We (my wife Ellen and I) didn’t go to the North Rim so this only concerns the South Rim.

Well it was a great time at the Grand Canyon Star Party. Thanks go out to Dean Ketelsen for organizing it, to National Park Service Grand Canyon for having us, and NPS’s Charles Wahler the Star Party Information Officer. People came from all over. Jim from Iowa, Geoff from the Chicago area, Elaine from Virginia, a couple people from California, a group from Louisville, a few from Indiana, a couple guys from Texas, and of course Arizona was well represented. (probably missed a few)

General:

We set up about 50 scopes a night (one count 60 parking spaces in the lot 33 had at least one scope in them) plus the Pit and had 200 to 500 people looking through them a night.

The usual group we hung with was Jim, Ron, Dennis, and Geoff. Ron and Dennis have been to many of these, it was the first for Jim, Geoff, and us. We have been setting up a 5’ folding table and patio chairs so people just migrated to us. The people leave around 10:30 so the rest of the night becomes ours. Which keeps your night vision. (lots of cars these days have lights that don’t turn off)

The weather was great early in the week, high’s in the mid 80’s lows in the 50’s. Everyone seemed to have a hard time sleeping after 9am. The tents got too hot! We spent most of our days pouring over star charts, learning so we could put on a good show. We started getting clouded out Thursday night (it cleared after midnight) and there was no viewing Friday or Saturday night.(the 8pm talks were still given) Seeing was the best I’ve ever had but I’m told it was just fair all week

Saguaro Astronomy Club (SAC) had a pizza party Sunday afternoon for all of us. George and Steve of Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) did a breakfast on Thursday morning. The Wahler’s (Chuck and Sally) had a cookout on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday:

Arrived at the Grand Canyon about 1pm, set up camp, and went to Yavapai Point about 4pm. Met Ron Bishop (of Sedona Sirius Lookers) who had his Takahashi refractor set up with an H-Alpha filter watching the sun. Walked down to the observing area (the Pit) to check out the scopes down there. Met a couple from Phoenix (EVAC) setting up, talked with them awhile. Went back and Ron told us the rules about setting up. Set up our LX90 and started doing PR, telling people to come back for the star party. (I think I should get a commission from Meade, I think I sold 20 scopes over the week) About this time Dennis Young (of Sedona Sirius Lookers) showed up. Developed a case of aperture envy when he set up his 28” DOB. Had to tell the 2 couples I was talking to that “size does matter” but he’s a nice guy so I won’t hate him. (check out his web site http://www.sedonastarlight.com/ ) Then I notice that a lot of the DOB owners are bowing down to this old man that showed up with a couple of “groupies” hanging on his every word. The guy has gray hair....pony tail....looked like the wind could blow him over, this is none other then John Dobson himself.

Viewing was great. The bus nebula stopped running about 9:30 and we had about 150-200 people look through our scope. The line for Dennis’s scope was very long (never set up next to Dennis, you’ll get trampled in the crowd, besides he needs two parking spaces) Well after dark decided to try out my new oxygen III filter. The Swan nebula jumps out in it. I swung over to the Lagoon nebula it was well resolved. I called out “anyone want to see the Lagoon through an O III” and heard a “sure be right over”. My wife who was guiding people started showing this person how to look through the eyepiece and got a “I think I know how to use a telescope” for her trouble. I looked over in the dark and see the gray pony tail. Yep John Dobson, I guess he does know how to use a scope. (no hard feelings though she got his autograph later in the week on page 60 of the Backyard Astronomer’s Guide where his picture is)

Sunday:

At the pizza party we met more of the astronomers, as I said Arizona was covered well, we had people from Prescott (Prescott Astronomy Club) Phoenix (East Valley and SAC) Sedona (Sirius Lookers) Tucson (Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association) Set up next to Ron and began my education. I think I learned more this week then I could in a year. Ron who has a physics degree explained an easier way to explain what a light year was (people were asking and my “distance light travels in a vacuum in a year” really wasn’t working) If asked a question I couldn’t answer referred it to Ron. Jim has a 15” Obsession that we spent some time looking through. That night I met a mother who had bought her son a department store telescope. We talked about how to make it work instead of sitting in a closet. “The best scope is the one that’s used” and for her to try her local club for beginner classes, they might have ideas. Living on the north side of Phoenix (losing everything south in the lights of Phoenix) I just had fun looking at everything in the south. Hit the Vail nebula, and spent a lot of time on M-13 (one of our favorites), lots of time in Sagittarius too. Tried out Ron’s UHC filter.

Monday:

Set up around 4-4:30 as usual. Ron on one side, Jim on the other. (best time to get what parking space you want is between 4:30 and 5:30) Dobson is talking to some Japanese that showed up. He doesn’t speak Japanese and only one speaks some English. He wants to know what they call Mars. Watched Elaine set up, she’s got about a 15” DOB, drives a Suburban, she puts ramps up and pulls the base out on a 4 wheeled cart. (nice idea) Then just installs the struts and the head. Just as soon as I can get two stars to align to I am up and running. Windy tonight, pushing Jim’s Obsession around, he spent the night using our scope. Ron showed me M-92 works better the M-13 earlier in the night because it’s a less dense cluster. Someone had one of those green laser pointers. Fell in love with it, going to order one. Had a bunch of exchange students come by, did you know that the Big Dipper is called the Plough in GB? One asked if these are the same stars that she sees in the Netherlands and he sees in Japan?

Tuesday:

Frank (EVAC) and a friend showed up with a video camera, said he was filming a video on amateur astronomy. John Dobson had one of his original scopes out with a solar filter. It really looks like something out of the 70’s (about a 4” painted blue with yellow stars and the sun on it) John is playing cowboy in the parking lot, twirling a rope. Dennis not to be out done pulls out a hula hoop. Set up next to Jim. Sirius clouds that went away at dusk. My wife met a lady from Phoenix that was having trouble with her scope, gave her my phone number told her to give me a call and I would come over and look at it for her. (Ellen’s never happy unless she finds me something to work on) Talking to an amateur astronomer out of GB yep it’s called the Plough there but he said they didn’t have a name for the little dipper. Started out on M-92 then put the O III in and stayed over in the Lagoon nebula. Asking people if they wanted to see stars in pampers. Ron (self-employed) had a project due so he left after the viewing told us he would be back for the weekend.

Wednesday:

Lack of a good nights sleep getting to just about everyone (getting to sleep at about 3-4am) walking around like zombies. Now the fun begins. Got interviewed by Frank. We have gotten to know each other fairly well and start teasing each other. Geoff sets up across from us, Jim is next to us, Dennis 2 spots from Geoff. Dobson walking around with a feather in his hair. Madge the button lady showed up today so got our GCSP 2001 badges. She was on the North Rim. Two young girls on their way to Vegas stop and Dennis is showing them his etchings. We’re teasing him unmercifully. (things like, he doesn’t even own that scope) Sirius clouds that went away at dusk. The Louisville club shows up with 7 scopes. We save them a parking space next to Elaine so they can understand each other. Called it the Mason-Dixon line. Ellen decides that she wants to sit over by Dennis and learn how he puts on a show (he‘s smooth) actually I think its just to get away from us. Geoff and I do a mini Messier Marathon using the computer to find all the Messier objects in the Virgo Cluster. (great faint fuzzes) Found a flaw in the LX90. You need to make a large move every now and then, all the tight moves in Virgo threw it off. (I guess its the stepped drive vs the LX200 DC servo drive) You can tell it needs a move because it doesn’t center the object (this is after about 7 or 8 moves when you don’t hear the gears whine)

Thursday:

Dobson left this morning, he had something going in San Francisco. At the breakfast checked Dennis to see if he was hiding those girls anywhere. Got slugged. Fire restrictions went in today, no open flame. Ron came back late in the afternoon, project on hold. Guys from Texas already had some of their pictures, showed them around, (Dennis didn’t know we were taking pictures of him) Ron said it’s good to keep Dennis in line. (builds character) Ellen is interested in sketching so got a sample of the form that George uses.(going to scan it in when I get time) All of us set up together with Dennis across from us, easier to keep an eye on him. Sirius clouds went away at dusk and some cumulus that stayed. We find out Dennis is giving tomorrow nights talk and plot to help him with it. Started out on Mizar tonight because of the clouds (they cleared later) you could hardly see Mars through them. Had to work the lolly-pop holes (sucker holes) Made it an early night only stayed up till 2am.

Friday:

Fire restrictions still in effect. Went to a steakhouse for dinner with the mob (Dennis, Ron, Geoff, Ellen and me) Dennis is setting up his slide show and leaves the box for a bit, we talk about changing the order but decide that we will just move the box and let him think we did something. Got a little rain about 6pm lots of clouds (couple thunder heads) 8pm and Dennis is starting his talk all the astronomers are there since no one is setting up till the clouds pass. George has a laser pointer and every time Dennis points at something with his, George points at something else. I’m helping him too, I ask what do you set the flash on to take pictures of the stars, is that the picture that you faked? We all head to the pub after, no viewing tonight. Dennis beats me 4 pool games in a row and then holds the table 11 straight games.

Saturday:

Fire restrictions still in effect. Ron and Jim went home. Had a no fire cook-out. Dennis went home after it. Rained this afternoon, so got a nap. Dean giving tonight's talk, people talking about leaving after it. No one set up in the parking lot and people in the Pit starting to tear down their scopes. Geoff came over to our campsite and we spent the cloudy night talking stars and stuff.

Conclusion:

Had a great time!!! Already making plans to return next year. (looks like June 8) Going to do the South Rim again because that’s where the guys are going to be.