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Chabot Space and Science center

__ryan__
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Recently took a trip with the family to visit this museum/observatory.

Originally founded in 1883 as the Oakland Observatory and located downtown, it's now up in the Oakland hills among the Redwoods. According to Wikipedia, it served as the official timekeeping station for the entire SF bay area in its earlier days (measuring time with a transit telescope).

Lots of good space stuff and three observatory telescopes that are open to the public. We viewed Jupiter through Leah (an 8" refractor from the late 1800s) in the middle of the day, which was kind of neat.

IMG_4163.jpg IMG_4161.jpg

Rachael -- a 20" refractor
IMG_4158.jpg IMG_4160.jpg


Nellie -- a 36" reflector
IMG_4166.jpg IMG_4169.jpg


This one is now away at service, but it should be coming back soon. 😀

__IMG_4164a.jpeg
 
Aroxx
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Very cool! I'd like to get a personal telescope some day. Would be fun to do with the kids. I don't exactly live in the best area for viewing the cosmos though.

I wonder who's C-case will come back first...
 
joeshoup
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Love this place. We live pretty close - you're reminding me to go to the free evening telescope viewings one of these days!

BTW if any members are in the Oakland area I'd love to get a meetup together!
 
Dsloan
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Sorry for the pun, but whoa Nellie!

I'd love to take a look through a 36" reflector. I have an 8" dob, so Nellie is effectively 20x the amount of light I can collect. That just sounds like it would be so much fun for viewing deep sky objects.
 
joeshoup
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Dsloan Dsloan
Sorry for the pun, but whoa Nellie!

I'd love to take a look through a 36" reflector. I have an 8" dob, so Nellie is effectively 20x the amount of light I can collect. That just sounds like it would be so much fun for viewing deep sky objects.

The telescopes are open from 7:30-10:30 tonight for public viewing - strap on your Connie and come over to Oakland!
 
Dsloan
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joeshoup joeshoup
The telescopes are open from 7:30-10:30 tonight for public viewing - strap on your Connie and come over to Oakland!

Dang, now I have no choice but to finally get a Connie. 😀

... And convince the family to travel cross country for a bigger light bucket.
 
__ryan__
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Aroxx Aroxx
Very cool! I'd like to get a personal telescope some day. Would be fun to do with the kids. I don't exactly live in the best area for viewing the cosmos though.
A decent set of astronomy binoculars can be fun. They're easy to set up and use, and the Stellarium app is great for finding stuff in the sky. I sometimes leave mine set up on a tripod and just drag it out to backyard for some viewing time.

I've not been myself, but Cherry Springs state park in PA is said to be one of the best places for stargazing in the eastern US -- due to its exceptionally dark sky. Not exactly close, but not too far from NJ.

IMG_3326.jpg
 
Aroxx
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__ryan__ __ryan__
A decent set of astronomy binoculars can be fun. They're easy to set up and use, and the Stellarium app is great for finding stuff in the sky. I sometimes leave mine set up on a tripod and just drag it out to backyard for some viewing time.

I've not been myself, but Cherry Springs state park in PA is said to be one of the best places for stargazing in the eastern US -- due to its exceptionally dark sky. Not exactly close, but not too far from NJ.

IMG_3326.jpg
Thanks for the tip. That’s a bit of a hike but not too bad. Could be a good quick two day moto camping adventure. I’ve spent some time up in New Hampshire the last couple years and it’s crazy how many more stars you can see up there. We go up in the summer and catch the Perseid meteor shower too and see lots of shooting stars.
 
Scarecrow Boat
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__ryan__ __ryan__
Recently took a trip with the family to visit this museum/observatory.

Originally founded in 1883 as the Oakland Observatory and located downtown, it's now up in the Oakland hills among the Redwoods. According to Wikipedia, it served as the official timekeeping station for the entire SF bay area in its earlier days (measuring time with a transit telescope).

Lots of good space stuff and three observatory telescopes that are open to the public. We viewed Jupiter through Leah (an 8" refractor from the late 1800s) in the middle of the day, which was kind of neat.

IMG_4163.jpg IMG_4161.jpg

Rachael -- a 20" refractor
IMG_4158.jpg IMG_4160.jpg


Nellie -- a 36" reflector
IMG_4166.jpg IMG_4169.jpg


This one is now away at service, but it should be coming back soon. 😀

__IMG_4164a.jpeg
Thank you for sharing this! My wife and I live not too far away and after showing her this thread, we are both excited to make a day of it 😀
 
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