Reviving an Old Interest

Dan has always - even from boyhood - been fascinated by all things celestial. That was why his final position before retirement was such a perfect fit for him. He worked for the Air Force Research Lab, at Kirkland AFB in Albuquerque, with the Space Vehicles Directorate. He was like a kid in a candy shop, all the while he was there.

Not long after we married, Dan invested in a nice telescope, but since then the technology has changed dramatically, nearly making his 1970s telescope an antique. Dan's old telescope, which has no electronics, requires the user to tediously work to search, align and focus. Today's computerized "GOTO" telescopes contain their own computers and motors that permit them to find and follow objects in the sky. They are run by a handheld control pad.

One of the things on Dan's retirement to-do list has been to revive his old astronomy hobby. Recently he found out about the Central Texas Astronomical Society and it's Meyer Observatory/Turner Research Station. I won't give too much information about it here, since you can click the link if you want to know more. Anyway . . . Dan had been thinking, for some time, about going out there to see if the group and the facility might be a good fit for his own interests. Then, on Saturday, at his Sons of the American Revolution meeting, he serendipitously met a man named Aubrey who is the past-president of the Society and who invited him to come out that evening and be his guest.

So, after dinner we headed out to the site. It's about an hour's drive from home, and is located in a remote place, away from light pollution. It was such an enjoyable evening, and Dan is more determined, now than ever, to upgrade his equipment and become involved in their activities. A new telescope will cost a shiny penny or two, but you "can't take it with you," as they say, and it will give him some great opportunities to revive and expand a life-long interest.

When you drive up the hill to the Meyer Observatory, this is what first catches your eye: the exterior of the observatory with its dome.

Dan's new friend, Aubrey, wasn't there yet when we arrived, but someone else took us upstairs so we could see the  24" telescope housed in the dome.

When Aubrey arrived, he came up and explained a few things about the telescope and the improvements that are being done right now. He explained that after the upgrades are finished some of the cables and hoses you see hanging down will be removed.

The dome began to open.

After touring the observatory and the big telescope, we went outside, where a few members were setting up their own equipment in preparation for the coming dark sky.

We visited with one fellow who had a scope similar to what Dan is thinking of getting for himself. This was what his equipment looked like after set-up.

Aubrey came out a little later and took us to his own private observatory (one of two on the property). Although the Meyer Observatory is run by volunteers, many of them, including Aubrey, assist in world-wide research projects. He rolled back the roof of his little observatory and began setting things up and showing us what he had. He is able to do everything - opening the roof, orienting the telescope, searching for objects and doing research - remotely, from his home.  

Finally, the sun was about to set, and the enthusiasts who were there were ready to search the night sky. Dan and I went home. We both think we would enjoy participating in this society. I have some aspirations of learning what's involved in doing astronomical photography, although I've already learned that it is not as simple as I first envisioned. It's a lot more complicated than just hooking a camera onto the telescope! Oh well, life is full of new and exciting learning curves!