Deep Sky Hermitage

I became interested in astronomy when my son Mike took an astronomy course at the University Of Oregon 9 years ago and he wanted me to go out with him for the night sky field work. I then read the course astronomy book and developed "telescope fever"..fortuitously my friend Mike Herz was moving up to a 10", and so I bought his 8" Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain. I knew nothing about observational astronomy! I remember asking Mike "Now can I see the Andromeda galaxy and where would I look in the sky?"

Well I started working on the Messier objects and I went through all 110..it took 2 years. I then wanted a certificate from the Astronomical League, but I hadn't documented anything! So I went through the Messiers again with an observing log and sketching each object. My star-hopping skills improved. In March 2004 I received the Honorary Messier Club certificate. I was hooked! I like to have an organized program with a list of objects for the evening that I can document and sketch.

So what are my plans? Well besides the Messier Certificate, I now have the Lunar Club certificate and the American Lunar Society's Lunar Study and Observing certificate.

By August 2005, I finished the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada's 110 Finest NGC Objects certificate. I also completed the A.L.'s Binocular Messier list with the Fujinon's 16X70 Binoculars.

At this time ( October, 2006), I have finished the Astronomical League's Urban List ( Eugene Backyard), the Caldwell list- all 109!, and the Double Star list. I have also finished the Herschel 400 list, the Deep Sky Binocular list,and the Southern Skies Binocular program. Future possibilities include A.L.'s Sun program, Lunar 11 list, the A.L.'s Globular list, Planetary Nebula list, the Open Cluster program, the ARP list, the Galaxy Cluster program, the Herschel 11 list.....well you get the picture. :-)

Helen and I were in Australia Winter (Australian Summer) 2006. Naturally I did some heavy duty celestial observations. You can read all about it at Southern Skies.

Because of the challenge and fun of pursuing dim ancient photons with observational astronomy and star-hopping, astrophotography is not in my plans; although I admire the results of those that have mastered the craft.

I now have an 11' Starmaster Dob that I love as I can sit down and observe. I also have Fujinon's 16X70 binoculars on an Astronomics T-Mount that is quite relaxing. The newest addition is a Televue NP-127 for Moon, planets, double stars and deep sky wide fields. There could be a larger telescope (a 16" dob?) in my future too... :-)

Jim Jackson