Welcome to OSP IV - May 28th through June 3rd, 2008.
This years motto: The Nights Are Short, Stay Up For It!
New Deck, 19' x 16'....
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New Facilities: vent, skylight, solar-powered....
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New Facilities: Corner mount ceramic sink, gooseneck faucet, water pump....
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New Observing Area: The patio is complete....
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New Observing Area....
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New Shower Area: The old facilities area were converted. Now with the push of a button, a hot shower....
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New Shower Area....
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My Puppies, Kuiper and Sagan!!!
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My new addition to the Observatory, a pullied observing table which stores up in the rafters when not in use. It's 8'x3' and has room for everything....
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The Sun is setting on the first observing night.
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Thursday Night I had to myself....
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Friday afternoon Claude and Randy arrived and we set up Claude's tent in the usual tent spot.
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Next we set up Randy's tent.
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Here's Claude's scope, an 8"f6, set up in the Southeastern clearing just west of The Ridge.
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Here's Randy's scope, a 10"f10, set up in the Southwest clearing by the North Star Bar.
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With Twilight upon us I started setting up the 36" scope.
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The Observatory is a very integrated building.... The table was a nice feature to have this year.
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The new Box-Fan mirror cover works really well pulling air through the mirror box and pushing it through to the top.
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Don arrived Saturday afternoon, no tent but everything set up in the back of his truck.
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We quickly set up Don's scope just to the left of the path to the Facilities. He brought a 12.5"f3.7 scope he made himself.
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Don and his scope.
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With Saturday evening upon us we had a beer and.....
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The customary shot of Whiskey for everyone.
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The bottle got its new level mark and date. This bottle is going to last a while....
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Soon Rib Eyes were grilling with a couple of Turkey dogs.
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Then we waited for sunset....
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I started to get things cooling down and ready.
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Come on twilight....
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The Observing Field 2008.
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Sunday Morning we woke to a weather balloon suspended in the Northeast sky. It moved slightly over the next few hours, and then the balloon burst, deployed a parasail which took the payload gliding Westward into the area just North of Overgaard.
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Another photo zoomed in on it.
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And another photo with a better lens.
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Claude took this photo through his 8"f6 later in the day. It had increased volume considerably.
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With the arrival of the Sun in the East we had a Solar mishap.... A little smoke, a little ash, but no worries.....
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Must have sleep.....
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Sunday night looked like it might be a Beer Night.... However, we still got all the scopes up and running and it turned out to be one of the best nights.
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How did the North Starr Bar get its name?
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Every year everyone carves into the table of North Starr Bar, initials and date if it's your first year, or the date below the previous dates for those returning....
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I don't know how long the table will last, but we'll do what we have to to keep this tradition going.
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Everyone left Monday afternoon but I stayed one more night.... It was another great OSP. Next year I may have to upgrade the Habachi to something a little larger.
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