Backyard Astronomy And Other

Observing with a purpose for me, is having an objective or agenda for observing. This might be to observe the Messier catalog, the Herschel-400 list or even some personal lists of objects. If you can’t decide what to observe: The Astronomical League has plenty to consider.

Some of my observing notes, pencil sketches and deep-sky articles as following:

     When I purchased my first serious telescope in March 1977, one of first observing reference books was “The Finest Deep-Sky Objects” by James Mullaney and Wallace McCall.  This book featured observing notes for double stars, galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and a few prominent red stars.

“1,000+ The Amateur Astronomer’s Field Guide to Deep-Sky Observing” by Tom Lorenzin:

      In the early 90’s I began using “1000+” almost exclusively. I really liked how Tom documented his observations, which were relatively brief, but saying so much.  

Visual observing for me is attempting to see the faintest of detail in deep-sky objects, then recording in words, and for some objects, making a pencil sketch.  

Roger Ivester

An few examples as following of my pencil sketches and observing notes:

Phillip Ivester has had excellent success in drag racing, winning “an amazing” 164 events.  He has also built many race engines and helped others into the world of drag racing.  It’s been more than five years now when he began working with Dr. James Caserio, MD from Hendersonville.

Dr C. as he’s known by had been racing for years earlier, and now no one can drive his 1350 horsepower Hellcat Challenger as well as he can. His fastest time has been 6.00 seconds at 120 miles per hour in only 1/8 mile, or 660 feet. The car with driver and fuel weighs in at a very heavy, 4650 pounds! With this amount of horsepower and weight, breakage of critical parts have and are bound to happen on occasion.

It should be noted that Dr. Caserio has “most likely” saved the lives of at least two Pro Motorcyclist, at Shady Side Drag Strip. This drag strip is located only a few miles south of Boiling Springs, North Carolina.

Back to the motorcyclists crashes:

Dr. C. knew exactly how to best treat the traumatic injuries sustained by the crashes at well over 100 MPH. His many years as a doctor and emergency room physician, served him well for these two horrific and critical injuries. And this was on site at the drag strip, providing life saving treatment on the ground…not in an emergency room!

Following photo: This is not just a Hellcat, but a (Demonized Hellcat) which indicates the car has received  performance modifications, and now has well over 1,140 horsepower (at the rear wheels). The engine has 1,350 HP!    

Below photo:  Whipple Supercharger….not your standard supercharger!   

Thursday night, March 31st 2022 at Shady Side Dragway in Boiling Springs, North Carolina:

Dr. C. ran his fastest E.T. (elapsed time) and miles per hour with at an incredible 6.00 flat, at 120 in 1/8 mile or only 660 feet. Again, keep in mind, this car weights over 4,600 pounds with driver and fuel.

Dr. C and Phillip work together to insure that the Hellcat is always ready to race…  

Phillip Ivester

Below: Dr. C in his life as a doctor of internal medicine, or his day job and sometimes night job.

Dr. C and his Hellcat with Phillip and both of his race cars.

Heating up the rear tires for better traction…

September 2023:

My west coast granddaughter, Zoe with her 76mm Orion Telescope.  

My son, Chad, daughter-in-law, Tina, and grandkids.  Zoe is below, visiting a beauty Salon. 

Zoe and her Dad in California after a bit of face painting. 

East Coast grandkids:  L-R:  Anna-Grace, John-Winston, Isaac, and Elisha…

My wife Debbie, with a 1997 Orion/Vixen 102mm refractor, which allowed me to  see Sirius B 

This is one of my favorite pictures from 2011.  Zoe and I were at the Red Rock Canyon visitors center, just outside of Las Vegas. 

“A moment in time” when I was able to have all of my grandkids together in South Carolina.  The vintage 60mm refractor telescope shown was a gift to the kids by a good friend.  

My two sons, Roger Chadwick (L) and Bradley Jason.  I’m really fortunate to have sons like these guys.  It’s difficult for them to get together as Chad lives on the East Coast and Brad on the West Coast.  A very special photo to me…

Hey…this is me, working on an astronomy article at the coffee shop on a cold day with light snow.     

Anna-Grace…aggravating one of her brothers, John-Winston.

Our Dachshund, Nova Sophia.

The telescope to the right is my first serious telescope which I purchased in March of 1977, an Edmund Scientific 4.25-inch f/10 reflector.  

Realizing the need for more aperture, I purchased a 6-inch Criterion RV-6 a year or so later.  My oldest son standing beside both telescopes, in 1978 and 1979 respectively…  

Granddaughter in Red Rock Canyon, Nevada

A memorable meeting with John Dobson: 

Emission nebula, NGC 281, located in Cassiopeia is an early to late fall object that you don’t want to miss.  It can be glimpsed through an 8 x 50 finder, however, an 8-inch with an O-III filter is required to see the unique shape.  When you see this nebula for the first time…you’ll know why it’s called the “Pacman Nebula.”  

Click on the Orion Telescope and Binoculars link below for the full article.  

http://www.telescope.com/October-Deep-Sky-Challenge-NGC-281-The-Pacman-Nebula/p/103501.uts

Pencil sketch using a No. 2 pencil and a blank 5 x 8 notecard

Image by Dr. James Dire using an Orion 190 mm Maksutov-Newtonian Telescope.

To read what others say about this most interesting object, click on the Las Vegas Astronomical Society link:

NOVEMBER 2011 OBSERVERS CHALLENGE – NGC-281