for the delay, but the weather gremlins are at it again!

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: April Beginner Group Observing Session -- Sat. April 29th -- CANCELLED

Post by Sureshks »

Hi all,

After reviewing the weather forecasts for tonight, we've decided to cancel tonight's planned BSIG event at Metcalf Field. We've rescheduled it to Saturday May 13th, back at Metcalf Field.

We hope you can join us then!

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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