After some initial confusion as to why the NWFAA was arriving at the state park was cleared up, we proceeded to our normal observing site and setup a number of telescopes. Frank, Dennis, Bob, Chuck, Tom and Tony all brought optics for the evening’s guest observers. One couple was already waiting for us.
Since the 22nd was coincidentally “International Observe The Moon Night” , the moon was our first target of opportunity. The Orion 4.5″ Starblast, Dennis’s dob and Chuck’s binoculars were all brought to bear while everyone else started aligning the more complicated scopes. The moon was high in the southern sky as darkness fell and was an easy and bright target. A lunar map app was used to identify craters along the terminator. The club’s updated information handout and “The Evening Sky Map”s were distributed and briefed.
As the skies darkened and more observers arrived, the goto scopes came on line and deep sky objects were added to the sky tour. One eagle-eyed guest observer spotted a satellite passing overhead and a quick check showed that it was the Hubble Space Telescope on one of it’s 96 minute orbits. Stephen finally cleared work and arrived with his massive refractor.
Along with manning the NWFSC’s 12” SCT, Tony provided running commentary and constellation background information. Numerous star clusters and nebulae were observed, but some sky glow hampered the dimmest views. Neptune was available for those checking off that block, and the Great Andromeda Galaxy finally rose high enough over of the eastern tree line to be seen.
But, by 10 P.M. we finally ran out of guest observers and wrapped up the evening’s festivities. As usual, we had a small but enthusiastic crowd and we look forward to the last Topsail Hill sky view of 2012 on Saturday the 17th of November.