Oct 062023
 

The final star gaze of 2022 started off with clear skies and solar telescopes. A few sunspots were visible now that the Sun is coming out of solar minimum.

The Sun’s chromosphere comes into view with Dennis’ H-alpha scope.

Observing sunspots using Scott’s scope just before the trees get in the way.

A guest observes the Sun’s spectrum through Tom’s spectroscope.

As the Sun set, the solar equipment was put away and nighttime scopes were pointed towards Jupiter and as the skies darkened further, Saturn came into view.

 

Much later, high haze prevented dimmer objects from being observed but by then the guests were heading back home or to their camp sites. Overall, we had about 50 guest observers.

The club was represented by:

  • Tom Haugh
  • Dennis & Marietta Hausch
  • Scott Morgan
  • Oliva Weaver

We thank Marietta Hausch for her photographs.

 Posted by at 12:01 pm
Feb 112023
 

It’s been several years since our last visit to Bluewater Elementary School. This year’s star gaze started off with broken skies but as the night went on the skies cleared. So overall, the event went very well with clearing skies, several telescopes and an enthusiastic group of guest observers. We had at least 30 students, teachers and family members present for the evening. We even had a family take advantage of our standing invitation to bring out their personal telescopes to join in the fun.

We need a little taller ladder.

Yep, that’s it right there.

As usual, Saturn was the ‘star’ of the event. Even easier to see was an 8-day waxing Moon as well as Jupiter and its moons. A little more challenging were several deep-sky objects just visible in the somewhat bright sky.

The crowd gets a little larger. At left, Olivia has a line at the library telescope.

A budding astronomer takes a look through Dennis’ Maksutov.

We had good support from the club:

  • Tom Haugh
  • Dave and Marietta Hausch
  • Olivia Weaver

First, we would like to thank the family that brought out their telescope. Unfortunately, I didn’t write down their name so I can’t ID them specifically. We would also like to thank the staff of Bluewater Elementary School for the invitation to share our passion for the night sky. Finally, we need to, once again, thank our unofficial photographer, Marietta Hausch.

 Posted by at 1:49 pm
Jan 052023
 

The E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center’s Camp Longleaf was the site of the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council’s 2022 Space Science Campout. The evening started with introductions and a safety briefing. Star maps and NASA handouts were also passed out.

One of the highlights of the evening was when new NWFAA member Olivia Weaver addressed the audience. Olivia is currently a high school senior attending Northwest Florida State College’s collegiate high school. She discussed her current project using the college’s telescope. She also advised the scouts when they got their turn to use the library loaner telescope.

Members of the NWFAA and our ‘guest observers”.

Olivia speaking to the scouts.

The scouts were treated to a 10-day old Moon as well as Saturn and Jupiter. Several deep sky objects were also on the list as each one cleared the ever-present biophilia center’s trees. The Andromeda Galaxy (M 31) and the Hercules Cluster (M 13) were just two of the additional sights the telescopes were aimed at. Some of the scouts were even able to check off the Neptune block of their observed objects list.

Dennis aligning his scope before the action begins.

Dave looking for the evening’s first target.

We had plenty of support from the club:

  • Dave Halupowski
  • Tom Haugh
  • Marietta & Dennis Hausch
  • Olivia Weaver
 Posted by at 3:34 pm
Jan 022023
 

This year, Northwest Florida State College hosted our support of the annual IOMN (International Observe the Moon Night). Since we were observing the Moon, we did not have to find a particularly dark location so the softball field parking lot filled the bill very nicely.

The action gets started well before sunset.

A family gets a view of the Moon via Scott’s Dob.

For our first IOMN event at the college, we had a fair turnout with lots of students, several faculty members and families enjoying the view. In addition to the Moon, the perfectly clear sky featured Saturn and Jupiter as well. There were plenty of smart phone attempts to get photos but only a couple of successful shots.

A future astronomer gets a look through Dennis’ Maksutov.

Lunar views through Renee & George’s Cassegrain.

We are hoping to host all our future IOMN events here on the Northwest Florida State College campus.

Club members supporting the IOMN were:

  • Renee & George Gollehon
  • Tom Haugh
  • Dennis & Marietta Hausch
  • Scott Morgan
 Posted by at 12:20 pm
Nov 132022
 

Our annual trek to Eden Gardens State Park went on under clear skies. It is always a pleasure setting up our telescopes on the grounds of the stately Wesley house. Luckily, we get to wedge ourselves into the park’s heavy schedule of weddings once a year.

Guests start their celestial viewing with Dennis’ scope.

Renee and George setting up their scope and camera.

We had an estimated 40 guest observers in attendance, and they started off with views of Saturn and Jupiter. With Jupiter as bright as it currently is, we were able to bring it into view before the sky got dark and once the scopes were synchronized to Jupiter, Saturn was quickly found. Ultimately, the sky was dark enough for the guests to observe several deep sky objects along with a brief glance at Neptune. In fact, the skies were dark enough to glimpse the Milky Way however, some high wisps of cloud showed up just as the event was winding down.

Anticipation while Scott re-points his scope.

The line grows to view Saturn at Tom’s scope.

The club was well represented:

  • Renee & George Gollehon
  • Tom Haugh
  • Marietta & Dennis Hausch
  • Scott Morgan

Once again, we need to thank the rangers of Eden Gardens State Park for the invite and support during the star gaze. We also thank Marietta Hausch for the pictures she took during the event.

 Posted by at 3:51 pm
May 282022
 

The Northwest Florida State College observatory and the NWFAA hosted Cub Scout pack 556 to aid in their STEM curriculum. The group of 17 very enthusiastic scouts and leaders started with a tour of the observatory.

We then went down to the classroom for a presentation on the Astronomy science that local observatories accomplish including science that the scouts could participate in. Once that was done the scouts, leaders, parents and siblings took the classroom telescopes out to the observing deck and viewed the Moon and other objects that were bright enough to make it through the moonlit sky.

Club members supporting the event were:

Andrew Christy
Ariana Delamata
George & Renee Gollehon
Dave Halupowski
Tom Haugh
Dennis Hausch

 Posted by at 2:32 pm
May 282022
 

We made our annual trek way up north to support Walton Middle School’s Astronomy Day early on Friday, the 13th of May. Hmm, Friday the 13th. So, it was comforting to know that we had no fewer than 4 people tell us “Don’t worry, all the sprinklers had been turned off.”.

This year we had 186 students with additional teachers and administration observers take advantage of safe views of the Sun. Tom started off each group of 8th graders with a presentation on the Sun which was then followed by a question-and-answer session. Afterwards each group headed outside to view white light, H-alpha and spectroscopic views. We spent most of the day under clear skies. However, late in the afternoon, some clouds started to appear and unfortunately, only a few of the last group got to see the Sun before the clouds and the school bell ended the viewing.

Dennis provided the H-alpha view.

Tom set up his spectroscope for a more colorful view of the Sun.

Faculty and staff must take a look as well.

And the clouds start rolling in.

Cub members supporting the event were:

  • Tom Haugh
  • Dennis & Marietta Hausch

We need to thank Marietta for her photos of the event.

We also want to thank the faculty of Walton Middle School for the invite and the excellent lunch they provided. We will be sure to make the north bound trip again next year.

 Posted by at 2:19 pm
May 282022
 

For Topsail Hill State Park, we had a larger than average turn out of guest observers. Starting with solar observing and continuing on into the evening we had a steady flow of people. The Sun was sporting several sunspots along with a couple of small prominences. Tom had set up his spectroscope to provide an alternate view of the Sun.

Tom shows how to use the library scope while Bill gets a picture.

Dennis explains to guests and a park ranger the uptick in solar activity.

As the sky darkened, the Moon became the next target of opportunity.

The Moon is almost directly overhead.

Woah, I can see craters.

Watching as the Trapezium gets brighter than the sky.

What am I looking at?

The Pleiades and the Orion nebula were still high enough to clear the tree line but with the Moon being 47% lit, most of the dimmer objects were washed out. So, stellar targets such as Sirius’ M 41 and Ursa Major’s Alcor and Mizar were next on the list of objects.

Participating members were:

Bill Coffeen
Dave Halupowski & Kennedy Odom
Tom Haugh
Dennis & Marietta Hausch

We would like to thank Marietta Hausch and Bill Coffeen for the Topsail photos.

 Posted by at 1:47 pm
May 272022
 

Turnout was relatively low for our first public star gaze of 2022 with only 15 guest observers. As usual for Henderson Beach, we started early with solar telescopes. With the Sun finally coming out of minimal activity, there were actual solar phenomena to view. The next object was a 2-day old Moon. It was, of course, visible while the Sun was up but was much easier to view once the sky started to darken.

John taking a look at the 6% sliver of Moon.

Dennis & Frank trying to see the Trapezium as the sky darkens.

Dennis selecting the next target.

Tom admiring the clouds (NOT).

Luckily, there were some deep sky objects to see since the only planets visible in the nighttime sky were Uranus and Neptune. Both were very low in the western sky with Neptune setting less than a half an hour after the Sun. The Pleiades (M 45) and the Orion Nebula (M 42) were visible however, humidity induced haze dulled any extended object.

The club mustered a sizable cadre for the first star gaze of the season:

  • Frank Atchison
  • Clyde Bennett
  • Bill Coffeen
  • Dave Halupowski & Kennedy Odom
  • Tom Haugh
  • Marietta and Dennis Hausch
  • John Walker

We would like to thank new member Bill Coffeen for the star gaze photos.

 Posted by at 5:15 pm
May 272022
 

Our 2021 state park star gaze schedule, such as it was, ended at Henderson Beach.

Normally, Henderson Beach star gazes are our most heavily attended events. But 2021 was not a normal year, for so many reasons, and the star gaze at Henderson Beach was no exception. We only had about 25 guest observers during the event that started in the early afternoon with solar viewing. There was a little activity seen but you had to look very close to see a prominence. That will change as we get deeper into solar cycle 25. We had enough scopes set up that we were able to dedicate one to a daytime visible Venus. The half-lit planet was very easy to find in the daytime sky if you knew where to look.

Amongst the guest observers were two that brought and set up their own telescopes. Both were looking for assistance and we were glad to help each of them, one more successfully than the other. We always suggest bringing out personal telescopes; we are glad when people take advantage of the opportunity to join in the fun.

Dennis & Tom discuss the upcoming solar cycle.

Dennis shows a guest a daytime visible Venus.

Guests took advantage of our invitation to bring their own scopes and join in the fun.

The pinkish “Belt of Venus” highlights the evening sky.

As the skies darkened Jupiter and Saturn came into view with Saturn, of course, the more popular target. Several deep sky objects were viewed as well as Neptune when it rose high enough in the sky to clear the mucky atmosphere near the horizon.

  • George & Renee Gollehon
  • Dave Halupowski & Kennedy Odom
  • Tom Haugh
  • Dennis & Marietta Hausch

We would like to thank the management and park rangers of Henderson Beach state park for allowing us to share our passion for the night sky. We look forward to a more ‘normal’ star gaze schedule and to normal Henderson Beach crowds in 2022.

 Posted by at 4:43 pm