SECOND ANNUAL MIGHTY ETX STAR PARTY Last updated: 21 November 2002

Here are some comments that have been received. If you attended and have comments, feedback, or photos you would like to submit, please send them to me at etx@me.com.

Subject:	Thank you!
Sent:	Thursday, November 21, 2002 7:07:19
From:	veith@biology.wustl.edu (Mike Veith)
This is rather late but I just had to let you know how much I enjoyed
and appreciated the 2nd Annual Mighty ETX Star Party. Although I could
only attend the last day, the presentations provided this beginner with
a lot of much needed information. Best of all, was being able to
personally meet you, Dr. Clay Sherrod, Dr. Robert Pasken, James Kalemis
and the other avid ETX users. It was nice to put a face to the names
I've been seeing on your web site.

The Sangamon Astronomical Society of Springfield provided a really nice
venue and were quite friendly to us ETXers. I will watch for other star
parties that they host.

I was fortunate to have won the last attendance prize, a ETX-90RA, and
appreciate the support provided you by Scoptronix and Shutan Camera and
Video. I have used this amazing little scope exclusively since then and
understand how you became so engrossed with it--good optics and
portable. I need to pick up another tripod--which tripod and wedge did
you have your ETX-90 mounted while at the star party? It looked stable
and portable.

Thanks so much for bringing the 2nd Annual Mighty ETX Star Party to
Illinois. I'm looking forward to attending another.

Sincerely,
Mike Veith
Edwardsville, IL

Subject:	ETX Star Party
Sent:	Wednesday, October 23, 2002 5:02:37
From:	mlyancey@comcast.net (Michael Yancey)
Some selected photos.



Mike Weasner making a point to an attendee.




"Smile", says Dr. Clay.




Some attendees along with the Mighty ETX.




Mike Weasner, Dr. Clay Sherrod, and Patsy Sherrod discussing the ETX (of course).




Some ETX-want-to-be's (LX200 telescopes) and
some tents, including the one that blew down in the 60mph wind.




Some attendees and setting up an LX200.




Patsy and Dr. Clay Sherrod.




Mike Weasner and Dr. Clay Sherrod.




SCOOP!  Patsy Sherrod caught on camera doing a "tune-up".
(And we thought it was Dr. Clay Sherrod who did the tune-ups.)




Mike Weasner giving a talk.




Mike Weasner giving a talk.




Dr. Clay Sherrod giving a talk.




Dr. Robert Pasken giving a talk.




Dr. Clay Sherrod presenting an award to Dave Birmingham.




Dr. Clay Sherrod receiving an award from Mike Fowler (Oceanside Photo and Telescope).

Subject:	Star Party
Sent:	Tuesday, October 22, 2002 5:30:08
From:	golfing18@msn.com (Michael Knapp)
I would like to thank YOU (and the "Doc") for hosting a
wonderful star party and for maintaining this site. All
the presentations were tremendously helpful. In particular, I found
the talk on the Autostar tours and astrophotography
very informative. It was nice to have finally meet you and the
"Doc".

I would also like to thank Mr. 20" Dob for the spectacular views...what
a magnificent scope and I would like to personally thank Alan (he
had a 14"? Dob at the very beginning of the group camp) for being
so generous with his time and scope. The views from both Dobs have
convinced my father-in-law and I to attempt a home-made Dob.

We certainly lucked out with the weather and the skies...both have been
terrible on the weekends ever since.

I am not sure if I will be able to attend and East Coast star party
or not, but I think that I will attend future SAS star parties and
I am going to look into joining the St. Louis Astonomical Society.

Regards,

Mike Knapp

Subject:	2nd Annual Mighty ETX Star Party
Sent:	Saturday, October 19, 2002 21:08:17
From:	d.birmingham@worldnet.att.net (David Birmingham)
I would be deeply remiss if I did not take some time and write to let
you know what a great time I had. After the star party ended I continued
my travels to visit my father, where I am at present. Yesterday I
received a CD here from another friend, Mike Y., and the photos brought
it all back and I realized what a great time was had.

Sangamon Astronomical Society is to be commended on their first endevor
and if subsequent events are held I will definitely put them on my
calendar. The site was absolutely top notch for observing, kite flying
too!

To have had the opportunity to meet you and that Mighty ETX was a very
memorable occasion for me. Having previously owned ETX scopes and making
small contributions to your site I still felt a part of the ETX family.
The presentations were informative and interesting and the sharing among
all participants was fantastic. I am thankful that I was afforded the
opportunity to be a part of the event and to share the night sky with so
many wonderful folks.

If you're ever in my area look me up. I will be eagerly watching for the
3rd Annual Mighty ETX Star Party!

Clear, Dark Skies!

Dave, Director

Birmingham Astronomical Observatory
12" f/10 LX200GPS (BeBE) s/n 05008
Supercharged at ASO by Doc Clay, # 243-2012
N 42 59' 23.1" / W 083 46' 29.7"

Subject:	2nd Annual Mighty ETX Star Party 
Sent:	Tuesday, October 15, 2002 16:37:08
From:	tylerica@yahoo.com (Tyler and Erica Buckner)
Thank you very much for giving the Midwest [& others!]the
opportunity to attend your 2nd Annual Mighty ETX Star Party.

Both my wife [Erica] and our dog [Mojo, boxer] enjoyed the weekend.  We
were glad to finally meet you, Dr. Clay, and all the other individuals
associated with your website.  The special topics/sessions were very
informative and will help out tremendously during my backyard
stargazing...

Special thanks to Dave [12" scope from Michigan], Rick [Mr. Ryobi],
and Mr. 20" Dobsonian [I apologize; I did not catch your name] for
giving us a chance to view the skies through their scopes.  I also
enjoyed meeting and talking with Rory and Mike (congrats again on your
ETX125 carrying case!).

We look forward to your announcement on the location of the 3rd Annual
Mighty ETX Star Party!

Sincerely,

Tyler Buckner
Jackson, MO

=====
---------------------
Tyler & Erica Buckner

Subject:	Thanks for the party
Sent:	Sunday, October 13, 2002 5:18:04
From:	jamesewilkins@earthlink.net (Jim Wilkins)
Let me add my name to the list of folks who enjoyed the 2nd Annual Might
ETX Star Party.  It was great to finally meet some of the people that I
routinely talk with via email.  The lectures were fun and informative,
the skies were darker than anything I've seen since I was a kid, the
door prizes wonderful icing on a great cake.  I'm looking forward to the
3rd Annual Mighty ETX Saar Party, where I hope by then I will have
learned how to use my digital camera.

Thanks,
Jim

Subject:	Star Party
Sent:	Saturday, October 12, 2002 3:10:49
From:	francimj@trinity-health.org (Michael Francis)
Had a great time at the 2nd Annual Mighty ETX Star Party in Illinois.
Was great to meet you and all the other enthusiasts. I really appreciate
all that you and Doc Sherrod and the other speakers did. I think I came
away with a much greater appreciation of Astronomy in general and the
ETX specifically. The sharing that went on was second to none.

                                  Thanks,  Mike

Subject:	2nd Annual Mighty ETX Star Party
Sent:	Friday, October 11, 2002 8:56:51
From:	Kenneth.Towne@saint-gobain.com
Just want to send a note to complement you on a great gathering. 
Although I'm a former ETX owner (Now an LX-200 GPS), I found all of the
presentations given to be useful.  Each had an appeal that was
applicable beyond the ETX.

I was also really impressed with the number and quality of the door
prizes as well.  It is obvious that you put a great deal of leg work
into obtaining sponsorship for the program and additionally made sure
that your sponsors were well recognized.

You definitely help to raise the bar for each of us by presenting
numerous programs to not only inform us but to challenge us to improve
our skills and potentially make contributions to the astronomy community
in general.

Regardless of where you choose to hold next years' gathering, I am
willing to drive there to participate.

Sincerely,
Kenny Towne
Anderson, IN

Subject:	ETX Star Party
Sent:	Thursday, October 10, 2002 8:46:56
From:	mlyancey@comcast.net (Michael Yancey)
Hi, Mike

Just want to let you know I had a great time. Glad to have met you after
all these years of visiting your web site. I am trying to get some
pictures taken by others at the party to combine with mine before I send
them to you.

Thanks for a great time,
 Mike Y.

Subject:	Star Party
Sent:	Tuesday, October 8, 2002 9:32:15
From:	hess@jwcc.edu (Don Hess)
Just a quick note to say thanks for all the hands-on help and advice at
the Star Party this past weekend. It was a tremendous privilege for both
Pauline and myself to meet you, and be given the opportunity to "pick
your brain!" Setting up our ETX for the first time, and actually getting
the amazing views we did (especially Saturn) was most satisfying.
Needless to say, Pauline is quite thrilled with her Mighty ETX 90!

We hope to have the opportunity to meet you again, and are already
awaiting your decision on a location for 2003, so we can begin making
plans. We will also be joining the contributor list for the site soon,
as the service you provide is quite remarkable.

Thanks again for everything!

Don Hess

Subject:	Thanks
Sent:	Monday, October 7, 2002 17:27:54
From:	PAPYSHTGN@aol.com
Mike , It was nice to meet you in person at  the IDSA star party. Thanks
for all you have done to help the new people to understand and operate
their telescopes. And in doing so maybe understanding the universe a
little better as well.

Rick Branson Lincoln, Illinois

Subject:	Thank You!!
Sent:	Sunday, October 6, 2002 17:40:00
From:	peterrossi@sbcglobal.net (Peter Rossi)
Thank You, for the EXCELLENT and INFORMATIVE weekend.  The speakers all
did a nice job.  We both learn quite a bit.  The viewing from the large
telescopes was magnificent!!  Pat and I had a really GREAT time. 

Thanks for EVERYTHING:
 
Pete & Pat 

Return to the top of this page.

See the report on the Second Annual Mighty ETX Star Party held in Southern Illinois, October 2002.

See the report on the First Annual Mighty ETX Star Party held in Southern California, September 2001.

Go back to my ETX Home Page.