I think our public star party schedule speaks for itself. SLAS gives the public as much opportunity for public observing as any organization. To each his own, but I have no desire to quantify the number of people who have looked through my scope. I recall a few times having a line of over 100 girl scouts, keeping a log would have detracted from everyones experience. I am sure I have shared views with many thousands, with varying interest of observers.
Regular participants in SLAS events have no need to quantify or prove their public outreach efforts, doing so seems a little egocentric. I do agree match the object viewed with what your telescope does best. Many scopes will out perform the Grim on planets for instance, it has always seemed silly to keep the Grim on a planet when it gets dark. Erik My friend Mat heard John Dobson say once that he didn't care how smooth
your mirror or your glass, or how excellent your motions are. What he wants to know is how many people have you shown the wonders of the night sky to in your telescope, whatever it is. In the end, that is truly what matters at an outreach event in my opinion.
Mat took that to heart and he keeps a log book and every time some one views through one of his scopes, he asks them to sign his log book. It has date, time and signature, that's it. It is an excellent reminder of outreach nights and how many people have viewed through your telescope(s). Its such a wonderful idea that it is something I have started. I wonder if such a log had been kept how many people have viewed through the Refractor, the Ealing and the Grim at SPOC? Mat can chime in when he gets back to town if he wants. Now if round two of my sickness can get over (I went back to work too soon and pushed too hard too soon) I think I may get back to life . . . that and if the clouds ever leave.
On Sat, Jun 11, 2011 at 8:22 PM, Kim Hyatt <kimharch@cut.net> wrote:
Conditions don't look good in Sanpete for a star party tonight - how are they up north?
I've often heard people at star parties make the same comments about having the best view through my telescope, whether it's been my 10-inch Newtonian, 8-inc SCT or 5-inch APO. One factor is good collimation, as Daniel intimates, but more than aperture it's a factor of selecting the right object and the right combination of eyepiece and magnification. Remember, our viewing public isn't as sophisticated and they don't know anything about aperture, contrast, etc. Using high magnification to show subtle detail in a faint DSO isn't going to impress. I like to select objects that can still look good in a lager field rather than have the object fill the eyepiece. People seem to appreciate such views better from my experience. I've also found that having lower magnifications when I don't have a tracking mount makes a difference by allowing people to study the object more before I have to interrupt to move the telescope. So, I've gone to using my Ultima 2000 (Celestron 8-inch SCT and tracking mount) almost exclusively for public star parties.
See you all at Bryce, I hope.
Kim
-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of daniel turner Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2011 5:33 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Meade 16" LX200
From: Steve Fisher <iotacass1@hotmail.com> To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2011 3:21 PM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Meade 16" LX200
Steve:
The refractor does fit the idea of a telescope that most of the public has in mind when they first wander accross one of our public star parties. So it's a comforatable entry point for most of them.
I have also had a steady stream of viewers tell me that the best view of the night was through my 17.5 inch dob. These are people who have looked through enough telescopes to make a comparison and form an opinion.
The answer to this paradox is aperture. The Dob and SCT have it and the refractors don't. Do a comparison view of Saturn of all the telescopes on the field at the star party. The one with the most aperture always seems to win unless the owner doesn't know how to properly collimate.
At least it does to my eye.
Daniel Turner
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