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Post by bsimon615 on Oct 21, 2020 8:48:12 GMT -6
Expect to see many posts over the next several day, many with images. Doing this to answer questions before they get asked. The first one posted here is an example of that. It shows the White Horse Christian Retreat Camp. It gives the latitude and longitude as well as the elevation from the middle of the Arena Field. It also details where vehicles should park for those who plan to leave at night either to stay off-site or to head home. Departure windows have already been discussed. They are at specific times for 15 minutes. More posts with images will give additional answers to questions. However if anyone still has questions, please ask. Note - click on each image to make larger. Barry Simon Attachments:
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Post by bsimon615 on Oct 21, 2020 13:54:14 GMT -6
RV's and Campers - power and other considerations To the best of my knowledge we have available to us outside of the Arena Field - five 30 amp breakers which I am reserving for rv/camper use. I am planning on heading up to White Horse next week to check on a few things including these breakers. Please note the attached map with the location of each 30 amp plug. I will check the viability of each and also search for the 6th one that I was told was there as well. As of right now we have 5 attendees that have indicated that they are bringing an rv or camper. Accordingly additional registrations received for rv's or campers cannot expect to have a 30 amp plug. The 5 that are available are being held for the following five attendees - Wright for 5 nights, Lindsey for 5 nights, Hale for 4 nights, Best for 3 nights, and Thompson for 3 nights. Among these attendees it is first come first served. I will not hold specific plugs on request. Note - dry camping only and there is no water tie-in. Outside of the Arena Field attendees can run "Quiet" generators during daytime hours. No generators allowed on the Arena Field and no generators running at night if conditions are good for observing. There is limited other electrical service and we will have one or two locations where you can tie in. It is best to have your own 100 ft (or maybe two) 100 ft. cords. Priority for plugs goes first to telescope drives. Do not attempt to run anything that may trip the circuit. (Hair dryers for your hair are a no-no as they will trip the circuit.) If at all possible bring batteries to run your equipment. Batteries can be recharged during the day in the main building or if you are staying in a bunk house batteries can be recharged in your bunk house. Let us know if there are questions. Attachments:
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Post by bsimon615 on Oct 21, 2020 15:01:59 GMT -6
Meals at White Horse We are on our own for breakfast, bring your own snacks, breakfast food, drinks, etc. There will be coffee in the main building and there is a microwave oven there that you can use. Note, for some that may want to do their own outdoor cooking - you can do that, but not on the Arena Field. Try to get as far removed from optics as possible. One good area is by the fire pit outside of the main bunkhouse. We will have an evening meal in lieu of a later "Snack Bar". The evening meal will be somewhat of a blending of the "Snack Bar" which was burgers, hot dogs, that sort of thing, but a bit more elaborate to include beans or similar, perhaps barbeque. The evening meal will be served at 4 pm and it is "pay as you go". Note - sunset is shortly after 5 pm, so most would want to be back out by the scopes to make some final preparations before dark. For dining off site you can go to the Country Diner for breakfast too, it opens at 6:30 am. It stays open until 3 pm and many are familiar with it's lunch buffet. Real popular spot. Another place is the Smokehouse which serves barbeque. Will post more info about both. Next to the Smokehouse is the Four Way Grocery where you can get ice, snacks, and various other necessities. Will post addresses. Note - from the mailbox on Hurricane Creek Road (315) you will go 1 mile straight north on the gravel/dirt road to the turn in for White Horse. All Google Map distances are calculated from the mailbox, so I added 1 mile to all calculations. Country Diner at 1504 Hwy 35 S, Foxworth, MS 601 736-6019 Distance 4.6 miles Four Way Grocery at 433 New Hope Road, Foxworth, MS 601 736-1653 Distance 2.8 miles (Four Way Grocery is the same as 4 Corners Grocery) Smokehouse Restaurant at 411 New Hope Road, Foxworth, MS 601 736-4981 Distance 2.9 miles Wal-Mart Supercenter at 1001 Hwy 98 Bypass, Columbia, MS Distance 16 miles Red Bluffs near Morgantown, MS Distance 21 miles Barry Attachments:
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Post by bsimon615 on Oct 21, 2020 16:54:48 GMT -6
Does anyone keep an observing diary to include dates, objects, conditions, detailed notes, etc.? Going back how far? If anyone does this, please contact me. I would like to have you speak about this as one of our "outdoor" programs. Please! Please! Please!
Barry
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Post by bsimon615 on Oct 21, 2020 17:12:31 GMT -6
Buy, Sell and Swap at the DSSG
Several have requested that we have a formal Swap Table. Note some always bring stuff they would like to sell and often wind up purchasing more than they sell. Some others may forget to bring stuff to sell or remember at the last minute or do not have room in the car, etc., etc., etc.
So - Reminder - if you have things to sell or trade, gather it all together now, think about what it is realistically worth and find a place to pack it.
I too have things to sell, I will try to bring as much as I can, space permitting, but I would rather not bring the big stuff unless I have someone super interested as I do not want to haul stuff up that is taking valuable traveling space away from something else. So - here is some of the big stuff, I will list it here. Maybe there is a buyer locally who wants to connect sometime over the next two weeks to buy something. Prices are based upon current used prices found on "Cloudy Nights". Every thing is at least in very, very good to excellent condition.
Meade LXD 75 6 inch f/8 achromat tube assembly with 2 inch focuser, rings, dovetail, grab bar, 8x50 finder and bracket, and caps. Condition is excellent. Was owned by Walter Sarrat and he was very impressed by this achromat. He has downsized and I need to do that too. Price - $275.00 (note -does not include a mount)
Orion Short Tube 120 (ST 120) f/5 achromat. Excellent condition with 50 mm finder, rings, mounting bracket, dovetail, caps, etc. 2 inch focuser with 1.25" adapter. Price - $225.00 (note - does not include a mount)
Another 6" f8 achromat tube assembly. This one is painted metallic blue. Weak link is the plastic focuser. Not sure about the optics. Will include an additional metal focuser which someone may want to modify to work with this scope. This would be a project scope. Will sell the scope and the additional metal focuser to someone handy for the Price of $75.00
Misc. other stuff that I will bring to the DSSG. If you are looking for something, just ask, who knows, I may have what you want. Believe me there is plenty of other things available.
Barry Simon
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