Post by bsimon615 on Oct 23, 2018 7:07:01 GMT -6
This year the DSSG will be held when we are back on standard time as "Daylight Savings Time" goes away at 2 am on Sunday morning November 4th.
Like anything, change brings with it both advantages and disadvantages. Many may not like the early nightfall - too soon after dinner, too soon after work, too soon after I raced to get to the DSSG in the afternoon and now it is getting dark while I am still setting up. >>>>>>The Solution: Get there earlier.
In other ways, astronomically, there are advantages that I see - As compared to last year when the DSSG started on October 17th, whatever you see in the sky will be in the same position it was in last year some 2.5 hours earlier. (1.5 hours earlier because we are 3 weeks later and an additional hour earlier because of the time change). While the 3 weeks later will negatively affect the viewing of objects setting (Summer Milky Way objects), the lower horizons at White Horse and it being darker earlier will help offset this disadvantage.
The real advantage is with the objects that rise later in the evening when we have an earlier start date for the DSSG. At FRC, a DSSG held in mid October does not see the Orion Nebula clearing the trees until after 11 pm, and maybe even a bit later for those that were set up on the east side of the field. Due to the lower tree line and the 2.5 hours earlier position because of the later date, the Orion Nebula should be above the trees by 8:30 pm. To me this is a real advantage of the later start. Given the lower horizons you will see more of everything. Additionally for those that like to retire before midnight, you will have plenty of opportunity to see lots of stuff and to work on the list provided by Len Philpot.
Barry Simon
Like anything, change brings with it both advantages and disadvantages. Many may not like the early nightfall - too soon after dinner, too soon after work, too soon after I raced to get to the DSSG in the afternoon and now it is getting dark while I am still setting up. >>>>>>The Solution: Get there earlier.
In other ways, astronomically, there are advantages that I see - As compared to last year when the DSSG started on October 17th, whatever you see in the sky will be in the same position it was in last year some 2.5 hours earlier. (1.5 hours earlier because we are 3 weeks later and an additional hour earlier because of the time change). While the 3 weeks later will negatively affect the viewing of objects setting (Summer Milky Way objects), the lower horizons at White Horse and it being darker earlier will help offset this disadvantage.
The real advantage is with the objects that rise later in the evening when we have an earlier start date for the DSSG. At FRC, a DSSG held in mid October does not see the Orion Nebula clearing the trees until after 11 pm, and maybe even a bit later for those that were set up on the east side of the field. Due to the lower tree line and the 2.5 hours earlier position because of the later date, the Orion Nebula should be above the trees by 8:30 pm. To me this is a real advantage of the later start. Given the lower horizons you will see more of everything. Additionally for those that like to retire before midnight, you will have plenty of opportunity to see lots of stuff and to work on the list provided by Len Philpot.
Barry Simon