Pulling the big scope out of the mothballs

tiger roach

tiger roach

Urban Bovine Knievel
I have basically been on a hiatus from astronomy for a few years, other than an eclipse or two. Life has been too complicated with work in Houston, house in central TX, etc etc.

But now it’s time to resume the space program. I have booked a few nights this week in a place a couple hours west of here, they have dark skies and cater to astronomy freaks. Looks like rain for a day or two, but Friday and Saturday look promising.

The last couple days I have been getting my gear together. And gave the scope’s primary mirror a long-neglected cleaning.

Here is the mighty 14.5” Zambuto, drying out before being put back in its home:

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We have arrived, and the place seems really cool so far. Tomorrow looks like rain, but might get some binocular peeks in tonight. The real observing will be Friday and Saturday nights.

Fortunately we made stops for food and tequila on the way over. Current situation:

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Those guys were pulling their gear back into their trailer as the storms approach and I was playing my Martin (also just out of the mothballs) and I was palying louder and bluesier and they never even looked over.
 
I always wanted some serious aperture!
Back in the day a friend had a little 4" Celestion Schmitt-Cassegrain we used to take out to a clear cut in the National Forrest on good nights.
We logged a sht ton of Messier and NGC objects with that little scope but we were always dreaming about a big ol mirror.
Happy stargazing!
 
It was a great night! I thought I would be rusty at finding things, but it was almost like I never had a hiatus at all. I quit around 12:30, I was pretty fatigued by then and it seemed like some thin clouds were starting up.

Woke up this morning and it was totally cloudy.


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