Thanks to Roger, Steve, Mark, Mat and Jon's reports on the Great Basin Astronomy Festival. I don't think there's much more that can be said for the event. Thursday night was splendid. Meteors were everywhere, with a fair share being Perseids, from the comments I heard in the viewing field. I was able to point out the Andromeda galaxy and the double-cluster in Perseus to a young couple from Texas who had just came from another park in Oregon. The North American Nebula was also a splendid naked eye sight to see, especially for those who had never seen or knew of its existence. On Thursday the kids enjoyed making craters with small rocks in learning how a crater is made and the name of the various areas it's made of. They also had the opportunity to make Dipper Clocks for use that evening. Friday they made Sun Clocks (sundials) and perhaps the most exciting was taking turns being the Sun or the Earth on a 75-foot distance scale. They would look through my 10x50's to see just how small Earth would be from a pole on Sol. Saturday the kids took part in a drawing contest to draw out their idea of an alien bug given different elements to work with. Due to rain, we laid out our planetary distance model on toilet paper inside the visitor's center. That alone took up nearly 70 feet of floor space. All the kids got a chance to place a Sun or planet sticker after being given the number of sheets to count out for each planet. Each kid received a candy bar at the end for their efforts and they all seemed to have enjoyed the three days of hands-on activities I chose for the kids programs. We need to give Ranger Kelly Carroll a big round of applause for putting together a well organized festival! And not to forget all the Rangers who played an important role. I believe the visitors will not only consider returning next year, but pass the word on to other family as well. And "Thanks!" again to our SLAS members who made an enjoyable festival possible. Tom Sevcik ----------------------------

From: utah-astronomy-request@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Utah-Astronomy Digest, Vol 102, Issue 2 To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2011 11:26:53 -0600

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Today's Topics:

1. Great Basin Astro Festival 2011 (Hutchings, Mat (H USA)) 2. Re: Great Basin Astronomy Festival (Mark Shelton)

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Message: 1 Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2011 13:26:30 -0400 From: "Hutchings, Mat (H USA)" <mat.hutchings@siemens.com> To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Great Basin Astro Festival 2011 Message-ID: <F04316395058F74887D96A59052D99E5084E6C19@USMLVV1EXCTV05.ww005.siemens.net>

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What a great time I and my daughter had at the 2011 Great Basin Astro Festival. Below is a quick report of the public star parties on Thursday and Friday. We had to leave for home on Saturday, so unfortunately we were not able to help with the star party that night, but I suspect the weather was not good that evening.

Thursday, 7/28: Attended the Ranger talent show from 8:00 to 9:00 pm and it was a hoot! After the talent show we hoofed it down to the picnic area where the scopes were set up for the public viewing. All day the skies were partly to mostly cloudy, but as sometimes happens, the skies opened up for the evening. The darkness was good, but transparency was not the greatest. With my 16" dob and my daughters 8" ball scope, we treated the public to viewings of M22, M8, M20, M57, M27, the Veil and the Crescent. Everyone who looked through the scopes were very appreciative and of course there were some very big WOWs and Oh My Gosh's. After the public left at around midnight, the skies got more transparent and so I stayed up observing until some high clouds came back in around 3:30 PDT. That night was the absolute best I have ever seen the veil through my scope. It was awesome! The Crescent was also looking great. Another personal favorite was N6520 and B86 right next to each other. What a cool contrast of open cluster and dark nebula. For those who are interested, below is the list of the objects I hit that night:

N6940 N6520 B86 M11 M22 N6528 N6522 N6445 M17 M20 N6822 M21 N6712 M27 M57 N6781 N6888 N7027 N6818 N6960

Friday, 7/29: The skies were really not good this night. I heard that after the 8:00 to 9:00 presentation at the visitors center, the public were told that the skies were not good enough to view so virtually everyone left from there. At about the same time, several of us telescope drivers were sitting around talking, picking out the odd star through the clouds when most of us decided to pack it in. I waited a bit longer and just as I drove my van up to load the scopes, a group of about 10 people showed up. It just so happened that a sucker hole opened up around the summer triangle, so I quickly got my dob set to observe while my daughter entertained the group with her scope. Geoff also got his 24 inch driven dob ready. Shooting through sucker holes, we were able to show that group several objects including M4, M57, M13, M8, M51 and the cats eye. They were very happy that we showed them the wonders of the universe and since it was a small group, we were able to explain the objects that we saw more fully than is usual for a public viewing like this. Even though the skies were not considered good this night, those few people had a great time, as did I.

I will definitely be back for the next astro festival at Great Basin. The Rangers and volunteers there do an outstanding job and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

Mat Hutchings

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Message: 2 Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2011 10:26:38 -0700 (PDT) From: Mark Shelton <woodturninginc@yahoo.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Great Basin Astronomy Festival Message-ID: <844729.98066.qm@web59408.mail.ac4.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I guess I need to comment on Great Basin. I had a very great time there. The atmosphere at the park was?totally?diffenent then the Bryce Canyon Festival. I felt very relaxed and?appreciated?as the weekend progressed.?

Viewing on?Thursday?was good. Not great with the atmosphere in?turmoil but good. VERY NICE DARK SKY

I had the chance to meet and talk to some outstanding astronomers from Lake Tahoe, and Elko. There were some observers from Las vegas........... but they came and went without much comment.

We did get washed out on Friday and Saturday nights, but that did not change my feelings towards the Park and the trip in general.

I for one would rather go to Great Basin's Star Party then Bryce anytime.

The food was good, the companionship with fellow observers was great and I can not tell you how COOL the ?Cave is.

I now know all of the secrets of Steve and Roger. If you are looking for some dirt on them I have it. ?LOL Just Kidding

I can not wait to go back and have a weekend with clear sky's

Mark Shelton

________________________________ From: Steve Fisher <iotacass1@hotmail.com> To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Sent: Monday, August 1, 2011 11:08 AM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Great Basin Astronomy Festival

Jon: Thanks for your complete report. Rodger Fry, Mark Shelton, Mat Hutchings along with his daughter and myself were all at GBNP. I returned home Early Sunday morning and have been going to sit down and write up a short report. I have since mowed and trimmed the lawn and prepared for one of those ugly medical procedures that will occur in one hour from now.Thursday was a wonderful day. I am sorry you missed it. We had an excellent afternoon of observing with the clubs PST and with a SolarMax 60 until 4:30. It was spent shooting around clouds most of the afternoon.Thursday evening the skies cleared and we had a simply excellent night of observing with the public. We all estimated right around 100 guests for the evening. The skies were very clear and VERY dark but they were also very unsteady. Splitting my favorite Iotacass was near impossible. But since I wasn't there for my entertainment we showed the folks who were there what they came to see and they were very appreciative.Great Speakers, including Rodger, and Tyler Nordgren.? Tom Sevcik was once again at the park participating as a volunteer.I'll try to provide a more complete report once I have recovered from the anesthesia but in the mean time I want to echo your feelings about not only the park but the Rangers, the astronomy festival volunteers, Mike and Ann, the staff and everyone involved with GBNP?

...

Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2011 10:24:43 -0600 From: stormcrow60@xmission.com To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Great Basin Astronomy Festival

Hi Folks, ? ? I have not seen any reports on Great Basin Astronoomy Festival.? Perhaps, because basically it was a wash. So, I figured I would jump? into the void regarding my experience there. ? ? I arrived Friday morning and grabbed an awesome camp spot at Baker? Creek Campground. I got there early because last years astronomy? festival was on Labor Day weekend, and it was really crowded. This? year I arrived early enough to have the pick of the best campsites.? Anyhow, Some friends arrived later in the afternoon. I espoused the? great and dark skies ar Great Basin and a buddy of mine brought his? family, along with his 6" refractor. We had planned to attend both? Friday and Saturday nights' star observing at the Lehman Caves Visitor? Center, along with private observing at our campsite. ? ? However, the monsoon was kicking into high gear and Friday night? was spotty at best. At about 11:00 the clouds parted in the north and? east, but after about an hour, the cloud cover returned.? Unfortunately, what did appear, only leant to the whetting of our? observing appetites, and when the cloud cover returned, I for one, was? severely disappointed. We all were disappointed. We hoped for the best? for Saturday night, but it was even worse. There was not even a sucker? hole on Saturday night to catch a glimpse of a partial constellation.? Needless to say, we did not even attempt to go up to the Lehman Caves? Visitor Center to observe with the big scopes. All day Saturday, it? was cloudy and the cover never really broke, so I am thinking on? Saturday night, they did not even bother to get set up. ? ? On Saturday, while waiting for the Lehman Caves tour, I happened? to see Ranger Kelly and we briefly chatted. He mentioned that Thursday? night observing was spectacular. Hearing this was even more? disappointing, since I was considering arriving Thursday afternoon.? And even if I had done so, my friends who had shown up, would still? have missed Thursday nights observing. Oh well... a day late, but at? least, not a dollar short. Hey... I'm trying to inject some humor into? this post. Anyhow, due to the monsoon, and not wanting to conflict? with other national park star festivals, Kelly mentioned that perhaps? next year he was thinking of moving the G. Basin Astronomy Festival to? June. I suggested September, but he said he wanted to make it? available to more folks who were on summer vacation. From my? perspective, due to the cloud cover, June seems to be one of the worst? months for observing. But this is my experience only from the Salt? Lake area. Perhaps at G. Basin, the June observing would be great. ? ? Although my friends and I were disappointed, I am sure the folks? from SLAS who had made great efforts to bring their scopes and set up? for the public were even more disappointed. It truly is a labor of? love, and even though I did not get a chance to observe at G. Basin, I? just wanted to say thanks to the SLAS members for taking the time and? dedication to make such an awesome effort for the public. Last year I? had met Steve and Dale out there, and it was a lot of fun. So, thanks? guys. Also, a huge thanks to Kelly and Great Basin Nat'l Park for? making the accommodations available to have this astronomy festival.? It is public funds working for the benefit of all of us. ? ? Last of all, I just wanted to say that even though the observing? Friday and Saturday nights was a wash, Great Basin is a spectacular? place to visit. I am somewhat enamored with the place, as I am with? all desert environments. But, it is so much more than just a desert? environment. There are many things to do, and one could spend a week? there and still only see and experience a fraction of what the Park? has to offer. My friends who joined me on this camp trip were also? thrilled and blown away by their experience. Visiting Bristlecone? Pines that are 3500 years old, and in the same day, visiting Lehman? Caves and seeing subterranean structures that took 1.5 million years? to form, was exciting and fun. And of course, just the camping? experience is worth it all. I am hoping next year will be better for? viewing, because I will be back.

Thanks to SLAS, Kelly, and Great Basin Nat'l Park, Jon

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