I can't believe we did this!

We have a brilliant director of the local Dudley observatory who has been doing some public outreach that leaves me rather astounded at its cleverness.

Last night my club was invited to set up our scopes at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, just outside the main outside listening area. We had about two dozen scopes set up, mainly on Jupiter. The seeing was stupendous. The scopes were well collimated--thanks in part to Janie's direction of our "Rising Star" program to teach kids astronomy. The GRS was in full display.

Not far off the Philadelphia Philharmonic was playing Debussy's nocturnes, Prokoviev, and finally, Holst's Planets. Charles Dutoit, an international heavyweight, conducting.

It was a real privilege to be part of this event. I have no recollection of a symphonic concert by a major orchestra with an associated astronomical viewing. This was public outreach at its peak. Every scope had dozens of people filing by to get views.

regards
Greg N

That would be pretty cool! I am jealous...

Greg Nowell said:

We have a brilliant director of the local Dudley observatory who has been doing some public outreach that leaves me rather astounded at its cleverness.

Last night my club was invited to set up our scopes at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, just outside the main outside listening area. We had about two dozen scopes set up, mainly on Jupiter. The seeing was stupendous. The scopes were well collimated--thanks in part to Janie's direction of our "Rising Star" program to teach kids astronomy. The GRS was in full display.

Not far off the Philadelphia Philharmonic was playing Debussy's nocturnes, Prokoviev, and finally, Holst's Planets. Charles Dutoit, an international heavyweight, conducting.

It was a real privilege to be part of this event. I have no recollection of a symphonic concert by a major orchestra with an associated astronomical viewing. This was public outreach at its peak. Every scope had dozens of people filing by to get views.

regards
Greg N

Congratulations!!! That indeed sounds fantastic. Years ago I worked at he Saunders Planetarium at MOSI here in Tampa, and we'd take scopes out on Friday and Saturday nights. You reminded me of a time when MOSI hosted an "Einstein of Wine" event, and many, many people came out buzzed from sipping all night. One lady, when my back was turned, climbed up the ladder to look through our old 12.5 f/6 Meade Research Grade scope on an EQ mount, and promptly stuck her leg over it like she was about to mount it like a horse!!! Her sugar daddy husband managed to step on the ladder and yank her back as I got there thank god....your event sounds much more fruitful. The music must have really been something....

Very, very nice.

Sounds like great fun. Hope you wore a tux.

That must have been really great, Greg!
I'll be hearing the L.A.Philharmonic tomorrow night at the Hollywood Bowl,
but I don't think I'll bother taking a scope. They bill it as "an evening under the stars..."
Typically, there's about a dozen stars visible, maybe twenty tops.
Now, Jupiter might work, but it's in the trees back behind the nosebleed section.
Linton

Hi Greg,

My club has been doing this with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at Meadowbrook, an outdoor pavilion in the northern suburbs of Detroit, for the last three years. I have yet to participate but it's been a great success and they expect us back every year now. The guys and gals from the club were there until after midnight with a lot of interest from the concert goers. Of course Jupiter was the main attraction.