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I am a retired music teacher. I make custom violins and violas. I play fiddle in a bluegrass band. I like camping and astronomy.
8 posts
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Articles by
Greg Eckes
Star Party in San Simeon
Last weekends star party in San Simeon was a lot of fun. More fun than actual observing.
Also posted in Messier Club, Photography, Star Parties
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California City Observing Feb 18, 2012
Last month some of us attended the TAA star party in California City. Friday night turned out to be the warmest and the best night. Saturday was cold and windy. Sunday was good but very cold. Marks thermometer on Mead Hand-control registered a temperature of 27 deg. Friday night, Danny Eckes took this time-lapsed photo [...]
Also posted in Observation
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Messier Award
At our last meeting our president, David Adalian, suggested that our club members take advantage of the different observational awards that the Astronomical League provides. These awards are designed to improve ones observational skills. I am proposing that our club work together on the AL’s Messier Award. This will also tie-in nicely with Dan Demmers’ [...]
Also posted in Messier Club
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This month is Dues Month
To all old members and new members, now is the time to pay your dues. I will be updating our membership list for the Astronomical League and subscriptions for the web site. Remember that your dues is what keeps the TAA running and pays our bills. Our monthly meeting is this Wednesday. The location has been [...]
Also posted in Announcements
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Horsehead Nebula 1-13-12
Friday night, while observing in the Mojave Desert, I decided to try again to find the Horsehead Nebula. This time I had my 13.1 inch Dob. The sky was very clear with very little wind. After much trial and error, I was able to make out the Horsehead. I used my 17mm Nagler (88X magnification) with [...]
Also posted in French Files
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Desert Observing 1-13-12
Last Friday night in the Mojave Desert was great. The sky was clear and transparent. There was a very slight breeze and the temperature was about 42 deg. Saturday morning the clouds came it and stayed all day. Saturday night there was a big hole in the clouds over our head and the sky looked pretty good but [...]
Also posted in Observation
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San Simeon December 2011
I set up my Nexstar 11 early in the evening to let it get acclimated. The evening was warm, for December (about 50 deg.) The stars were twinkling franticly. There was no moisture in the air and no dew. The air felt like a spring evening. About 9:00pm Butch and I began our observing session. [...]
Dry Creek Observing 12/23/11
Butch and I arrived at Dry Creek about 7:00pm. The temperature gage in my truck said “icy conditions”. It was cold. The sky was 75% covered with high thin clouds, especially in the south and west. I talked with Butch and we decided to only set up one scope (his Dob) because we didn’t know [...]
Also posted in Observation
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