The Friends of MIRA enjoyed the finest weather for the annual Star Party on Chews Ridge. Clear evening skies for our outdoor picnic dinners promised the best of viewing from the Oliver Observing Station, and for the nine amateurs and their telescopes who turned out to support this fine organization.
Dr. Bruce Weaver, President of MIRA, spoke after sunset about the research that has been done and gave us an idea of how MIRA's 36-inch research telescope works with its computer-driven system, while we waited for the sky to darken. The astronomical views we were treated to were spectacular. Bruce chose well: M57, the Ring Nebula, and the bright star Vega, in Lyra; a beautiful double star, Albireo, with distinctive colors in yellow and blue; M15, a globular cluster in Pegasus; the Sc galaxy; NGC 6495, a globular cluster in Sagittarius; and two bright planets, Jupiter and Saturn.
Dr. Whitney Shane was also on hand to help with the new telescope guidance
system, and the crowd was peppered with MIRA board members, volunteers,
and of course, everyone there was a loyal supporter and Friend of MIRA.
Dodie Barkley and Chuck Scardina covered the event in fine style, and their
delightful story and photos appeared in the October 3rd issue
of the Carmel Pine Cone.
As sunset faded to dark at the Oliver Observing Station, everyone gathered to hear Dr. Bruce Weaver explain how the guidance system for MIRA's 36-inch telescope has been enhanced this year (photo by Ivan J. Eberle).
MIRA's Amateur Club, the Astronomical Society of the Central Coast (ASCC), was well represented by Arthur Babcock, Robin Casady, Cary Colwell, Steve Dorff, Rich Hamilton, Tom Lougheed, Rod Norden, and Monica Treadway. Our telescopes were set up early and many of the guests wandered out to view the sky between program objects upstairs at the big telescope. The amateurs had guests asking, "What are you looking at?" Our night begins with the question, for it is music to our ears!
There were a variety of telescopes to see through and compare. Some of our new astronomers were able to make some recommendations as to what kind to purchase. We like to compare our scopes and, surprisingly, each astronomer is very happy with his own. The very best view was from Cary Colwell's 14" Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain. This telescope shows Saturn with such incredible clarity that you could see the Encke and the Cassini divisions. Saturday night we could also see a peculiar red band very near the equator which I had never seen before. Our jewel, Saturn, is the most beautiful object in our sky.
The public star party ended at around 11:00 p.m., when the astronomers carefully positioned the telescope to fit through its door in the roof of the observatory, then activated the motors that slowly rolled the roof back over the observing deck. The group of Friends that attended left cold but happy after a night of beautiful views through all of the telescopes, but most especially through the 36-inch, the star of the show.
A strong wind developed later in the evening and we had to cover our telescopes. Some of the amateurs left, but a few die-hards, ever optimistic, decided to wait and hope for the best. We were rewarded with an abating wind and at 4:00 a.m., it was perfectly still. Steve photographed the Andromeda Galaxy, and Tom holds the record for staying up the longest with his photograph of the sunrise.
The early morning at the observatory is a unique experience. The air is so still, and one can see mountain ranges on every side covered with a fine mist that clears slowly and makes a good beginning for the day. The camaraderie of kindred spirits is a very special bonus that comes with belonging to MIRA.
