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*CLASS FULL* Observatory Training - New for 2017

Event Date

All, 

Looks like we have a full house for the Observatory Training so we will not be adding more names to the list for this session. We potentially will have a class of ten people so we will be very busy next Saturday night. 

Our plan is to offer this training as we see the demand, most likely the next class will be April aligned with the full moon dates. 

We will post in plenty of time for you to make plans.

 

Thanks to those participating, 
The Observatory Committee, 

- EdF 

 

HAS members

As I'm sure many of you already are aware, there have been some significant changes in the observatory over the last year.  Those changes include the outright replacement of one of the 12.5" f/7 Newtonian with a 12" Ritchey Chretien Telescope on a Paramount ME, and the replacement of the fork mount on the C14 with a Losmandy G11.  The C14 had GoTo capability already, but, due to some maintenance issues, it was decided to change the mount. The 12.5" f/7 was not a GoTo telescope, but the new Paramount ME German Equatorial Mount provides an advanced GoTo capability.  The 12.5" f/5 telescope at the Southern end of the building remains, but over the last few years the troublesome "black box" control system has been replaced with a hard-wired power system . 

Because of these significant changes, it has been decided that anyone already trained on observatory usage must be re-trained. 

To facilitate this training, Ed Fraini and myself will be conducting new training sessions starting on Saturday, February 18.  The training sessions will cover usage of the C14 and f/5 telescopes.  For those who have already been through training, there will be refresher training on scheduling, roof operations, and emergency roof closing procedures.  For those who interested in training on the observatory, there will be initial training on these scopes and all aspects of observatory use.

What will not be covered in this training is usage of the new 12" RCOS telescope.  Due to the advanced nature of this telescope and its mount, the RCOS and Paramount ME will require an additional and separate training to be conducted by Don Selle at a later date.

An updated version of the Observatory User's Guide will soon be posted on the website and anyone attending the training will be required to print out and bring with them a copy. 

We ask that anyone interested in attending the training on Saturday, February 18 please contact Ed or myself directly (e.g. not by replying to this posting, but in a separate e-mail, addresses are below) to RSVP.

 For both refreshers and new users, the same prerequisites apply: 

• Must be at least 16 years of age or older.
• Must be a society member in good standing with all dues paid.
• Must have full knowledge of all general site rules and have completed the general site orientation.
• Must have been a society member for at least 6 months.
• Must have a basic working knowledge on use of equatorial mounted astronomical telescopes.

 Please contact Ed or John to RSVP or with questions:

    JohnHaynes@jmhastronomy.com    EdF@astronomyhouston.org