Alright, this is for sharing of your observation experience. Or, if you are arranging gatherings, star-gazing expeditions or just want some company to go observing together, you can shout it out here.
Hi guys
Went down to Fremont Peak Observatory near San Jose for a short observing session under dark skies. Here are some pics. The observatory is at an elevation of 3000 feet (1km), so it tends to escape the low-hanging coastal fog that frequently envelopes Monterey on summer nights. Ya this past month I have had only 1 chance to observe in my own backyard. Talk about bad weather! But don't really like to go to the peak as it involves an arduous climb for the car, and there are too many nerve-wrecking hair-pin curves.
The main scope at the observatory has a 30" aperture, so it gives amazing view of DSOs. Last night there was also 2xC8, 2xC9.25, 1xC11 but surprisingly only 1 Meade (12" LX200GPS).
The refractor in the pic is an AP Traveler mated to an LX90 mount. Great on open clusters and bright DSOs!
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We do it in the dark...
Portaball 12.5"
Takahashi Mewlon 210
William Optics 110ED
...and all night long!
Hi,
Been to the Fremont peak a few times. About 1h plus of driving from San Jose. Nice place and cooling. The sky there is darker than San Jose especially when the fog cover the city lights. The sad part was that I did not get a chance to use the big scope in the observatory as I had to 'take care' of my own scope at the carpark.
But don't really like to go to the peak as it involves an arduous climb for the car, and there are too many nerve-wrecking hair-pin curves. 
