Part of the Texas Star Party 2022 portfolio
Green Bank Star Quest July 2018
The Milky Way rises with Mars on the eastern horizon on July 13, 2018 at the fantastic Green Bank Star Quest in West Virginia.
Green Bank Star Quest is a premier astronomical event. Please check out their website for the next date and review the quality lectures available to attendees. Highly recommended!
New Mexico Skies May 23-June 6, 2003
Immediately after our Chiefland trip in February 2002, the guys started talking about a desert southwest trip. We began to investigate sites and chose New Mexico Skies (NMS) as our destination. New Mexico Skies is the leader in remote and destination astroimaging for the amateur. Please see their website for the impressive list of imaging equipment on hand for users to rent on a nightly basis. In addition to the fine astronomical equipment, NMS has a complete library with internet access via desktops or wireless connection via your personal laptop. The library is also host to the midnight cappuccino treats-mmmmm.
The group started with Kirk Rogers, George Whitney, Warren Keller, and me, but that would soon change. I believe we had at least 9 guys in the clubhouse at NMS each night of the 2 weeks of our stay. It was a great group and "momma Whitney" made sure all of the fraternity boys were well fed and well behaved. Thanks "momma Whitney." Can you believe this? After changing travel plans many times, the final plan called for George and Warren to drive out a truck towing our equipment in a trailer. Wow, this permitted the rest of the group to fly to El Paso. We are eternally indebted to George and Warren for the trek cross-country. In some ways, I feel like I missed a unique opportunity in that truck. Many images on this page are courtesy of Ernie Mastroanni, Kirk Rogers, or Joe Schaefer. Thanks guys.
We had a little turnover of imagers/observers from week one to week two. States that were represented were West Virginia, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Massachusetts.
Week one group from left to right.
Back row standing: Jeff Ball, George Whitney, Kirk Rogers, George Walker, and Saul.
Front row kneeling: Ernie Mastroanni, Joe Schaefer, and Warren Keller
Image courtesy Ernie Mastroanni
When lines would form for Televue NEAF specials.
This is the film-based astrophotography setup in November of 2001. We are setup at the Gatewood campground near the summit of Spruce Knob, West Virginia's highest point at just over 4,800'. It was a fantastic spot for photography, but we have since found a few more convenient locations with similar sky conditions.
The gear is an Astro-Physics 130EDT refractor on an Astro-Physics 600QMD mount. I used the SBIG STV and eFinder for autoguiding. I used the AP focal reducer to bring the scope to f6 and utilized Kodak E200 and Fuji Provia films.
