[AZ-Observing] Re: Chaco Canyon Photos

Chaco is indeed a special place.  I visited a number of years back, and 
had planned on staying one night, ended up staying three and exploring 
most of the ruins, including Penasco Blanco and the "Supernova" petroglyph.

I am not convinced it is the 1054 supernova the artist was depicting.  
It is certainly something astronomical given the crescent Moon beside 
it, the Chacoans were clearly skilled sky watchers who knew the sky as 
well or better than any modern amateur astronomer.  The petroglyph could 
just be Venus and the Moon in a nice conjunction.  As with most 
petroglyphs we are just guessing, short of a time machine to go back and 
ask the artist there is just no way to ever know.

Andrew


Tom Polakis wrote:

>Last weekend, Jenn and I met up at Chaco Canyon with our friends Chuck and 
>Judy Dethloff, who have been the directors of the Oregon Star Party until this 
>year.  It was worth making the 7-hour drive, which culminates in 20 miles of 
>dirt road to the entrance to the park.  Pictures are posted here:
>
>http://www.pbase.com/polakis/chaco2005
>
>There is actually some astronomy in the photos.  Several years ago, Chaco 
>began an astronomy program thanks to the individual effort of John Sefick, who 
>told us that he moved from Chicago to Albuquerque in search of a dark-sky 
>retirement.  He singlehandedly funded a 25-inch Obsession in a dome and a C14 
>on an A-P 1200 mount.  The astronomy program is hosted by rangers or 
>volunteers, who get to use the equipment after  giving the visitors a tour.  
>Thanks to the Chaco program, a similar observing program is happening at Bryce 
>Canyon National Park.
>
>Another astronomy attraction is the pictograph of the 1054 "Crab Nebula" 
>supernova on an inacessible rock ceiling.  Getting to this famous rendition 
>requires a 7-mile round-trip hike that's mostly flat.
>
>The main attraction is well-preserved ruins from 10th- and 11th-century 
>civilization, some of them impressively large.  Pueblo Bonito is said to have 
>been the largest structure in North America until the first skyscrapers in the 
>1800's.
>
>Tom
>
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>
>
>  
>

-- 


Andrew Cooper
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