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Tom and Jennifer Polakis | profile | all galleries >> 2006 >> Mount Bigelow 61" Kuiper Telescope Observing -- Dec. 21, 2006 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Mount Bigelow 61" Kuiper Telescope Observing -- Dec. 21, 2006

Thanks to David and Cheryl Healy, on Dec. 21-22 2006 we got a night of observing on the 61" Kuiper Telescope at Mt. Bigelow near Tucson Arizona. This scope was built in 1962 to survey the Moon for Apollo landing sites. We observed 25 objects before the sky socked in at 1 a.m., then visited Rik Hill at the neighboring Catalina Schmidt.
Mt. Bigelow from Tucson
Mt. Bigelow from Tucson		 Looking back at Tucson basin--Mt. Hopkins (MMT) is on the 2nd peak.
Looking back at Tucson basin--Mt. Hopkins (MMT) is on the 2nd peak.		 Jenn at the dome.
Jenn at the dome.		 Tom at door--the scope was renamed in 1999 to honor Gerard Kuiper, founder of the LPL
Tom at door--the scope was renamed in 1999 to honor Gerard Kuiper, founder of the LPL
Kuiper scope in daytime
Kuiper scope in daytime		 61 Kuiper Telescope, Mt. Bigelow, AZ, 2006
61" Kuiper Telescope, Mt. Bigelow, AZ, 2006		 It looks like scope operator Mike Bradshaw is checking the polar alignment.
It looks like scope operator Mike Bradshaw is checking the polar alignment.		 Tom with David Healy--the instigator of our observing night at the 61
Tom with David Healy--the instigator of our observing night at the 61"
Mt. Lemmon from Mt. Bigelow
Mt. Lemmon from Mt. Bigelow		 This is the covered ramp down to the astronomer's dorm.
This is the covered ramp down to the astronomer's dorm.		 Tom impersonating Edwin P. Hubble
Tom impersonating Edwin P. Hubble		 Open dome!
Open dome!
David Healy checking optics with Mike Bradshaw, our scope operator.
David Healy checking optics with Mike Bradshaw, our scope operator.		 Fisheye view to the primary mirror
Fisheye view to the primary mirror		 If you look closely you will see our reflections on the primary.
If you look closely you will see our reflections on the primary.		 L'L DUMBELL at 4.14.54.9 UT
L'L DUMBELL at 4.14.54.9 UT
Cassiopeia in the M mode
Cassiopeia in the M mode		 Canis Major
Canis Major		 Orion
Orion		 Orion and Mt. Bigelow Kuiper Telescope, Tucson, AZ, 2006
Orion and Mt. Bigelow Kuiper Telescope, Tucson, AZ, 2006
Orion demonstrating Tucson skyglow
Orion demonstrating Tucson skyglow		 The Catalina Schmidt dome from the Kuiper 61 catwalk
The Catalina Schmidt dome from the Kuiper 61" catwalk		 The Catalina Schmidt
The Catalina Schmidt		 Rik Hill, Observer, Catalina Sky Survey discovering asteroids
Rik Hill, Observer, Catalina Sky Survey discovering asteroids
Warmy boots.
Warmy boots.		 Looking up the dorm ramp to the scope domes
Looking up the dorm ramp to the scope domes		 Catalina roadside geology and Tom
Catalina roadside geology and Tom		 The road down from the mountain
The road down from the mountain
Saguaros pointing out mammatus clouds
Saguaros pointing out mammatus clouds		 Sunset from Hwy 79.
Sunset from Hwy 79.

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