Sunridge Observatory Open House
Last night I went out to the Sunridge Observatory for the very first time to attend the Medicine Hat Astronomy Club (MHAC) biannual open house. I have always had an interest in the stars but never really had the time or the opportunity to study them much (raising children does not allow you to stay up too late at night, those little monsters don't care if you are sleep deprived - that’s my story and I’m sticking to it).
I was hesitant to go out there; it was cloudy and it was unlikely we would get to look through the telescope. I went anyway because I was sure there would be some impressive pictures. The navigation on my new-to-me car did not have the location in its memory so I had to watch for the signs. - luckily there is one. I have driven past it a hundred times, this time I followed it.
Google Maps Screenshot
A short drive on a gravel road led me to where there were a bunch of cars -there were very few lights on the buildings and what there were were mostly red. (If you have old eyes like mine, bring a flashlight.)
I did not take a lot of pics as I went to enjoy myself and not to cover a story.
I arrived about ½ hr after it started. James Paulson (Wildcat Astronomy, MHAC) quietly greeted me and I sat to watch the presentation on the various galaxies, nebulas and star systems the club members had taken.
I was impressed.
These were not photos taken by amateurs with a cell phone, these were high quality photos that involve more than just clicking a button. There is a lot more to astrophotography than just simply taking photos. The longer the exposure, the more light and more objects can be seen. However, because the earth is constantly moving, you need to adjust the camera to avoid streaking. A discussion ensued about the costs of telescopes - it was stated that ten times the price does not mean ten times better.
We are in a great area for star gazing and astrophotography. Medicine Hat is the sunniest city in Canada (Calgary tried to say they were, but we win hands down).
Astrophotography is affected by certain atmospheric conditions - Seeing and Transparency.
Seeing refers to atmospheric turbulence such as temperature differences, the jet stream etc.
Transparency refers to how much is in the air whether it be moisture, pollution or even earthlight (seen in long exposure images). Because we are in a semi-arid climate that means very little cloud cover and humidity.
After the presentation I went to see the telescope. It is a 16 inch telescope; it cost $25,000 in the 1990s. Technology has improved since then and prices have come down. The telescope is only part of the setup though, you also need a steady mount and an ability to move the telescope with the earth’s rotation to keep objects in view. The eyepieces are important as well, magnifying images. The larger the telescope, the more light it can gather and the more you can see.
Sunridge Observatory
Photo credit Kelly Allard
More Information
For more information, contact the Medicine Hat Astronomy Club (MHAC) on their Facebook page or jpaulson1963@gmail.com. They are always looking for new members.
This is an interesting event they have been holding since 2022 - Southern Alberta Star Party. Check out the photos!
James Paulson also has a website called Wildcat Astronomy. Paulson took the following photos. His website describes the equipment used and the processes.
