Trista Opperman is a relatively new member of the FWAS, but that has not stopped her from organizing the Museum Star Party volunteers or from lending a helping hand wherever it is needed.  She has the wonderful habit of trying to meet someone new at each FWAS meeting.

LG.  What is your earliest memory of an interest in Astronomy?
TRISTA  It would have to be when Sally Ride became a NASA astronaut and went into space.  From that point on, I grew up wanting to be an astronaut.

LG.  Who was the first person that interested you in Astronomy?
TRISTA  It had to be my mother.  Mom was going to college and taking a class in  Astronomy.  She would take me and my brothers out to the front yard at night and point out the different constellations and stars.  That was long enough ago, that you could see the constellations and stars from our front yard - before all of the light pollution.

LG  What was the first thing you remember really looking up and seeing?
TRISTA  I have always been fascinated with the moon, but my most vivid memory of looking up and seeing was when I got my first telescope.  I searched for and found Saturn all by myself.  It was so exciting to see Saturn in my telescope.  I ran next door to tell my neighbor.  She came out to look also.  She didn't believe that you could actually see planets.  She thought you could only see stars.

LG  Describe your first telescope.  Was it a gift or purchase?  How old were you when you got it?  Have you ever made a telescope?  How did it turn out?
TRISTA  My first telescope was a Meade 4-inch refractor on a crappy tripod.  It was a gift from a best friend a few years ago.  I am building a telescope now - a 12.5 truss Dob.  I sent the mirror off to be aluminized and just got it back yesterday.  I am so excited. Yes, I admit it. I've finally entered the kingdom of geekiness.

LG  What do you do during the daytime?
TRISTA   I SLAVE, working for an environmental engineering company as a Site Remediation Project Manager.  We inspect contaminated commercial properties and determine what needs to be done to bring them back to safe standards.  We have a great motto where I work, which makes me smile every time I

think about it: "If you're not a part of the solution, there's good money to be made in prolonging the problem."

LG  Do you have any formal training in Astronomy or Physics?
TRISTA Yes. I studied Aerospace and Civil Engineering in college, so I have a pretty good background in Physics.

LG  Where did you get you basic training in Astronomy?
TRISTA  Books, books, and more books.  I am self-taught and absorb most of what I read like a sponge.

LG  Are you a "starhopper" or a "GOTOer"?  Which is best?  Did you go through a binocular phase?
TRISTA  I am a "starhopper" right now, but I think both methods have their place. Which is best? I think we both know the answer to that question. The best is what's best for the person using it.  Personally, I prefer larger aperture over "goto" capability. So, I bought the largest aperture I could afford at the time. I bought my first pair of binoculars AFTER I joined the club.

LG  What kind of telescope do you use most often?  How many do you have?  What would be your "dream scope"?
TRISTA  I have two and am working on my third, which I am building.  I use my Orion XT8 (an 8" Dob) most often.  My dream scope would be a 30" Obsession.  I met Dave Kriege a few weeks ago at Copper Breaks, who is one of the gods of telescope making. All I could do was bow before him.

LG  What is you favorite viewing site and with whom do you like to view?
TRISTA  My favorite place now is Copper Breaks State Park, but I really like Lake Whitney, too.  I have had some wonderful times there.  I really enjoy viewing with Harry Bearman, Thomas Williamson, and Chris Mlodnicki. Just call us the "Whitney Gang."

LG  What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen through a telescope?
TRISTA.  Omega Centauri (NGC 5139). It's the largest globular cluster in our galaxy, with over a million stars in it. It is so low in the sky that you have to stay up really late to see it.  I remember seeing it at about 3:00 AM at Lake Whitney back in April. It's a magnificent site to see.  The Swan Nebula (M17) comes a close second.

LG.  What do you enjoy looking at the most? Messier object, galaxies, variable stars..etc.? 
TRISTA   Well, I am still working on my Messier Certificate and am enjoying that.  But I really enjoy looking at the moon. 

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