RASC Calgary Centre - OctoberQuest Observing Event
by Jack Milliken
Page last updated December 3, 2021
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OctoberQuest is an observing event that is held annually in October at the WCO. See the RASC Calgary Events Calendar for October for the date and time This is intended to be a fun event and everyone is welcome no matter what your experience level. Even if you only track down a small number of objects it can be quite satisfying and time spent under the stars is always time well spent. It will be dark enough to start picking off objects about 8:00 PM so attendees should plan to arrive before 7:30 PM to allow time to set up telescopes and get prepared. People planning to stay late and tackle the complete list should try to set up on the east side of the observing field. Those planning to leave early should set up to the west and position their cars pointing towards the exit. Don't forget to bring warm clothes including boots and hats as it can get quite cold at night. The master observing list contains 100 objects that will all be available in the sky by 2:00 AM although it might take you longer to find them all! For beginners I have designated 25 of the objects as Level 1 objects that are fairly easy to find (most can be seen in binoculars) and observable by midnight. A second set of 25 objects are designated Level 2 and are just a little harder due to sky location, brightness, or size but all would also be visible before midnight. The other 50 are designated Level 3 and many are a little bit tougher and some will not rise until after midnight but all will be observable before 2:00 AM. The OctoberQuest observing list is not intended to be difficult and I have not included tricky early setting and late rising objects. Each of the three levels contains about 20 Messier objects and the rest are mostly from the Finest NGC list with a few bright asterisms and other interesting NGC objects included. Please use the links below to print copies of the checklist to record successful observations and a few charts showing the location of some of the asterisms as they might not show up in your sky atlas. Copies of the checklist and charts will also be available at the event but please bring your own copies if possible. Also please bring detailed charts you may already have for Messier or Finest NGC objects. OctoberQuest_Object_Checklist.pdf OctoberQuest_Aquila_Equilateral_Triangle_chart.pdf OctoberQuest_Kemble_2_chart.pdf OctoberQuest_MiniCoathanger_chart.pdf OctoberQuest_T_Lyrae_Carbon_Star_chart.pdf |