[AZ-Observing] GCSP was Great

It was one of the best Grand Canyon Star Parties ever. It was worth the
first 3 days of high winds and cold temps to have the rest of the week
calm and cool with great seeing towards morning every night.

A 28" and 24" were available, the latter a new John Hall. Barry
Peckham's 12", 14", and 18" LightBox telescopes were on scene and held
steady even in 30mph winds. About 40 telescopes for several hundred
visitors every night. 11 pm was the last shuttle and then it was ours
til the morning shuttle at 4:15 for clear unobstructed clear dark skies.

Mars was very steady from 2 am on for the latter part of the week and we
could watch Syrtis Major, Syrtis Minor, Iapygia, and Utopia advance
against the disk every night. Also we tracked 13.8 mag(?) Pluto moving
quickly in retrograde just above Eta Ophiuchi.

Lotsa food and good crowds, bike riding and scenery with fires to watch
on the north rim. Just had to keep that chapstick and sunscreen handy.

Jack Jones
Saguaro Astronomy Club
Public Events
Phoenix AZ
spicastar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



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