For those "urban" astronomers who didn't care to make the trek out to Sentinel, or up to Boyce Thompson Arboretum, we had good crowds the past two nights at the GRCO observatory in Gilbert. Over 90 folks showed up on Friday night -- despite the thick clouds... Some visitors appeared to be confused as to WHY that might be an impediment to viewing..... Martin Thompson tried to explain that we did not YET have a "cloud filter" for the 16 inch scope.... We kept the dome open and the scope pointed in the area of the comet all evening, hoping for an opening in the clouds... None of the usual EVAC gang set up scopes in the parking lot, however.
We finally got a little "sucker hole" in the vicinity of the Comet about 9:30 pm for the few folks who either hung out or came late. So we got a few looks before closing ca. 10 pm. The Comet filled the whole eyepiece field at the lowest power in the 16.... It appeared to be a bit dimmer than the past few days. I could see at least four stars through the coma, along with others in the nearby field. Then the clouds came back.
Last night, it was completely clear in Gilbert, and we had over 110 people visit the dome, and got some fine views. We also tried the 80 mm finderscope (piggyback on the 16 inch), and that showed a nice low-power view, including the nearby very loose star cluster. We also saw the Pleiades, and Uranus.
According to the log books, we have had over 10,000 visitors at GRCO during the first year since opening...
Claude Haynes and Bill Dellinges of EVAC put on the Riparian astronomy lecture over at the Regional Library on Friday night (evidently Bill did not get arrested this time!), on "What Telescope to Buy for Christmas"..... also well attended, I understand. EVAC members will be putting on the Riparian talks on the second Friday of the month, now that Win Pendleton is moving to Colorado...
Last night was the annual pot luck dinner and cookout -- star party for the Friends of Boyce Thompson up at the Arboretum near Superior, but I was in Gilbert.... Will no doubt have some reports from B-T a little later....
Gene Lucas (17250)
