Quote:
Originally Posted by MortonH
So you're inviting us all to the next one?  |
Absolutely. I live right in the center between NY Kennedy International, NY Laguardia and Long Island McArthur airports. I am sure you can get a flight.
Light pollution is pretty bad so no problem seeing where you are walking. Only problem is I never know more than a day or two ahead as to when I am going to have them as it is weather dependent, naturally. But you would be welcome.
Here is what I do:
I usually put out the XT8i for general use, starting with a 2" 38 mm 70 degree eyepiece. 31.5X and 2.2 degree FOV. I let them wander the sky if I am tied up with someone else.
I set up the ETX 80 in Goto mode and put it on something to track so there is a self service scope ready to go. Normally this scope gets the 8-24 Celestron Zoom. Maybe a 2X barlow too, depending on what I am tracking. Last time I was tracking the moon. 32X to 100X is usually good for the moon.
Next time I am going to teach my friend how to use the GoTo to target the ETX 80 and give him a list of targets that the scope can find for him. He should love that.
Then I have 7X28, 10X50 and 15X70 binoculars out. I find that some people gravitate to the binoculars rather than the telescopes. And I have a $3 pair of plastic child's binoculars I could hand a 4 year old.
I have these as handouts so they have something to take home.
http://whatsouttonight.com/
I really enjoy it and I think they do too because I have more people asking me to let them know the next time I do this.