Another new moon in June is over and another trip to the Grand Canyon and Grand Canyon Star Party is in the books. Laundry is done and put away, and I'm sitting back with a relaxing adult beverage before returning to reality and work going through photos. I hope they all fit here!
As usual, most days are spent out hiking before having dinner then heading out to the observing field to set up scopes and get ready for the night showing visitors to the park the night sky. This trip had the benefit of several conversations with the new head astronomer at the observatory whose wife is involved with the Grand Canyon Conservancy. As one might expect, they have spent extensive time in the park and know some of the lesser known and explored areas and vistas. His top suggestion was a viewpoint called Shoshone Point. It's on the park maps, but isn't labeled beyond a parking area and has no real signage, but is easily the most beautiful view of the Canyon from the south rim that I have seen in all my trips to the park. 270 degree vistas that the panorama function in the camera in my phone only barely lets me take!
Bighorn sheep and calves along another trail nearby:
and quite a few elk as well, including this one that was mostly unconcerned with our presence as we walked past, just a handful of yards away!
Smaller wildlife abound too, including this busy bee gathering nectar from the abundant flowers in the park.
Rain storms impacted one night of observing, but made for some spectacular views of the Canyon that afternoon with dark and menacing clouds lingering overhead.
The real reason for the trip was the stargazing. An afternoon panorama of the larger scopes at the event in an area that has been nicknamed the "red light district" for the larger telescopes and the red lights we use for protecting our night vision. Six of the largest scopes at the event are here with their happy owners. I'm second from the left with the largest at the party on the right and one other scope hiding behind the group.
My friend, who ground and polished the mirror in my telescope, made a 1:10 scale functioning replica last year. It was a hit of the members of the public who came by during dusk when there was still light to see what was going on, but a bigger hit of the other folks who had brought scopes of their own. I think there was at least two requests for him to make miniature copies of other scopes once they saw and looked through "mini-me"!
Finally, my scope pointing at Venus in the evening sky waiting for the first of the visitors to pop into line for a look though the scope.
Once it was all over, three of my four nights there were a success. Thursday was a bit of a bust with rain at sunset (and some frantic scope disassemblies as the rain started), but close to midnight the skies cleared leaving a couple hours free in the field with no visitors. Saturday night, the last night, was crystal clear and saw a personal record number of "contacts" at my telescope in the five years I've attended the party.
In always love the interest and enthusiasm from the visitors who take the time to come out to the observing field after a full day of hiking and exploring the park. It's a truly unique experience for folks who haven't seen a dark and star filled sky, and probably haven't even looked through a telescope. It is always a great deal of fun being able to show off and share that sky with them. I'm already looking forward to next year (June 1-8, BTW
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) and have already booked my lodge.