[AZ-Observing] Re: Thunderbird Park Star Party

It was mag -8 at the center which I thought was further west a few kilometers,
so I extrapolated -5 or-6, but if indeed over 59th Ave, would be -8 yes. The
Heavens-Above site used to name the actual streets, but I haven't seen that
lately, just a kilometer and mile figure either side. Wonder what happened to
it, or I'm not clicking the right spot.

Your watch was off. A guy with a cell phone had the most accurate time, a few
long minutes later. At least it allowed for everyone to be looking by that
time. Thank your lucky stars, if it didn't show there would have would have
been AWWWWs instead of OOOOHs.

The peak of the crowd was about 8:30 and the crush was more than a half-hour
before and after. Taking 20 scopes times 20+ deep average all scopes at < one
minute per look for an hour gives 1200+, add the early- and late-birds,
subtract the repeaters, so SWAG is 800-1000 attendance as in my first post (on
SAC-Announce). Did it seem 1/3 the crush of the record Hale-Bopp 3000 in
attendance (incl. TV station crew and reporters :-) )?

Jack Jones
Public Events Coordinator
Saguaro Astronomy Club
Phoenix AZ
Telescoper@xxxxxxx
www.saguaroastro.org

Sp@m:  Don't try - Don't reply - Don't buy.

Ex-Jefe,

The flare was -8, the brightest it can be. I thought it was rather short
lived though, I've seen them last for quite a while (at least the satellite is
visible for a while, the peak is pretty short lived.) I wonder if the duration
is function of brightness. I'll have to start keeping track.

Anyway, My watch Must've been off a bit because I had announced the  time for
the flare and it came and went and nothing. Had to listen to  Fredericksen
make a few wisecracks and then there it was. I heard a collective  "OOOOOOH"
from the crowd and then some applause.

BTW, ex-Jefe, How did you arrive at the count of attendees? Was it a  guess
or did the rangers give you a count?


Telrad


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