Happy New Year!

[Mark Wagner]

Hey there TACos,

New Year's Day, like déjà vu.

Our hobby is all about resolution, right?

So what are your best 2026 astro-resolutions?

Buying/making a piece of equipment you've dreamed of?

An astro-travel vacation (southern skies)?

Getting out of your backyard to see the Milky Way?

Teaching children to enjoy the hobby and fire their (science) curiosity?

Writing (or reading) a book on astronomy?

Learning to astro-image?

Dipping your visual toes into the deeper end, beyond the Messiers?

My resolution involves seeking out darker more transparent/steady skies.

Happy 2026 to TAC!

[Richard Navarrete]

Happy New Year!

I just hope to continue to get out regularly, at least once a month, to a dark sky. This past year was the most I've been out since the Pandemic disrupted all our lives. I also hope we, TACos, can continue to meet together regularly. The December Henry Coe session was great, with almost a dozen observers in the overflow lot.

Clear skies, my friends!

Richard

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[Lance Pickens]

Happy  New Year!

My resolution is to do more visual observing and visit darker sites along central coast and in Yosemite. Last year was my first time meeting up with folks in person for observing and I hope to continue meeting more TACos in the new year. 

Happy New Year!

Lance

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[Akarsh Simha]

My resolution is to increase my effective resolution by having the scope track. Maybe, I’ll get it done.

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[Daniel Vancura]

Happy New Year!

Since I'm quite content with my equipment (for now, anyways ...), my new years astro resolution is not all that different to yours Mark - seeking out some nice, remote dark sites. This hobby has finally got me go camping again and stretch goal this year would be to maybe even both work and image from a dark site for a few nights during the week.

Clear skies through all of 2026!

Daniel

[Surya Rao]

My astro resolution for this year is to obtain a minivan to transport my 24 inch dob to a dark site and observe. The scope has been used only in my backyard so far as it does not fit into my SUV. 

Surya.

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[Mark Wagner]

Surya,

That 24" is probably the most beautiful telescope I've seen.  Immaculate design, excellent optics, and I'm sure the performance will be superb.  Let me know when you're taking it out please!

Note to newbies - here you see one of the true costs of aperture fever.  A vehicle to fit your telescope!

[Surya Rao]

Thanks Mark! 

I agree that I was not anticipating the need to buy a vehicle. But, I am sure the views through this instrument will be worth the trouble. 

Surya.

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[Shashi Sathya]

Happy New Year !!

My resolution is to go out at least once every month.

Shashi

[Akarsh Simha]

I like to point out that my 6’ bed pickup truck is the most expensive astronomy equipment I have bought. Granted it serves purposes other than astronomy, that’s why it’s a pickup truck and not an SUV / van. If it were purely astronomy, it should’ve been an SUV because getting a telescope to the high bed of the truck is a challenge.

Oh and in addition to the vehicle, don’t forget the gym membership, another ancillary expense.

By the way Surya who made your telescope?

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[Surya Rao]

Akarsh,

The scope is made by Marco Guidi of doc telescopes. The primary mirror is from Ostahowski Optics.

Surya

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[Akarsh Simha]

Does it have a stepper motor drive?

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[Surya Rao]

It has servocat with go to functionality.

Surya.

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[Bret McKee]

I want to take more images this year. People here have posted spectacular images taken from their back yards, and I need to work on doing that myself instead of thinking I need to go to dark sites, which doesn't happen as much as I think it will, so I go months between taking any.

And I want to also make it to more dark outings with people here.

Bret

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[Pawan Singh]

Congratulations, Surya. I would love to see your scope one of these nights!

Pawan

[Surya Rao]

Thanks Pawan. I will certainly ping you when I am able to get it out tona dark site.

Surya

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[Rahul Sangole]

Happy new year TACos!

My new year resolution is to get cracking on my astrophotography journey. Last year, Rajah helped me put together a rig but the year got quite busy thereafter, and the hobby fell to the wayside. If I get even a couple of 'worthy' images by the year's end, I'll be a happy man.

- Rahul

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- Rahul

[Philip Lieu]

More of the same for my brother and I(wife permiting).  Observing with modest aperture 8" Dob; 4" APO and C8 on a go to mount, imaging with a S50 Seestar.  Hoping to attend GSSP, Calstar, maybe the Oregon Star Party.

We will continue to observe with the great SJAA/TAC people at locations such as Rancho Canada, Mendoza Ranch, and other locations when possible.

Happy New Year, everyone, and clear skies!

Phil

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[Mark Wagner]

Brothers in astronomy (aren't we all)?

Definitely the exception, and not the Ruyle (TAC history joke).

Any others?

Mark

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[Joel Lee]

Happy New Year!! There's a number of items I have currently planned for the hobby that I would like to get done this year. I'd like to go out to GSSP and go back to Fall Calstar. I'd also like to go to Spring fling but I think I have a conflict with a trip that is going out to NEAF around that time (or it's too close). I'd like to finish testing my newtonian and come to a verdict on whether that scope can be fully fixed after over a year working on it or have it relegated to planetary/small sensor only. I'd like to take my dob and my C6R out to a dark site together and enjoy the views that they can show me there. I'd like to do some more planetary and get a good video of Jupiter's rotation. And of course, I'd like to continue exploring and pushing my abilities in what I can image from the backyard and my processing techniques with it. It's going to be a fun year 3 in this hobby!

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