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WSIG/Texas 45 Class a Great Experience

by Rene Gedaly, President

Jenifer and Lane Caption.png

From beginning 'til end, it was a whirlwind trip through the Texas 45 winter list. Not all of us made 10 objects, but we did all become hooked on visual astronomy. 

We started with planisphere skills, moved to naked eye observations, and then binoculars. By astronomical twilight no student was interested in using a GoTo scope, they wanted to keep finding objects themselves. What a class! Speaking of class, the 2017 Texas 45 class is Lisa Herrington, Lauren Herrington, Ingrid Schenkel, Sophie Schenkel, Jenifer Head, Lane Harrison, and Sherry Irby, who completed 10 objects on the Texas 45 winter list this visit. Kudos to all!

I'd also like to thank my WSIG Co-chair Amelia Goldberg on her 8" pink scope and fellow instructor Steve Goldberg on his 10" Dobsonian. As for me, I was back and forth between students using binoculars in the parking lot and showing students how to use their star charts with the observatory 12.5" reflector. I can hardly wait to read their logs.

The date for the spring class will be posted soon. It seems two or so students per instructor is the sweet spot, so we won’t be able to expand the class...unless we draft more instructors. Hmm.