| Nightfall 2015 This year at Borrego Springs a bunch of us came down a couple of nights early to take advantage of the great desert weather. Wouldn't you know... it was cloudy the first first two nights. We did have a good time anyway - eating at the diner and margaritas at Carmelitas. Watch out - those margaritas are REALLY strong. :) Fred, Ron, Al, Jeff, Lynne and Carol. |
Nightfall
2015 Once the clouds disappeared it was time to set up. Here's Fred getting his rig ready. |
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2015 Jeff doing a precision balancing act. (Balancing his telescope). |
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| Nightfall
2015 Al setting up. Al usually sets up his giant Dob for visual observing while his imaging rig is collecting photons for his excellent images. The best of both worlds! |
Nightfall
2015 Right next to the RV slips there is a row of vintage trailers you can rent. This is the one that Jeff and Lynne had. Jeff's telescope is just behind the big green bushes. |
Nightfall
2015 One of the two swimming pools. This one is a bit off to one side of the hotel and isn't used nearly as much as the main pool. Great for some quiet time during the day, a good read or a dip in the hot tub. |
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| Nightfall
2015 The main pool from upstairs near our room. The entire property was re-modeled a couple of years ago in a western theme. |
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2015 That's one of my room windows in the green section. The room had a great view of the pool area. |
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2015 Fred got a great RV slip this year - right in the center with some of the best horizons. There's my car and Fred's RV with our telescopes in-between. |
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| Nightfall
2015 Looking down Nightfall Blvd. toward the BBQ area. There was a missle launch on Sunday night (more later on the last panel) that was visible to the west over that mountain. |
Nightfall
2015 On the second day before dark there is a reception on the veranda by the bar. We went over a bit early and had a pizza for dinner before the reception. Ron, Carol, Fred, Jeff and Lynne. Al wandered in a few minutes later. |
Nightfall
2015 There's Al and Jeff. |
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| Nightfall
2015 The fellows that put on the Nightfall star party had a few announcements for everyone. |
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2015 Al, Jeff, Fred and Carol. Just off to the right (sorry I didn't get him in the frame) was Adam Block, a world famous astro imager from Tucson. Adam stopped by my spot that night around midnight and Fred and I had a fun chat with him for about a half hour. We see him at the AIC comference every year and he remembered us. Yay! Fred and I went down and took an imaging course with Adam a few years ago. That was an awesome trip! |
Nightfall
2015 On the last evening there's a BYO BBQ. Everyone brings their own stuff to BBQ as well a side dish to share. The desserts are the best part! |
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| Nightfall
2015 The BBQ area. |
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2015 Here is the general observing area. The telescopes take over an entire parking lot. There were some really nice scopes this year. |
Nightfall
2015 Just another view of the general observing area. |
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| Nightfall
2015 Here's the gang at the BBQ. Al, Fred, Ron, Carol, Jeff and Lynne. We all had a great time this year. I'm hoping next year we can get more of the SCAC folks to Nightfall. |
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2015 Guess who. That's me with all my "stuff." AP900 GTO mount, Celestron 9.25" EdgeHD scope, SBIG 4000XCM OSC camera, ES 80mm guidescope with SBIG ST-i guide camera. |
Nightfall
2015 Jeff posing with his "baby" before it got chilly. |
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2015 Jeff, Ron and Al in front of Jeff's rig. Like that headlamp I'm wearing? |
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2015 Fred with his imaging rig. This year Fred got some really good guiding for his images. |
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2015 Navy Missle Launch |
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| Nightfall
2015 |
Nightfall
2015 Jeff came across this cool aerial video from Nightfall 2015. It was taken by a drone flying around the property. If you know where to look you can see where Jeff, Fred, Al and I had our rigs set up. Check out the Nightfall 2015 Recap video. Nightfall 2015 Aerial Video and Missle Launch |
Nightfall
2015 |