Here is a real scenario: Live
in one of the cloudiest/rainiest areas in America. Couple that
with two back-to-back years of record rainfall. Decide it is
time to add another advanced observing program to the Astronomical
League's list. Add 36 dedicated, seasoned amateur astronomers.
Add two comets-of-a-lifetime during peak observing windows when
you are trying to dig out "a few more in Virgo."
What do you have? A 2-1/2 year project to develop
the Herschel II Observing Program that was an extremely rewarding
project for everyone involved.
Once receiving the go ahead from the AL, we began a review of
the 2478 Herschel objects. We omitted the 400 objects in the
Herschel 400 program and sorted the remaining objects by type,
magnitude and distribution across the sky. We selected over 650
objects for our Observing Team to initially hunt down and consider.
At a monthly meeting of the Rose City Astronomers (RCA), we described
the project and asked for volunteers equipped with 8" scopes
or larger. To our surprise, 30 members came forward. Word spread
across the country that the RCA was tackling this project, and
we added 6 more observers from Pennsylvania to California.
Realizing the challenge of reviewing such a large number of dim
fuzzies, we researched the various computer charting programs
available. After much consideration, we selected MegaStar© 3.1 from ELB Software as the most comprehensive to meet our needs. We
contacted developer Emil Bonanno in Houston, told him of our project,
and asked him if he would contribute a copy of MegaStar for use
with this program. Emil graciously volunteered a copy. We can
definitely say that, without MegaStar, this project would have
been much more complex and time-consuming. For each object, a
2° field MegaStar chart was printed. These charts were invaluable
in helping observers locate the objects.
Each month, team members submitted observations which we compared
to and verified with MegaStar. Members were asked to evaluate
whether they felt each object was "a keeper" for the
Herschel II list. We actually divided the objects into "yes,"
" maybe," and "no" piles. Out
of the more than 650 objects, 388 made the "yes"
list. Needless to say, 12 "strong maybe's" were
added.
It is such a pleasure to recognize all those who participated
in and helped with this 2-1/2 year project: first to Richard
Poletti for designing the 2478-object database review; to Rebecca
Gee, a very talented artist, for designing the certificate and
pin; to Douglas Huston, Michael Beal, Jim Reilly, Sue Wheatley,
and Brian Skiff for their editing and composition expertise; to
Dale Fenske, our tireless ALCOR liaison; and
| Kendall Auel | Howard Banich | John Buting | Carol Huston |
| Chuck Dethloff | Richard D'Ostroph | Bob Firth | Rick Fisher, Sr. |
| Tom Hoeffelder | Bill Jamison | Al Lamperti | Josh Lockerby |
| Bob McGown | William Moynihan | Dan Peterson | Candace Pratt |
| Jim Reilly | Hugh Richards | John Siple | Mike Spengler |
| Ron Thorkildson | Ethan Van Matre | Mark Yonker | Greg Zentz |
& Dennis Luce (in memoriam)
~ ~ ~ Thank you so much for your commitment in time, energy, & expertise!!