Orion Nebula Star Party Pictures

The 2007 Orion Nebula Star Party was held Sept 13-14th and we had about 20-25 astronomers show up from all over the state. I arrived Friday afternoon and was surprised to find 5 people already there who had been up there since Wednesday. Gary with his 22" Dob, Bruce, and a few others. They said the night before was good but some frost in am. When I arrived it was in 50's and warm but the weather forecast was to hold out until Sunday. When I drove over from Everett is was overcast and drizzling in North Bend so this kept the fair weather astronomers home. We had a warm first night and good to see old friends again Tim, Bruce and Paulette, Gary, Allyne and her family and make some new friends. First night was warm as I never did put on my ski bibs or stocking cap. We stayed up until 2am or so and best views were of M33 Pinwheel galaxy, Andromeda which is overhead, Cats Eye nebula, M15, M13, M92, M30 Globulars and the Sagittarius stuff before it set. Next day was a little winder and we spent time hiking to lion rock. On Friday there was some haze from forest fire nearby so the Stuart Range from Lion Rock looked hazy. On Saturday most of that was gone and we had some broken clouds and wind during the day time. But night was better if not a little colder.

I had to get the ski bibs and ski cap on Saturday night as it was in the 40's. We had a good turn out and everyone was eager to look for some new objects. I spent time testing new eyepiece Celestron 22mm Ultima LX eyepiece 70 degree field of view and star testing a William Optics 110mm refractor. Both were excellent and the Pleiades never looked so good through that combo. Allyne and I spent our time looking for the obscure and faint stuff. We found NGC 891 in Andromeda and a couple of other items that we couldn't find it in her 8" or my 13.1" so had to ask Gary to help us out with his 22" dob with computer star chart.

All in all a good event and warm during day 70's and not cold at all no frost this year.

Weather report called for partly cloudy on Thursday and rain for Friday and Saturday and snow level at 5,000ft.

I arrived Thursday at 1:30pm. There were some big RV's on the hill and some boys in Camo hanging out by their ATV's. Bow hunters looking for Elk. We had clouds and rain on Thursday so we sat in Gary from Walla Walla's RV and watch a DVD of the Holy Grail.

Never did clear up. It was 36 degrees when we went to bed and 34 and light dusting of snow when we woke up. No wind so it wasn't that cold. Just wet. We had 8 people on Thursday. Friday more arrived and a few left. Gary and I went to town and had Lunch with Brent who was leaving. It was 2/3rds clear in Ellensburg and looked like we may get some viewing in. But we were in the clouds again.

Ed, Bill, Skip, Darrell, Jeramia and others arrived and we sat in Ed's RV watching Star Wars on DVD from Laser Disc and Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Rings. Bill came by and was leaving and noticed it was clear. So we scrambled to set up. I had the 13.1" out in snow and rain so the secondary was fogged up. But saw M31 naked eye, NGC663, and NGC 457 owl cluster in Cassiopeia as well double star in Andromeda. That was all the observing for the night. We woke up to another dusting of snow and 32 degrees and it was clear at 6am. Saturday it was cloudy with some sucker holes during the day and hail, rain and 2-3" of snow. We have pictures. We ended up building a fire in the fire pit thank you Jeramia for the idea and Ed for the blow torch to light the wet wood. We also watched more movies and I left at 5pm. Bill and Ed with their camper and RV were left. And yes Virginia it Cleared at 8pm to 130am is when they observed and saw the Orion Nebula. They said the seeing was good but the scopes kept fogging up.

That one was the best. We held it in September 28th -30th that year and had 20-50 people show up Thursday-Sunday. We had warm weather in 60's during the daytime and 40-50's at night. It was nicer weather then the star party in July. Jim went all out that year and we had sweatshirts and t-shirts to sell, free observing lists. Off the Beaten Messier Path, If it ain't Green it ain't seen-Planetary Nebula list, and common named list. We also had the 29.25" f 4.5" Starmaster Dobsonain to view through. Free coffee, tea, hot chocalate and snack area. And a first we had door prizes Friday and Saturday night with highlights being Meade 6.7mm UWA eyepiece and $100 a night stay at New Mexico Skies Observatory. All in all it was a great event except for Jim getting ill Friday night. Thank you for the asprins and meals Thomas and Julia Adams who took care of Jim on the mountain.

2000

The year 2000 was a bust completely for observing we got in a brief look on Friday of a few stars and were rained out. We packed up Saturday after both scopes were soak and pausing to take photo's. We had a total of 5 people show up to pose. They are host, Bill Borsheim, Dave from Bellevue, Greg from Walla Walla, and Cliff from Seattle. We knew we were in trouble when the regulars Bruce from Yakima and Randy Johnson from Seattle didn't show up. This was the first year for the 29.25" f/4.5 Starmaster Dobsonian to make an appearance and the usual purple 13.1" f4.5 Sky Valley Scopes truss tube dobsonian was in attendance. The telescope mirror has made every Orion Nebula Star Party since our inception in 1992. Both scopes have Coulter Optics but the 13.1" has been refigured by Carl Zambuto in 1995.

Jim, Dave, Greg and Cliff and the 13.1".

13.1" and the new 29.25" Starmaster that Jim acquired in July 2000. He still needs to come up with a name but it's jokingly known as "The Almost 30"

1999

We had one night of observing and about 10 people from Seattle, Everett, and Yakima clubs. We had a great night the skies were extra steady and Jupiter and Saturn were the best I have ever seen it at Table Mountain since 1991. We had such steady skies that we were doing 600x. We also had a Comet Borrelly. Attendies were a hardy bunch as it was 22 degrees that night. We had Scott Marsh, Jim and Mrs. Rich, Bruce Perrault, Ray Shere, Kelly Biggs, Randy Johnson, Tina Johnson, Richard and his wife from Oak Harbor.

The northern lights.

Bruce Perrault from the Yakima club with his 13.1" modified Coulter Odyssey Dobsonian telescope. Bruce and the Yakima club attend every year. Bruce is famous for bringing apples and usually knows where the latest comet in the sky is.

Frost on Sat morning we awoke to frost everywhere and it was about 22 degrees. It rained in the middle of the night and froze.

Saturday am 1999 at Lion Rock. The frost was very thick and all over the tree tops all over the observing field.