On friday morning, we went to the Asturias' Airport in order to meet Paolo. Incidentally, Jose "Pepe" Fernandez was there in order to get a plane to Sevilla for a congress about his professional interests, but his flight left the Airport prior to Paolo's arrival. Anyway soon we all were on the car thorough the highway to Sena de Luna. As usually, weather in Asturias was
bad including some light raining and clouds. Conditions were not getting better while getting altitude in the mountains, so Tim was starting to frighten a bit about observing. "Just relax", Paolo and I told to him.

Then, we went through the "El Negron" tunnel. It's a 4 kms tunnel built inside the mountains that joins the Asturias region with the central area of Spain and suddenly, just after reaching the south tunnel exit, we saw a deep-blue sky without any trace of clouds while running at about 1,370 mts (4,500 ft) over sea level. Needless to say, a smile appeared on our faces!

After having our first dinner in the Hotel's restaurant, John Ryan arrived while we were enjoying a "siesta" (a small after-dinner sleeping very well suited to night observers) and at mid afternoon we talked a lot about telescopes, doubles and so on while enjoying some coffes, teas and cookies. Then, we installed the Meeting's banner in the exterior and took some
pictures of ourselves. The 2001 "Spirit of 33" was oficially inagurated.

After having supper (no wine for it, you know, we are serious observers!) soon we were on the observing deck and then we realized the pristine and fantastic skies at Sena de Luna. Only to give you an idea, we had the following conditions:

Seeing: 10 (friday), 8 (Saturday)
Transparency: 8.5 (friday), 10 (Saturday)
Limiting magnitude: 6.0 - 6.2 (both nights)

No matter how often you visit this place, the sky is always "off-socks", so we quickly started to observe. John started to show some sky beauties to people at the Hotel and soon he got a waiting queue behind his 4" APO Televue. Paolo was really enjoying from the views provided from his Vixen 20x100 big binoculars and Tim made a really easy split in Polaris with a Televue Ranger and a 10mm Zeiss ortho at 48x just for starting. After aligning my 4" Vixen refractor by means of the Skysensor 2000, and given the ultra-stable seeing conditions, I went directly to observe 37 Pegasi. Tim, Ana and I had incredible results observing this tight double (see the Pegasus observing project for a complete report). At about 2:30-3:00 local time, dew was starting to appear over our observing tools, so we decided to leave observing and have some hours of rest.

Saturday was also a fantastic day. Paolo installed a scale model of the Solar System in the Hotel's lawn, extending it more than 20 mts (65 ft) from the Sun to Pluto. At that scale, and while installing it, Paolo's scale speed was faster than light, so we had a lot of laughs observing how he was breaking relativity rules. After having a suculent dinner, we connected with
Cor in Holland  and Rafa in Valencia by means of a Chat session. It was like having them with us. Also, we had time to sign our assitence while having some "ambience" items over the table sent previously to me by Eddy from Australia. Eddy, we really noted your presence in the ambience!!

In the Saturday observing session, and due to the excepcional transparency, we went to deep sky observing, including some Messier objects, nice aterisms and even we had time for Uranus and Neptune. Although we are double star
observers, it's very difficut to scape the temptation to observe faint objects with such skies. And speaking about ambience, since saturday night is the day to go out and "live" the night in Spain, we saw a lot of cars in the road passing along Sena de Luna. Also, several dogs barked a lot. As Paolo wrote in his ambience's observing log: "Dogs bark and bark and nothing
on Earth is able to stop them barking!".

As in the previous Meeting, we had a very happy breakfast on sunday, leaving soon to our cities. Anyway, Paolo, Tim, Ana and I went to a small village in the North coast of Spain (Candás) in order to have a special kind of  "Fabada". This is becoming a mandatory issue for finishing the Meetings and I must say both Paolo and Tim learnt to serve the traditional Asturian drinking: the famous "Sidra" (just see the picture).

At the airport we were happy and with only the smallest trace of sadness. The Meetings are now well stablished and solid happenings and we know we will meet again next year. Meanwhile, e-mail and telephonic conversations will allow us to feel ourselves really in touch.

As you can see, this has been another unforgettable week-end in our lives.
Viva el "Spirit of 33"!!
Luis Argüelles
 

- The 4" Vixen refractor from Luis on the GP Sky-Sensored-2000 eq mount.
- The 70 mm Ranger refractor from Luis set up over a Manfrotto photo tripod.
- The Televue 101 from John, an optical jewel, coupled with Panoptic, Radian and Nagler eyepieces.
- I got from Italy my 20x100 Vixen binoculars over a fork mount. I think almost everybody in the group knows that this is the "No Smoking Binoculars" as last year, coming home from the first meeting, I got the inspiration to give up smoking, after having got the apex of 50 cigarettes/day!. Boring everyone about my efforts, and buying a big binoculars to pay with money saved, were two "tricks and tips" to help my will. After 1 year and 10 days I have "smoked" not only the binoculars, but
also a used 40 mm Plossl eyepiece, a new APO Barlow Lens and a Manfrotto tripod. The next stuff I want to "smoke" is a Vixen fork mount equipped with encoders and Stellar Guide.

I'll deal with the observation reports in another mail, I want only to point out that I got many new objects and that we have observed all together the double star 37 Pegasi. This doubles is very tight an difficult, but while my friends were glimpsing some elongation in the Airy disc or some subtle color differences, I didn't get anything but a perfect circular Airy disc ...
But it's not a surprise for me, I never glimpse the most tight doubles, the most faint galaxies, the most subtle color hints, neither I get the expected limiting magnitude from my scope ...:-(
 
The time spent at Dias de Luna was a beautiful time, the ambience very friendly and relaxing, the food was very good and healthy. I felt so confident that Saturday night I observed alone from 2:00 to 3:20 as my friends were tired and went to their beds before me. Iin the crisp night many dogs were barking, I think from Canis Minor to Canis Major, covering all the intermediate dimensions :-))). In the city when a dog barks in the night, after few minutes a window opens and someone shout something to the dog to quiet it, but there ... nobody felt responsible for that barking.
 
The only food "turbo-charging" got place on Sunday afternoon, before leaving from Oviedo. We went to a typical restaurant to have a "fabada", a special Asturian food based on beans and various meat, this time was a special version
with sea shells instead. The quantity they served us was "off socks" and we was not able to see the floor of the pan.

Before lunch we got some Sidra, an apple wine who requires to be served in a tricky mode, you have to pour from the bottle in the glass from a distance of at least a half meter. Doing so the Sidra is "aired" and "ventilated", viceversa it can't
develop its typical taste. Centering the glass is something like a hard splitting of, say, Otto Struve 111 or 37 Peg, and even if you are quite succesful, the Sidra pour all around and over you, that are going to assume the typical smell of Sidra drinkers ..., but with some practice it becomes easier, from my first to this second Meeting I had a substantial improvement.

After the "fabada" the end of the meeting was signed, Luis, Ana and Tim got me at the airport, were we left each other with the promise to see again next year. And my thoughts for next year are the following:
 
First of all I hope to see old and new friends, I traced a circle over the Europe map centering in Oviedo and passing over Ravenna. The area of influence of the Spirit of 33 within the radius I travelled includes most Europe, and I hope other 33-doublers will flight along their radius next year

In the hotel Dias de Luna there are many books, mainly on nature, geology, walking, holidays, no one about the astronomy but one of the series "Misteries of the occult sciences" titled "The influence of the Moon on human beings" ... my proposal for next year is that we will tax ourselves to donate to the hotel a good scientific book on the Moon, say the Rükl Atlas, "with the compliments of The Spirit of 33".

I'll begin to work about other stuff like the reduced solar system that I brought with me and that Luis has described in his report, something that can make possible for people "to touch" the heavens in some way.

Well, that's all, next days I'll put some order in the observng reports.
Clear skies and sharp splitting to all:
Paolo Morini
 

I arrived at Sena de Luna about 4:30pm and the hotel was closed. I had to ring and finally one of the ladies opened the door and explained to me that everyone was in their room taking a siesta. I carried my bag up to my room and then went down to the Salon to read the latest Spanish Astronomy magazine which I had bought that morning. While I was reading a tall individual with a well groomed English mustache entered and wished me Buenas Tardes. Right away I knew that had to be Tim Leese and we hit it off immediately and talked until Ana, Luis and Paolo came down from their rooms. We had afternoon tea, coffee, cake and cookies on the front lawn and that officialy started the 2nd Annual Reunion of the Spirit of 33. We spent the rest of the afternoon in general conversation getting to know each other again, talking about astronomy and wondering how good the night was going to be. Luis kept assuring everyone that it will be perfect. During the afternoon it was quite breezy with a few clouds floating across the heavens.

Last year thinking that the weather was somewhat like that in Salamanca I bought a minimun of clothes with me. This year however I had my winter jacket, long sleeve shirts, etc. ready to spend hours on the observing deck which turned out to be very calm but cold. After a superb supper of various Spanish cheeses followed by roast pork with mushrooms and a desert of cheese cake we went out to set up our equipment. As Luis had assured us the wind died down and the few clouds crossed over the mountains to Asturias where Luis lives. As we were setting up the rest of the guests in the hotel came out to join us to see what astronomy was all about. We were all set up about 10:00 or a little after and stayed out to about 3:00am. The night was spectacular as my fellow members have written and we shared all the treasures of M13, M31, M33, M11, etc. with the visitors and ourselves. The almost five hours just flew by and if it wasn't for the heavy dew that was beginning to wet the equipment we might have stayed for a few hours more. We also did some serious work with 37 Peg as Luis has reported.

Saturday we spent the day in retrospection of the previous nights delights under pristine skies, talking about all aspects of astronomy, having a chat with Cor and Rafa and just enjoying the ambience of a fantastic location.

During the morning Paolo set up a replica of the solar system which stretched across the whole front lawn of the hotel. The people entering and leaving had to take note of the replica because they had to bend down to get underneath the "ecliptic". Paolo's solar system drew much attention. The breakfast was great, the noon non-alcoholic beverages with peanuts and olives were great, the afternoon dinner was great, the afternoon "marienda" (tea and cookies) was great followed by a great supper. What a way to pass the day between great (how many times have I used the word great ) observing nights. Other adjectives would describe Sena de Luna but for some reason the word great says it all for me. 

Saturday night was a repeat of the previous night except most of us retired about 2:00am for two reasons, to advoid the dew again and because of a little tiredness. Paolo told us the next morning that he stayed for another hour or so. The night before Luis stayed up until 4:00am to wipe all his equipment dry which I did the following morning. We spent more time with 37 Peg, shared more sights with the visitors and generally enjoyed each others company. For me astronomy is generally a one person show with my wife and some neighbors joining me once in a while. However to spend two nights in the company of Ana, Luis, Tim and Paolo is something else again, that takes astronomy up to a higher sublime level. 

As Paolo wrote, he has drawn up a circle with a radius going from Sena de Luna to Ravenna which covers almost all of Europe and whatever radius that extends to England, Holland, etc. should be used as a magnet to entice others to come to Sena de Luna next year or whatever year to share in a "great" expierence.
    

Up very early in the morning to hastily pack a few clothes in as little a space as possible. With the last chart and “astro stuff” packed, a knock on the door ( taxi ) signalled the start of a new adventure to Spain and the  2nd Spirit of 33 meeting 2001. I left Manchester airport in poring rain and cold to arrive in Madrid sunny and warm ( 27C ).  I managed to catch a few rays of sun before the next plane to Asturias, a few hours later. The time for the short flight seemed to fly by ( pun intended) and I was soon at Asturias airport near to Oviedo.  A short time later, after checking into the Hotel in Oviedo, I found myself taking in some ambience of the city  in preparation for a meeting with Ana and Luis later on that evening. Thursday night was a special night as Ana, Luis and I enjoyed an excellent meal in a very good restaurant overlooking Oviedo. We soon found common ground and all enjoyed ourselves very much in a true 33- Spirit way.
 
 
14 September 2001 Open of meeting.

More ambience input with a leisurely stroll around Oviedo in the morning, this time in rain so I began to worry a little that we might have been unlucky with the weather.  I recalled some words from Luis at our meeting the previous night " trust me Tim, the weather will be good ".    Ana, Luis and Paolo, just in from Ravena, Italy, arrived and we left Oviedo for Sena de Luna.  I remarked to Luis about the overcast and gloomy weather, " trust me Tim, the weather will be good for our meeting" he said.   All I could see was thick cloud cover right up to the mountains.  A very short trip up to and through the mountains produced a most amazing sight.  As the car passed through the last tunnel through the mountains the cloud cover began to break and the most beautiful blue coloured sky burst forth.  Not a cloud in sight.  Maybe Luis was right after all.  The sky will be good!!   In clear sun we arrived at the meeting place for the 2nd Spirit of 33 meeting 2001, Dias de Luna.  In the true spirit of 33, I chose one of the moons of Saturn for my stay.  The ambience was building with an excellent dinner and onto the famous siesta.  Unable to rest I ventured out to explore and perhaps try out some of the Spanish language.  I know very little of the Spanish language but was willing to try in the true spirit of 33 way.  Approaching the first person I met I thought, “here goes”, " Buenos tardes, senor”.  The very friendly, enthusiastic response and greeting confirmed that this would be a very special meeting.  This person was John Ryan.  The ambience was complete.
 
 
14 September 2001 Observing session ( 1 )

After supper I was very keen to get out under the stars so I quickly picked up my binoculars and out onto the observing deck.  After only a few minutes gazing skyward my heart literally started to jump as I realised that the view of the Milky Way was becoming the brightest and clearest view I had ever seen in my life.  Finding a flat seat and lying  on my back I soon had my binoculars gazing skyward  on some of my favourite binocular doubles.
Epsilon Lyrae, Beta Cygni, Omicron1 Cygni, 61 Cygni just to name a few.  Even with my hand held binoculars I got pin sharp images and the most gorgeous views of the Milky Way.
Using naked eye,  I could observe all the stars making up the asterism of Ursa Minor following them all the way to Polaris.  I haven’t managed this ever in the UK.  What an observing site this is!!  The seeing was excellent and sky transparency excellent also.  John soon had his Tele View 101 cruising the skies. Luis had his Vixen 4 inch with sky sensor, very impressively driving  the telescope with pinpoint precision.   Paolo had some very large “no-smoking” binoculars an excellent investment as reward for kicking the weed.  The views from these binoculars are unbelievable, definitely “ off socks”, a phrase I was to hear many times over the weekend.  Just when I thought that it was impossible for conditions to improve, they did, Luis produced his Tele View Ranger  with a Zeiss eyepiece for me to use. I was soon off cruising the splendid skies with this wonderful refractor.  A quality refractor for the pristine skies of Sena de Luna.  M31, M110, Polaris and companion, all the favourites previously seen with my binoculars.  What great fun this was.  I hardly had time to locate my next quarry though when I would hear “ hey Tim, come and look at this”.  M33 through John’s TV 101, a first for me anyway. Fantastic!!
I would progress to my next object and would hear “ Tim, come and take a look at 37 Peg. Please describe what you see”.  Luis was attacking 37 Peg with great determination asking us all to take a look and describe what we could observe.  Paolo was searching out all his favourites too but I would hear “ Tim, come and have a look at this”. The double cluster in Perseus through Paolo’s giant binoculars  was a joy to behold.  Almost three dimensional.
People from the Hotel came to see what was going on and quite a queue formed as different objects became available for viewing.
This became the quickest and happiest observing session I have ever had. The time was 03:00 and all the senses were tingling with glee.  This was a very special place indeed.
  
 
15 September 2001 Observing session ( 2 ) 

Fantastic, clear skies again but this time the transparency was even better!! The seeing wasn’t quite as good but excellent all the same.  Hey I could not believe my eyes. I thought I could see with naked eye the double cluster in Perseus.  No I must have been dreaming!!  Later on Luis remarked that he could see the cluster also so maybe I wasn’t dreaming after all.  I counted seven stars in the great square of Pegasus this night, a sure sign that the sky is as near to perfect as amateur observers can get.  For the first time ever, using naked eye, I observed the great Andromeda galaxy, absolutely fantastic through the 12X 50 binoculars but naked eye?. This sky must have been really transparent and dark.  Photons of light travelling nearly 3,000,000 light years to reach the back of my eye. What a sobering thought this was. We observed M11 through  Luis’s Vixen, I could see just what  Admiral William Smyth meant when he described this cluster as the “Wild Duck Cluster”.  Luis had M74 and many objects in his sights and we all had a great view of T Lyrae through the “ no smoking” binoculars of Paolo.  This star to my eye had a blood red colour. A wonderful view against the background of stars.
Unfortunately I ran out of scraps of paper to make notes on so I have to leave you to guess what other objects I observed this night.  We finished about 0200-0300 tired but very elated.
 
 
16 September 2001 Close of meeting.

This day was the day we would eventually say our goodbyes, very happy with just a hint of sadness at leaving a great meeting place with superb skies. 
The 2001 Spirit of 33 meeting was a great success with all attendants enjoying the special ambience Dias de Luna provides.  My memories of these few days will linger forever remembering, excellent company showing the true spirit of 33.  Excellent skies.  More importantly though friendships forged between cultures separated by many hundreds of miles but coming together for a common purpose.
 
A huge thank you to Luis for setting up the Spirit of 33 group.  May it live and prosper for all time.
Tim.