NorthWest Florida Astronomy Association

Our last public star gaze for 2017 went on without a hitch. As usual for Topsail Hill, we had a few park attendees, who were there for other attractions, stop by and view the Sun through our white light and hydrogen-alpha filtered telescopes. We also had several campers stop by and promise to come back after dark.

NWFAA members who supported the Topsail Hill event were:

• Frank Atchison
• Tom Haugh
• Dennis & Marietta Hausch
• Robert Sutphen

Guests observe the Sun with Dennis’ and Tom’s solar telescopes	Frank sets up his equipment just as the Sun sets.
Dennis discusses his telescope with guest observers.	Robert and guests wait for the sky to fully darken.

As the sky started to darken the crowd of guest observers slowly grew. We transitioned to nighttime telescopes and since Saturn was just visible through the trees to the southwest, that is where we started. However, it was not long before the planet was no longer visible through the trees.

By the time it was fully dark the Milky Way was just visible. It was not obvious; you had to look for it, but it was there. There was some high thin haze that hid dim objects from view so we had to stick to the brighter deep sky objects.

Some of the brighter objects we were able to view were:

• M 31 (Andromeda galaxy)
• M 45 (Pleiades)
• Double Cluster (NGC 869 & NGC 884)
• M 42 (Orion nebula)

Some of the guests were able to check off the “I observed Uranus” box. Neptune was too low in the low altitude muck to see. Eventually, all the guests headed back to the campground or left the park so we wrapped up just shy of 10:00 PM.

Thanks once again go to Marietta Hausch for the event photography.

Update:
This was Robert’s last star gaze wtih the NWFAA. Robert passed away on the 10th of May 2018. Robert was one of our go-to guys for supporting our educational outreach programs. He had recently updated his mount and was just getting a handle on the new technology. He will be missed.

Robert supporting our 13 Nov. home schooling event.

The NWFAA’s first daytime star gaze for the North Okaloosa Association of Homeschoolers (NOAH) was a great success. At least, on our second try. The first was cancelled due to solid overcast but the event on Monday had perfectly clear skies.

We started by giving our solar presentation to the assembled students and parents. After a lively question and answer session the 80+ attendees adjourned to the lineup of scopes.

Dennis Hausch brought his Hydrogen-Alpha scope, Robert Sutphen had his 8″ Celestron filtered for white light views and Tom Haugh set up his spectroscope. Since we didn’t need a second white light scope Dean Covey pointed his scope in a different direction and provided everyone with a daytime view of the crescent Moon.

Dennis shows off the Sun in H-Alpha light.	Part of the line at Robert’s 8″ Celestron.
Future astronomers examine the Sun’s spectrum.	Dean shows you really can see the Moon in the daytime.

 
We need to, once again, thank Marietta Hausch for her event photography.

We were finally able to synchronize with the Hurlburt Library and hold our annual star gaze with picture perfect skies. We had plenty of club support as Dean Covey, James Dubben, Tom Haugh and Dennis Hausch all brought scopes. We started off with some solar observing with the Sun providing a couple of small prominences and a small filament. Ultimately, the filament dissipated just before the Sun set.

Viewing the Sun through Dennis’ white light filtered Maksutov.

Tom’s H-alpha scope provides a view of the Sun.

By the time we transitioned to nighttime viewing club member Scott Morgan joined in the activity. We had a smaller crowd than our last gaze, but the group that was there was enthusiastic. As usual, Saturn was the star of the show but quite a few guest observers were also able to check Uranus off on their observing lists. Among the other deep sky targets was Alberio, the Ring Nebula as well as Messier objects 7, 8, and 13.

Fresh from the total eclipse on Monday, Dean Covey, Tom Haugh and Robert Sutphen set up scopes for the Topsail Hill Preserve State Park star gaze. After an initial viewing of the Sun we shifted to nighttime mode. We had a fairly good turnout but the high wispy clouds discouraged any deep sky object viewing. Luckily, Saturn was high in the sky and that was our primary target for the evening. A couple of star clusters were visible through the haze, but all the assembled guest observers went home pleased with the event.

This event at Henderson Beach state park was not like any of our past events here. As we arrived an hour before our published start time, there was already a long line of ‘guest observers’ waiting. Even before we arrived park staff had setup a comfort stand to hand out water to those that would need it, so we took advantage of their help and gave them the eclipse glasses that we brought for the guests.

Guest observers waiting for 11:00 AM

Finally, the line starts to move.

Meanwhile we started setting up the solar equipment. Dean Covey and Tom Haugh each set up two telescopes; one white light filtered and one H-alpha. Robert Forrester brought his white light filtered Maksutov for his first public star gaze with the NWFAA. He also setup a static display with information and handouts about the eclipse and the Sun. His help was greatly appreciated.

Tom checks the 3rd mount’s compass heading.

Guest observers getting a ‘before’ view of the Sun.

As we finished setting up those scopes, the clock chimed 11:00 and the crowd started to gather at each of the scopes. Lines formed and we were busy from then until well past maximum eclipse. If fact, we were so busy that Tom did not have the chance to finish setting up his third telescope. Unfortunately, that was the scope with the piggyback camera to record the eclipse, so he was not able to get any photos. Dean wasn’t able to get any either while he manned his two scopes.

Eclipse underway.

Watching the observers watching the eclipse.

The rarity of the event led to great coverage by our local media. The Northwest Florida Daily News and Channel 13 out of Panama City sent teams to cover the eclipse.

Northwest Florida Daily News live streams a report. Note the un-scoped mount in the background.

Channel 13 live from Henderson Beach.

Although none of the NWFAA members got the chance to get any photos of the eclipse, one of our guests did. He was kind enough to send us some that were taken through the eclipse glasses that were handed out at the beginning of the event.

Near maximum obscuration.

Past maximum.

The park ranger’s first estimate of attendance was 1,400 and with the uninterrupted flow of observers, we believe them. The weather started out with some high hazy clouds, but well before first contact the skies overhead were clear. Luckily, the ominous clouds to the north stayed away until well after last contact and most of the crowd had left. But ultimately, the skies darkened, the wind picked up and we scrambled to get packed before the rain started. Thankfully, it didn’t.

Hurry!

Frank, Robert, Tom and Dean (L-R)

We would like to thank the Henderson Beach rangers for their support of our event. We also need to thank Donna Haugh for her support and photography. And finally, we need to thank guest observer Artis Coleman for his pictures of the eclipse and of the crowd. Thank you all.