This event is after Astro 8A lets out. The path is wide and includes all of Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Mtns. Visible from the homes of all of our team. And, through Cabrillo College where I plan to try it and get help from Jordan.
We might try to use the 12" scope since the altitude is 81 degrees which is very tough for a alt-az telescope. In that case, we'd want the straight-through orientation for the LCD. If we instead use the 8SE scope, then we'll need the diagonal and nosepiece 0.5x reducer combo, and then use the reversed version of the LCD view.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
This was Astro 8A night; the last night students could get the raw picture for the astrophotgraphy project. That had to be first priority. There were 4 students still needing to get a photo, and it was slow going getting the Gemini/C2A connection to happen as it did successfully the prior week, and getting the 4 sets of photos took until just a half hour prior to the event. I then tried to get the 12" to navigate to the target, but this requires far more work than I had hoped. So I instead rushed out to engage the 8SE. I did ID the star field, despite the worry over the 81 degree altitude pointing accuracy, but inserting the 0.5x adapter and Watec I could not ID the stars. I had little time to do so, and the event was missed. I'll chalk this up to a valiant attempt but failed due to forces beyond my control (teaching duties).
At Cabrillo Observatory. Lack of time given teaching duties and interactions with students and other gear. Unable to get on-target on 8SE in time. No Data. A "Purple Heart - wounded in battle".
Got data from both the 8SE and our Astrid which he'd set up at home.