Backyard Astronomy And Other

Debbie Ivester and Nova Sophia “Sophie” standing beside the city limits sign of Wadesboro, North Carolina…

Supplemental: The path of totality, also included other popular sites for research groups, including Pinehurst, North Carolina, as well as Newberry, South Carolina, among many others.

The following is a photo of the historic marker for the event in Pinehurst. Unfortunately, there is no such marker, or even the general area is not known where the various groups observed from in Wadesboro, at least to my knowledge. Roger

British Scientific Team at Wadesboro: Photo from the “NC Collection’s Photographic Archives”

The following information….again, provided by Tom English:

British Astronomical Association Eclipse Party at Wadesboro, NC, May 1900, courtesy NC Miscellany, UNC Libraries.

L-R:  Rev. John M. Bacon, Gertrude Bacon, Nevil Maskelyne, George Dixon, and three women, not specifically identified, but most certainly Miss E. K. Dixon, Mary Elizabeth Woolston, and Ada Mary Maskelyne, the magician’s wife. 

The BAA set up their station adjacent to the Princeton party led by Charles A. Young, at a site along what is now Brent Street in Wadesboro.  Maskelyne, a famous London magician, brought his kinematograph and used it to make the first successful movie of an eclipse – the device is in front of him in the photo. 

The Bacons had taken an earlier version of this camera to India in 1898 and used it to film that eclipse, but the film was stolen before it could be developed. John Mackenzie Bacon was a noted aerialist who once observed a the Leonid meteors from a balloon.  His daughter Gertrude was also an aeronautical pioneer and a writer. Her biography of her father, Record of an Aeronaut, includes an account of the Wadesboro trip.

George Dixon was an organ designer, and Miss Dixon is likely his sister.  There was one additional member of the BAA party not shown in the photo (perhaps he took the picture?) – David Hadden of Alta, Iowa, who joined them on eclipse day. 

Hadden was a pharmacist and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society who contributed solar observations to thePublications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and Popular Astronomy. The BAA account of the Wadesborough trip and the eclipse can be found in the official BAA report of the 1900 eclipse, compiled by Walter Maunder.

The US Naval Observatory Station at Pinehurst 

A. N. Skinner, Professor of Mathematics at USNO, spent 2 days in April 1900 in Southern Pines, NC, searching for an observing site.  He eventually selected Pinehurst, after James W. Tufts, of Boston, MA, who owned several hotels and cottages in Pinehurst, invited the USNO to set up their station there.  C. D. Benbow, the general manager of the Tufts properties, worked out the details.  The Lenox Hotel was kept open for the party.  (Pinehurst was a resort destination for northerners in 1900, but by May the “season” was over and the accommodations were closing down.)  Their observation site was 800 feet southeast of the Carolina Hotel which is still a popular Pinehurst resort. 

Skinner & USNO Assistant Astronomer Theo I. King arrived in Pinehurst on 3 May.  They sighted a meridian line that evening.  The next day they staked out a plan for the expedition site structures.  Their apparatus/instruments arrived on the 8^th and the rest of their observing party shortly after, and the group got to work setting up their station, so that all was in order several days before the eclipse.  A temporary telegraph line was established on the 12^th so that they could get noon time signals from the USNO.  Drills were conducted several times per day during the 3-4 days before the eclipse. 

The primary focus of the USNO observing plan was spectral studies of the chromosphere and corona, and large format imaging of the corona using a 40-ft focal length camera.  A similar 40-ft. instrument was set up at the Naval Observatory’s other station in Barnesville, GA.  In addition to a team of USNO staff, the station included observers from Johns Hopkins, Yale, the University of Wisconsin, and Cincinnati Observatory. Details about the observers and equipment for these stations (and others) can be found in the expedition reports. 

Nearby, in Southern Pines, a less technical eclipse party of observers from Carleton College (Northfield, MN) and Guilford College (Greensboro, NC) were stationed on the peach farm of Mr. John Van Lindley, a Guilford College Trustee.  H. C. Wilson, the assistant editor of Popular Astronomy, which was published out of Carleton, was the primary astronomer at this site, and his report of the expedition in the June issue was the first formal publication of results from the May 1900 eclipse.

Back to Wadesboro: Click on the following link…

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241210537_The_Road_to_Wadesboro_Site_Selection_for_Expeditions_to_Observe_the_1900_Solar_Eclipse

After years of wondering if I could see globular cluster (NGC 5139) Omega Centauri and galaxy (NGC 5128) Centaurus A from my home at a latitude of (+35º 18′) so I gave it a try on April 26th 2009.  

My poor southern view required that I go to a dark-site on the southern rim of the South Mountains, only thirty minutes away.  I met with longtime friend and expert amateur Steve Davis, who brought a Meade 12-inch Dobsonian, which was invaluable in also seeing galaxy Centaurus A.

The 12-inch also provided an excellent resolve of “Omega Centauri” despite the telescope optical tube being almost parallel to the ground!  

Theoretical limiting horizon calculation from Western North Carolina at +35º North Latitude:

(90º-35º) = -55º theoretical limiting south latitude. 

Omega Centauri south latitude:  -47º 28′  

My limiting southern horizon @ -55º (-) -47º = Only 8º above my theoretical southern horizon, and again…which puts my telescope tube almost parallel to the ground!  

I made the following sketch using a 102mm f/10 refractor, on the same night and location The NELM was ~6.5 at the zenith and with a good view of the southern horizon. However, the excellent seeing overhead did not transfer to the extremely low southern view as expected, at only 8ºs about my limiting horizon. The globular appeared fairly dim, mostly round, well-defined edges with some brighter members sparkling in the interior with averted vision.  I also noted many faint outliers enveloping the cluster.

When observing with the 12-inch f/5 reflector the globular cluster was well resolved.  Despite observing at a fairly dark-site, I was looking over distant lights and layers of atmosphere which diminished the view significantly the galaxy was not visible with my 102mm refractor.

Observing galaxy “Centaurus A” with a 12-inch f/5 reflector: My notes read: Difficult! A very small smudge with a stellar nucleus.  Regardless, of the poor view of Centaurus A, I was happy.

102mm refractor: Rough field-sketch of globular cluster Omega Centauri as following using a chalk pencil on black card stock: Date 4-26-09 @ 1:00 AM EDT off Jack Moore Mountain Road.

Pencil sketch as following using a 12-inch f/5 reflector:

James Dire Image from Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii

Stellarview 102mm f/6.3 refractor w/Televue 0.8x focal reducer flattener

Omega Centauri from Naples, Florida using a C-14 telescope by Mario Motta:

In close proximity is galaxy, NGC 5128, known as Centaurus A, also with a C-14 telescope from Naples by Mario Motta:

Fred Rayworth of Las Vegas, saw Omega Centauri from Cathedral Gorge, Utah @ +37º 49′ 20″

“I saw Omega Centauri just over the hood of a truck on the horizon. I had a chance to see it at Death Valley, California when we went to the airport, but never caught it.”

+90º North (-) +37º 50′ = (-) 52º 50 mins or limiting southern horizon

So:  -52º 50′ (-) -47º 28′ = ~ 5º 22 mins above the horizon from Cathedral Gorge.    

Larry McHenry: Observing from West Virginia

Globular cluster NGC 5139 “Omega Centauri.”

Location: Calhoun County Park in central West Virginia. Setup on a ridge of about 1100 ft in elevation. (more about Calhoun at: http://stellar-journ…calhounpark.htm 

At the time of observation, NGC 5139 had an elevation of about 3.5º above the horizon.

First a wide-field “finder” image of NGC 5139 (Omega Centauri) using my Canon 100mm video lens & ASI290MC camera. 

Here’s the main EAA observation of Omega Centauri, again thru the trees, from 4/28/22 at 12:28 AM.

(8-inch SCT @ f/6.3 on an Atlas German equatorial mount , ZWO ASI294MC camera with L-Pro filter, 20 second subs, no dark or flat frames, not guided, live-stacked using Sharpcap for 80 seconds). 

Due to the short exposure time, we were able to see the dark feature called the “Eye of Omega”, which is possibly a dark molecular cloud that is in front of the cluster in our line-of-sight. 
This is generally only seen visually, as most images are longer exposures to pull-out more of the cluster stars. 

Myself (L) Tom English in the center, and Dobson. I can’t remember, but I think someone local knitted Dobson the funky hat, which he wore most all of the time during his visit.

We had a get-together and dinner at one of the local astronomy club members home.

Dobson and Tom English during a solar observing session. Best I remember, Dobson didn’t think it was a good idea to observe the sun with a solar filter.

A letter that Dobson wrote to my wife, after he returned to San Francisco. He wanted to tell her about a movie he had seen.

Jim Yeager has always allowed me to use any of his aerial photos, which over the years have included, a beautiful photo of the Barringer Crater in New Mexico, covered with snow, and the Mount Potosi Observing Complex in SW Nevada. Both of which I’ve used in previous blog articles and other.

I really like the following image, as I’ve never seen the Southern Cross.

Jim’s notes and photo:

Here is somewhat of clear picture taken with an iPhone using a 3 second exposure on a descent out of 41,000 feet about 100 miles north of Lima, Peru.

You can see Alpha and Beta Centauri pointing to the Southern Cross.

The residual cockpit lights, moonlight behind us, and the haze of high altitude cirrus kept us from seeing the Magellanic Clouds.

Other aerial photos by Jim Yeager:

https://rogerivester.com/category/mount-potosi-observing-complex-in-southern-nevada/

https://rogerivester.com/2016/12/06/aerial-view-of-meteor-crater-compliments-of-james-yeager-pilot-american-airlines/

My objective is to complete a personal goal of seeing and sketching galaxies (NGC 7335, 7336 and 7340) known as “The Deer Lick Galaxy Group.” The three galaxies were given this name by Tom Lorenzin, based on an incredible night of transparency and seeing from the Deerlick Gap Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway in the early 1980’s.

But would this galaxy group be possible from my suburban backyard (Bortle 6.5) and with a 10-inch Newtonian?  

Tuesday, November 26th 2024: At 7:00 PM, the sky was clear, but with very poor transparency. After an hour of observing the Deer Lick Group location, I was finally able to see or glimpse NGC 7335, which is the brightest of the three galaxies. However, I could only see this galaxy intermittently and appearing as an elongated blur.

I used my 10-inch Newtonian with a magnification of 208x, and despite all of my imagination, I could not see galaxies NGC 7336 or 7340.

A pleasant surprise: I was able to see Stephen’s Quintet, which is a very faint cluster of five tiny galaxies. I could only see a faint glow or brightening in the location, which would not have even been possible without the use of a GoTo equatorial mount. It’s amazing what we can see, when we know the deep-sky object is in the center of the eyepiece field.

Friday, September 29th 2024 observation notes: Transparency was excellent, as well as seeing. The Andromeda galaxy was incredibly bright and easy to see without optical aid and with direct vision. The NELM was about 5.0 or possibly a bit better, especially in the area of the Deer Lick Group.

Again, I used my 10-inch f/4.5 Newtonian for the Deer Lick Galaxy Group and Stephen’s Quintet. I increased the magnification to 291x, using an 11mm EP and a 2.8x UO Klee Barlow.

After an hour of careful observing, I could only see galaxy NGC 7335, with averted vision. The galaxy appeared very faint, not constant, elongated with no center brightness. I really think I was seeing galaxies NGC 7336 and NGC 7340, but could not confirm, or at least not definitively. (?)

Summary and conclusion: I could not see all three of the Deer Lick Group from my backyard with a 10-inch Newtonian.

Now to Stephen’s Quintet: With improved sky conditions versus my previous observation and with increased magnification (291x) I could see a very soft glow or brightening. No individual galaxies could be identified or seen.

Original article from the Astronomical League’s Reflector magazine, as following:

While driving through Little Switzerland, North Carolina, we stopped at the Deerlick Gap Overlook, which is just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. I’ve always considered this to be a very famous location for both amateur astronomers and professionals alike.

The overlook became the namesake for faint galaxies NGC 7335, 7336 and 7340 in Pegasus, which has become known as the Deer Lick Group. It had nothing to do with the appearance of the galaxies, but from the location where they were observed from.

Tom Lorenzin, author of “1000+ The Amateur Astronomer’s Field Guide to Deep-Sky Observing” was observing from the Deerlick Overlook one incredibly transparent night in October, 1983. He was able to get an extraordinary view of the faint triangle of galaxies. The name stuck, and is now known by many as the Deer Lick Group.

Note: Tom Lorenzin passed away from a heart attack on Aug. 23, 2014 in Winston Salem, at the age of 67. I have known Tom for many years, receiving advice on both visual observing targets and pencil sketching.

Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to see the Deer Lick Group from my 4.8-5.0 NELM suburban backyard, using my 10-inch f/4.5 equatorial Newtonian. However, it’s my goal this year to attempt this trio of galaxies from a dark-site, and if I’m successful, a thirty year goal will be achieved.

I have observed the three galaxies that Lorenzin list as following, with a friends 14.5-inch Newtonian from a semi-dark-site, but I didn’t make any notes, and without a sketch.

So my goal now, is to attempt the three galaxies (NGC 7335,6,40) from my suburban backyard, using my 10-inch Newtonian, during October and November 2024. I’ll also attempt “Stephen’s Quintet.”

The following are Tom’s Lorenzin’s descriptive notes from “1000+” based on his October 1983 observing session from the Deerlick Overlook.

NGC 7331: 10.4M; 10′ x 2.5′ extent; bright and much elongated edge-on spiral with stellar nucleus; axis oriented NNW-SSE; the Deer Lick group, a very faint triangle of 14+M GALs (N7335,6,40) is a few minutes E and a little N; “STEPHAN’S QUINTET” (soft glow of five very faint and distant GAL’s) is 30′ due S; good supernova prospect.

The Deerlick Gap Overlook just off the Blue Ridge Parkway:

Questar was founded in 1950 by Lawrence Braymer, who set up Questar to develop and market Maksutov telescopes and other optical devices for the consumer, industrial, and government customers. The Questar Standard telescope has been in production since 1954.

Questar closed its doors for business on May 4 2026 and the three long-time employees were terminated. Very sad!

The following are some photographs of a friends 3.5-inch Duplex.  

   

     During the early 50’s, Cave Optical in Long Beach, California, manufactured the 3.5-inch mirrors.

    Questar graced the back of the front cover of “Sky & Telescope Magazine” for decades!

A challenge to Questar?   

     In 1996, Meade Instruments Corporation, introduced the Meade ETX 90mm astro.  This telescope was designed to be an economy Questar, mostly constructed of plastic, but with all the emphasis on the optics.   

At that time, Meade was manufacturing the ETX, and all their higher-end telescopes in Irvine, California.  This included all facets of manufacturing of their many models of Schmidt-Cassegrains, apochromatic refractors and even a 7-inch Maksutov.

     I purchased an ETX 90 the following year (1997) for use as a very portable telescope, to observe deep-sky objects within its grasp.  It served that purpose well.  The telescope had very good optics and would easily exceed “Dawes’ Limit” with good to excellent seeing. 

     Dawes Limit:  4.56/A (A is aperture in inches) for two equal stars of about 6th magnitude.    

     However, when considering fit, finish, cosmetics and ease of use, the ETX cannot compare to the “much more” expensive and precision Questar.  

Questar Duplex 3.5-inch Telescope with Optional Zerodur Mirror, Broadband Coatings, Powerguide and Quartz Drive

     Since late summer 2019, my wife and I have had regular business in Matthews, North Carolina, which is a town on the outskirts of Charlotte.  Our Dachshund needed eye surgery, and we take her for regular visits to the Animal Eye Clinic even to this day. (July 2025)   

     Matthews has some excellent and very attractive, full cut-off lighting fixtures.  Lighting should be “fully-shielded” and directed downward to avoid glare and excessive light pollution, as the following photos show.  However, I can’t be for sure of the temperature….hopefully 3,000k or less?  

     No one wants, or should want a bright “unnatural” daytime appearing light, which is that of a 4,000k LED light.  Unfortunately, most all of the new LED lights installed these days are 4,000k or even brighter, which is damaging to human health, wildlife and the natural world.  Unfortunately this light has now become the standard for lighting not only cities, but also for rural and even quiet residential streets. 

     Back to the lighting in Matthews:  Many of the lights have back-shields which eliminate unnecessary light shining into house windows.  This is a great feature.  Proper outdoor lighting should direct light where it’s needed only, downward and with a shield to avoid excess glare.     

     The lights in Matthews, which I’m discussing are in a “seemingly” newer business and residential area.  An example below:   

      Currently, the trend is to light residential areas and sidewalks in cities are the “short pole” colonial style fixture with 360º of 100 watt and 4,000k LED’s.

     No, I’m not suggesting that lighting is bad, but lighting should be of “intelligent” design, and used only where necessary.   And that would be using lighting of an “acceptable” wattage and with a temperature of (3,000k or less) and with “full shielding” to prevent glare and unnecessary and “excessive” light pollution!   You may try, but seems that few cities are willing to go less than 3,000K for city streets.  

     High-intensity LED lighting and all other “excessive” light pollution is proven to damage or injure wildlife, insects, and also increases the risk of cancer (especially) hormonal cancer(s) in both men and women, being prostate and breast cancer.  

Exposure to Artificial Light at Night Can Harm Your Health!

     Humans evolved to the rhythms of the natural light-dark cycle of day and night. The spread of artificial lighting means most of us no longer experience truly dark nights.

     Research suggests that artificial light at night can negatively affect human health, increasing risks for obesity, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes, breast cancer, and more.

     Like most life on Earth, humans adhere to a circadian rhythm — our biological clock — a sleep-wake pattern governed by the day-night cycle.  Artificial light at night can disrupt that cycle.

     Our bodies produce the hormone melatonin in response to circadian rhythm.  Melatonin helps keep us healthy.  It has antioxidant properties, induces sleep, boosts the immune system, lowers cholesterol, and helps the functioning of the thyroid, pancreas, ovaries, testes, and adrenal glands. Nighttime exposure to artificial light suppresses melatonin production.

     An expressed concern about exposure to blue light from outdoor lighting and recommends shielding all light fixtures and only using lighting with 2700K color temperature and below.   

Some more excellent examples of proper lighting fixtures….  

This article or post is featured on my site:  www.rogerivester.com  and listed under the title of “light pollution issues.”  

      

Date:  November 1964  

     My five older brothers built something similar or akin to what might be called a “Rat Rod” today.  The origin was a 1951 Studebaker…using the frame, which had been shortened by three feet, the original engine and transmission.  

       In the following photos are my brother Jimmy, who was driving, I’m in the middle with the “cool” cowboy hat, and my brother, Phillip.

     My older brothers, Richard, Jimmy, Ronny, Donnie and Phillip, worked on fabricating “The Bug” as it was called.   I was a bit too young, and mostly just enjoyed watching.  Sometimes I would assist by handing them wrenches or anything else they might need.   

     Improvements were made over the next year with the installation of a mid-50’s Chrysler Hemi engine, which had much more horsepower than the Studebaker.     

     The sad looking tires, especially the front white-walls would eventually be changed out with some better looking wheels.  Additions would also be made to the body, however, still constructed of wood panels.  With a larger budget, many improvements could have been made, but….

     My brother, Donnie, being in high school drove the school bus in the background, which was an early 1950’s model Chevrolet.  

An astronomical telescope purchase in 1963:    

     It was my brother Jimmy, who had already purchased (at the time of the photo) a 60mm f/15 equatorially mounted refractor from Sears, at a cost of $100.  This would be the equivalent of $835 in 2019.  An expensive telescope for sure.

     Two years later, I would begin using this telescope to observe deep-sky objects (galaxies, nebulae and star clusters) and a lifelong interest in astronomy would follow, even to this day.

Roger Ivester   

     

 

 Improved budget, greater skills and abilities, my brother Phillip would become a race car and engine builder.  He would also go on to win an incredible 164 drag racing events. with multiple drag cars.    

The following photo was made in September 2019:     

          

     Cloudy skies and rain have prevailed for the past few days, but what a nice day it was on Christmas Day to get outside.  While relaxing shortly after lunch, I received a message from Mike Ribadeneyra, wanting to go for a bicycle ride.  I was actually thinking about a nap, but as a cyclist, when someone offers an opportunity to ride, the guilt can be a bit overwhelming should I decline…and especially for NO good reason. 

     So, after answering the message, I got up and began to get dressed and checked my bike.  It might not be fun preparing to ride, especially when it’s cold outside, being relaxed as I was finishing a good cup of coffee.  However, it’s a great feeling of accomplishment when the ride is complete and riding back into my driveway.  And this is especially true on Christmas Day when my wife and dachshund are anxiously waiting my return!! 

     When headed home, we stopped to visit “Albert” the donkey who loves to see us ride by, behind his pasture fence.  It’s always great to hear him running…fast as he can, from the bottom of the pasture with his collar bell jingling.    

     Albert loves for me to bring him an apple, but it has to be quartered.  He will chew each piece individually.  If a piece falls on the ground, he won’t eat it until I pick it up and offer it to him again.  Albert is a bit finicky, but loves the attention…and especially an apple.      

Albert is glad to see both Mike and I.  

Photo below:  Saturday, December 28th, after another ride:  Sophie (our Dachshund) enjoys watching me feed Albert.   

While visiting our family in Mullins, South Carolina over the past few years, we have enjoyed finding some very interesting things. 

Only a few miles outside the city limits, there are country roads, agriculture fields, and no houses or lights for miles and miles, and virtually no light pollution.        

The next morning….Tuesday August 14th 2018.  

When driving in a secluded area, via unfamiliar country roads, you never know what you may find:   

While riding around with my oldest grandson, John-Winston, who just received his learners permit, and I was sharing my wisdom, on how to be a safe driver.  During our  leisure drive, we found sand dunes, in the middle of a swamp! 

Sand dunes, and a very sandy area….at first resembling snow, all in the middle of a dense forest and surrounded by swamp land.  

There were Bald Cypress trees growing out of the black murky water, Spanish moss hanging from the trees, and who knows, maybe even an alligator or two in that dark water!

Note:  This very remote small sandy area is a protected site.  I took some pictures as following, but somehow missed the eerie swamp.   

Roger 

Stopped and using the car as a size reference, to a part of the protected site: 

South Carolina Grandkids

Debbie (Grammy) with granddaughter Gracie

Couldn’t leave our Sophie behind!  She’s ready to go anytime we are!