FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Astronomy Day at the Arizona Science Center

["Steven Dodder" <sdodder@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

This Saturday night passed was the Stronomy Day at the Arizona Science 
center.  This year's event was a rousing success, thanks to the many 
volunteers in attendance.  Inside, there were tables and tables of 
information and demonstrations, plus a portable Planetarium show setup in 
the lobby.  I heard it complemented well the permanent planetarium with 
several different shows during the day.
  My small part in this years activities was to set up a couple telescopes 
in Heritage Square for solar viewing and Venus during the day.  As I was all 
alone from 1:00 until sunset, I got all the glory.  There were a couple 
other volunteers, Randy Peterson of EVAc for one and another gentleman with 
an H-Alpha setup that set up in the food court, but they had to laeve early. 
  I had originally planned to leave also, but my beginner group I was to 
have at Stone Haven Observatory cancelled, so I was able to stay until the 
evening viewing session.
   The newspapers published a "Telescope Workshop" that had been canceled, 
so several folks showed up for that, but were disappointed.  At least until 
they talked to me.  :-)  I agreed to coach them, one father and son that had 
brought a telescope and a mother with a son that was working on a Boy Scout 
Astronomy Merit Badge.  I answered some questions from the scout and invited 
them to S.H.O. for the required field trip.  The big fun came later when it 
got dark.  I showed the dad and son as much about their scope as I could, 
hopefully without overwhelming them.
   While it stayed clear for the solar viewing, (obviously, since I'd 
forgotten sunscreen), as evening approached, it started to cloud up.  
Luckily, I'd had Venus in the C8 most of the day, so my manual setting 
circles were all calibrated and ready to go.  Jupiter, Saturn and Mars were 
all seen through the shifting clouds, as well as Arcturus, (to make the 
"star party" moniker official) Alcor and Mizar.
   It looked pretty bleak for much else, but being one of the SAC Optimists, 
(unofficially, of course), I set my scope to point at M44 by setting circles 
alone and waited...
   Meanwhile, with just a little more coaching, the dad and son were fairly 
bouncing off the walls, finding Venus, watching it fade, finding Arcturus, 
learning what a star test is all about, finding Saturn and seeing his rings 
for the first time through their own scope, bounding back to Jupiter and so 
on.  They were getting all the thrills newbies get, and lovingf it all the 
way!  It was just a joy to see.
  I'd check back with M44 from time to time to see if any sucker holes 
developed, when one time I saw the distinctive triangle at the center.  I 
surfed around a bit through the mains with a wide angle ep and lo and 
behold, Comet Neat Q4!  I gave a shout, (as many on this list have heard 
before), an everyone, yes, everyone ran to get a glimpse.  Astronomers, 
regular citizens, planetarium directors, docents and cops alike.  None were 
disappointed at the fuzzy view through the clouds at this spectacular comet. 
  It was just a stroke of luck getting it, but there it was.
   After even mighty Jupiter was concealed by thickening clouds, and a long 
day at the eyepiece, it was time to go home.  The exhuberant thanks of the 
general public, the repeated handshakes by the scout and the young 
astronomer and his dad reminded me once again why I do public viewings.  The 
conditions may not be ideal, the views may not be 10/10, but we that do this 
a lot are the only ones that know that-the public is generally blown away, 
no matter what we show them.  The important thing is to _show them_.  The 
rewards are great, and awareness is the most important part of the fight 
against light pollution.  Sometime, when the night looks a little crummy to 
travel to a dark site, please consider setting up in your driveway or a 
public place and sharing what you know about the night sky.  Everyone will 
win.

Steve and Rosie Dodder
sdodder@xxxxxxxxxxx
Visit my web site at http://www.stargazing.net/Astroman

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