ALCOR Update

Here we are at the beginning of August and the weather is nice and warm. The weather here at Bright Skies Observatory has been up and down, when it is clear it is very windy up to 30 mph gusts, not good for imaging or staying warm. I have been working on my award programs using the SLOOH telescope array and have gotten confirmation that this way of imaging is acceptable.

For a note – Astronomical League considers the scopes at Seagrave not as remote scopes but as owned scopes because the members of the Skyscrapers technically own them jointly. That is good because that means if you use the Seagrave scopes you are not limited to the programs allowing Remote Scopes.

I have been working on two different programs, the “Galaxy Groups and Clusters” and “The Local Galaxy Group & Galactic Neighborhood” programs I have been working on them since 2021 as there are so many observations or images needed. The Galaxy Groups and Clusters requires 120 observations/images. Also one of the more tedious parts of the programs is documenting what you are observing but at the same time this is one of the most rewarding parts of the programs and you expand your knowledge of the sky and universe as you describe what you are observing. Today on a nice rainy day I have updated my Excel spreadsheets with my latest images and observations. I now have 10 more objects out of 120 left to observe. AND then I need to document all the observations and images from my observing notes.

Remember that there are programs for all skill levels and interests! There are programs that can be done in a month, programs for naked eye, binoculars, telescope and a combination of all. There is even a Outreach program for helping out at open nights and star parties at Seagrave and programs the Skyscrapers do.

If you are a member of the AL pick out a program at https://www.astroleague.org/alphabeticobserving/ and get started, if you are not, why not join now?