MnAstro Forums

Greetings all,

The MAS Virgo Venture is scheduled for next week, May 19th/20th at CGO. The purpose is to nap a bunch of galaxies in the constellations of Virgo and Coma Berenices. As this is an OFFICIAL MAS star party, it will be called OFF or ON. At present, the forecast looks hopeful for Saturday night. We'll have updates as we get closer. Below you will find a couple of aids to help you out: Greg Haubrich's sky chart of the area as well as a check off list.

This notice is also copied on the Observer's Special Interest Group. Please consider using that thread for questions and whether or not you are planning to attend.

Here's to happy galaxy hunting!

Well folks,

Looking forward to the VV this weekend, it appears that clouds may not be the problem, but smoke from the Canadian fires. Astropheric suggests that smoke will, indeed, cause a problem but we won’t know until we get there. Sadly, smoke causes more issues with transparency than with seeing, and transparency is what is needed to see those faint fuzzy galaxies.

More to come, but this call will likely not happen until Friday afternoon for Friday evening.

If you are planning to come, please consider letting us know in the same thread found in the Observer’s SIG forum.

Please excuse a question from a newbie.

The Virgo star party. Is that open to the public?

I'm pretty sure this was covered at some of the new member meetings, but my memory isn't what it used to be.

It’s generally a member only event held at Cherry Grove Observatory. However as a member you can bring guests and we do allow prospective members to attend to check out the society. Just be aware it’s not an outreach event. While some observers will often invite you to view through their telescopes it’s not an expectation for everyone. Someone may be deep into their observing project and not wish to be disturbed. Although most are there for the social aspects of observing together. The shared telescopes of the observatory may or may not be in operation. Please keep in mind the no white light policy and other shared observing field etiquette. As a group event there will be a good deal of astronomy talk and banter and many are often willing to assist less experienced members with their telescopes or answer there observing questions.

Well folks,

It’s a dicey forecast for tomorrow due to the smoke. We need to wait until later this evening to get the next smoke forecast so the go/no go call won’t be made until late morning/early afternoon tomorrow. Stay tuned…

Well folks...

After an hour discussion with our Chief Meterological Officer Kristopher Setnes (I'm sure he's cringing right now), we have decided to CANCEL the Virgo Venture for TONIGHT. NO GO FOR TONIGHT, FRIDAY MAY 19TH. The reason is the smoke, not the clouds.

While forecasting clouds is challenging, forecasting what the winds that control the smoke will do, is maddening. Below you will find two screen shots of Astrospheric's Opinion of smoke at 10:00 pm and 2:00 am. Astropheric is following - we think - the Canadian data as to what might happen (the NOAA data is a bit more hopeful, but not enough to count on). As you can see according to Astrospheric, there WILL be a clearing, but it's going to be early in the morning. Consequently, we are cancelling the OFFICIAL star party for tonight.

Of course, you are more than welcome to head out on your own, or find somewhere more to the north of CGO. Kristopher and I will be conferring again tomorrow morning about Saturday night. The hope and expectation is that the clearing - which will start early Saturday morning - will last through Saturday into Saturday evening, hopefully long enough for at least a few hours of observing before the smoke returns. Stay tuned...

The forecast looks good for tonight. VV is ON for Saturday, May 20th.