[CMAS] Star Party at Galaxy Quest / Astronomy On Television

Tue Apr 22 22:20:09 EDT 2025

Hello, CMAS!

STAR PARTY AT GALAXY QUEST OBSERVATORY IN LINCOLNVILLE

Saturday, April 26, 2025, 8:00pm
Galaxy Quest Observatory
84 Vancycle Road, Lincolnville, ME 04849
<https://www.google.com/maps/place/8WRP%2BQP6,+Lincolnville,+ME+04849/@44.3416206,-69.0647822,162m>

*Get accurate driving directions at the link above! After driving half a
mile on Vancycle Road, the pavement will change to gravel. Immediately turn
left at the sign for Donkey Universe Farm. Park near the barn. On foot,
turn left after the barn to find the observatory out in the field.
Double-check your Google Map directions when driving to Galaxy Quest. The
old Vancycle Road was once one road stretching between two towns, but is
now two separate roads, one in each town that no longer connect. You MUST
approach Galaxy Quest from the east in order to find it, from Belfast Road
/ Route 52. On your computer or phone screen, you will be driving from the
right toward the left when approaching Galaxy Quest. *

We admit it: The long-term forecasts for this weekend are sub-hopeful, but
perhaps there is some chance for clear skies.

Refractor shootout! We'll be pitting Jacob's f/5.2 660mm TeleVue NP-127
against Jon's f/10 6" 1524mm Jaegers. These very different refractors
represent the best of their respective eras. The TeleVue's objective is
best-in-class of modern telescopes, a fine choice for astrophotography. For
visual observing, it will be hard or impossible to find fault with it. The
Jaegers is an antique, classic achromat, yet with sharp views and startling
contrast. For visual use, how much is really gained with sophisticated,
modern optics? We guarantee that neither will disappoint, and look forward
to seeing how they compare.

We’ll also all be able to try a little magic that allows small telescopes
to see faint objects. Jacob has been experimenting with coupling a
military-grade night vision system to small, lightweight telescopes. It
electronically amplifies the light, in real time, right at the eyepiece.
It’s not quite the same view as one would see in a larger telescope, yet
with a Hydrogen-Alpha filter, faint nebulae really pop! We will test the
system on the Veil and North American nebulae, which will be ideally placed
above Galaxy Quest.

FILMMAKER AISLINN SARNACKI FEATURES ASTRONOMY ON MPBN TV

Last fall, the filmmaker Aislinn Sarnacki introduced herself at the Blue
Hill Dark Sky Festival, requesting help filming a feature for a television
show about Maine’s dark skies. She wanted just a few astronomers to gather
so she could film us observing. With all the rotten weather this past
winter, we canceled every scheduled shoot for months on end. Finally, when
we were approaching the deadline at which Aislinn had promised to deliver
the finished show to Maine Public Television’s Borealis program, during
that long period of sub-zero and single-digit temperatures, we stole a
clear night on barely a day’s notice. Filming was at Galaxy Quest
Observatory because its access road was plowed, it would be easy to set up
just by rolling off the roof, and it had a warming room readily available
for thawing astronomer’s and camera crew’s hands. Aislinn is truly gifted,
a wonderful ambassador for astronomy and all outdoor activities.

The full episode includes scenes about underwater drones and photographing
wild animals <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF3IyRzPzFk>, but the part
showing just astronomy and astrophotography
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAoH43M1AJA> can also be seen separately

Clear skies!

Jon Silverman, President
Central Maine Astronomical Society

www.maineastro.com
MaineAstro at gmail.com
207/619-CMAS
207/619-2627

* Public star parties at observatories in Whitefield, Lincolnville, and
Damariscotta
* Presentations at schools, clubs, and civic organizations
* Technical and legislative aid in preserving dark skies
* Assistance to beginners
* Fellowship for experts

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