Great night Saturday, April 6, 2013, at Galaxy Quest. What a treat for the sixth-grade students of Camden-Rockport middle school and their parents. Big turnout of both club and guests, including a fraternal visitation by President Charlie Sawyer and several members of Downeast Amateur Astronomers. Thank you to everyone who attended, with a special nod to those who drove long distances and arrived early to set up. Applause to Dee, for once again bringing us the throng of school children that so unites the club!
We had no clouds at Galaxy Quest, but transparency and seeing deteriorated from okay to not-so-good, as so often happens here in Maine. We chose objects accordingly, and had perfectly fine views. That’s part of the joy of hosting first-timers. Clear away the clouds and point at the larger, brighter objects, and everything will be fine. We even saw traces of structure in M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy! The result was happy children’s voices echoing an endless stream of “Wows!” “Awes!” and “Ohhs!”
Jacob and I learned how to double-team the big Dob to find objects. First, we looked through the Telrad of his Go-To refractor to see where the quarry lay, or found it on a chart and in binoculars. Then, I would point the big Dob’s Telrad where I thought it belonged. Jacob was at the eyepiece circling for the object, and calling “Stop!” when we found it. This scope has always been difficult for either of us to handle alone, so double-teaming was a revelation to both of us, and a fine demonstration of how one can truly improve one’s skills by joining an astronomy club. Everyone saw Comet C/2011 L4 Panstarrs through this gigantic telescope, which Dwight declared to be the largest in Maine… yet another reason to trek to Galaxy Quest!
Mark Reuillard brought his $20 home-built, 50mm f/12 refractor, assembled entirely from PVC irrigation pipe and fittings, a few screws, a beautiful cherry dovetail and rings, and a $7 objective from Surplus Shed. Very clever and precise PVC focuser. Mind boggling views. I had no idea a 50mm could show so much. Time to service my 60mm Towa, which could not best it. Dollar for dollar, Mark can now claim to build the finest refractors in the universe! If a few carefully machined parts were supplied as a kit, as is likely to occur, anyone could build one of these cheaply. With any luck, this will spill the club back toward its ATM roots.
Jacob’s son, Josh, is turning Donkey Universe into an organic, grass-fed sheep farm, so quiet poaching should keep us well fed at the observatory. Only red-light cookfires will be allowed. Josh and his better half, Maya, proved remarkably adept at supplying endless gallons of hot cocoa to freezing throngs of school children, which ranks them both as budding astronomers. Every job counts!
Special thanks to Ann Mills, who thought it utterly wrong for barely half-thawed children to go hungry, and so offered a special donation to fuel their enthusiasm and minds. Her vanilla wafers and ginger snaps tasted especially fine while drinking cocoa to prepare for another round at the eyepiece.
Thank you to everyone who proved, once again, that when school children request an introduction to astronomy, CMAS and the visiting astronomers of Maine respond with the best of all possible nights!
