[AZ-Observing] Re: GCSP

Tuesday and Wednesday at Grand Canyon were much the same as Monday if not
getting progressively worse. The nights stayed clear however and everybody
got their money's worth.  Tuesday was the best though, and the Milky Way
showed every nook and cranny that it had that night. On Thursday
thunderheads were building in the north and south and I drove home to Phx in
a driving rain storm below Flagstaff.

Pretty much everything I showed in the 14.5" got oohs and ahhs, especially
the Ring Nebula at high power.  Ironically, M13 got the most interest after
the crowds left, with the amateurs examining its structure, looking for the
3 dark lanes and the X of stars in the core.  Some saw, some didn't, the
jury is still out for me.

What a great vacation, and what a great experience, with talks by Dean
Ketelsen, Steve Dodder, John Dobson, and Joe Bergeron. Nice hat, Joe.

Jack Jones
Spicastar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> Monday night at the Grand Canyon Star Party, although plagued by high
cirrus
> and wind, compensated amateurs and public viewers with superb atmospheric
> stability.  While some large aperture scopes, particularly the tall
> truss-design Dobsonians, were rendered idle due to wind gusts, others
> managed to treat the public to sharp views of the obligatory--and
> overdone--M13, the ring, whirlpool, and of course Mars.  The latter,
> hindered by difficult observing conditions, impressed first-time
on-lookers
> at 560x; some remarkably detecting the subtle albedo features encircling
> Elysium.
> Regardless of attendance and weather, Tuesday proved to be a rich and
> fulfilling night of learning and interaction.  And even though Mars was a
> sight I'll never forget, Tuesday reaffirmed how much I enjoy, and how
> important it is to bring the night sky to the public.  ...That's my plug
for
> next year's GCSP, and all those other public and sidewalk events.
>
> -FRANK


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