A morning romp with the Orion 6XT IntelliScope

Shortcuts for this entry: Finder issues and then there's the vertical stop Not Microsoft The Beehive Eskimo Saturn M35 M3 and M51 Scope facts just for the record Hey Scotty, Give me warp .3! Sorry sir, the best we can...

Rethinking and refining equipment choices

I’ve had enough experience with visitors at the observatory to now refine my equipment choices and develop a pattern for the sessions. First, I want to make sure each session at the Observatory involves some naked eye observing, some...

Triple, quadruple, and gang - but not in that order

Topics, this post: Pleiades Beta Monoceros Sigma Orionis 4.5-inch Orion Dob Stars tend to hang out together and observing stars that are close to one another offers some special opportunities to make comparisons. On the mornings of December 3 and...

Cold, cloudy, and confusing – but that’s OK ;-)

Double-star learning opportunity handout – to be read before observing session – and/or after.Download file Double-star field notes document with stars suitable for fall to early winter. Download file Well, I'm learning. I'm learning that my expectations for youth...

Now this is nice!

Westport Shorelines, a weekly covering the area, devoted two-thirds of their front page this week to an article about Driftway Obseervatory. A good deal of that space was taken by a wonderful picture of one of the Webelo Scouts using...

Observing books, Websites and purchasing resources

Books and web sites to go along with that first telescope purchase. (Note: this ia handout used to supplement talk/demo on purchasing a first telescope.) Magazines Sky and Telescope - http://skyandtelescope.com/ They publish Sky and Telescope magazine, a standard with...

Buying your first scope

Note: This is a handout for a talk/demonstration given at the Westport Library November 17, 2005. As such,it is intended as supplementary notes - not a complete article. Six links to a good observing experience Most telescopes do an adequate...

Earliest evening start times for public observing sessions

Please note: We change the earliest start times every 15 days based on when true darkness begins We can start half an hour earlier if the target is the moon or bright planets Times for April-October assume Daylight Savings is...

Calendar Nov 14-21 2005

11/14/05 Monday Date 5:15 pm Earliest Lunar and Planetary Observing time 5:45 pm Earliest Star and Deep Sky Object observing time 13 days waxing Age of the Moon Special notes: Mars remains close and presents a disc of about 18...

Confusion reigns!

Plans go awry! ! Fireflies appear! Success! If I had to write the headlines for last night’s first session under the stars with the Webelo Scouts from New Bedford, they would read like the above. I had great plans –...

Guided tours - a public program example

Guided tours are shaped to the times and specific wants and needs of the individuals. During the tour participants pack in quite a few experiences - and hear a lot of facts - in a very short time. Because of...

Purchasing the right first telescope

Almost 50 years ago I bought my first telescope and I made the same mistake then that most people are still making today because unfortunately, there are still a lot of poor choices screaming for attention in local discount stores....

Switching gears - a blog and an experiential education program

In the past month or so I've made a major switch from lone observing to developing an observing program designed to share my equipment, experience, and knowledge with interested adults and youth. To that end I've been developing a flexible...