Astronomy / Telescope / Stargazing
Grand Canyon, Arizona (Dark-Sky Site)
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Date: 2004/06/12-19

Location: Grand Canyon, Arizona (GCSP #14) Yavapai Point
Altitude: 7000 ft. ASL
Time: At night: duh!
Weather:
- Temperature = ~90 - 60f
- Humidity = ~10%
- Winds = SW @ ~3 with occasional gusts of ~1000mph
- Clouds = 6/0
- Transparency = 5/2
- Seeing = 5/2
- Darkness = 6
Moon Phase: 5 - 0%

 Telescopes Used:
- Meade 16” Starfinder Dobsonian
- Orion 100mm AstroView Refractor

       

 

GRAND CANYON STAR PARTY – 2004
By: Brad Campbell

Somewhere between the micro and macrocosm of universal sizes lies the scale of humans darting around the earth like the electrons of an atom. Not to imply that we are a negative bunch but rather that we are looking for something positive to interact with. This years Grand Canyon Star Party provided just that for me.

In exchange for the campsites provided by the Grand Canyon, National Parks Service and Department of Interior we have promised to set up our telescopes in the Yavapai Point parking lot each night for 8 consecutive nights and to offer the public a view through them along with our knowledge of Astronomy. Being from Las Vegas and living with very light-polluted skies I am very grateful to comply: especially since after the public leaves for the night, I get the clean, clear, dark skies of Northern Arizona virtually to myself. Last year, I must say I was disappointed when I found out that the star party was mostly for the public and not a “private” event. But this year, like last, I learned that it’s not all about me.

My sophomore year at GCSP started out like the last: packing up early and hitting the road trying to get a jump-start on weekend traffic. I woke up at midnight to start packing and by 4am I hit Rail Road Pass leaving the city lights behind. I thought about driving through Laughlin to avoid Hover Dam but instead opted for my usual route avoiding what I think are dangerous road conditions and a less familiar route. The Police at Hover Dam gave me their customary inspection regarding the “big cardboard box” in the bed of my truck. (I promise; it’s just a telescope!)

 When I got out of the mountainous area and onto the flat, open spaces of Detrital Valley in Arizona a disconcerting view towards the east caught my eye: clouds were forming in the once clear skies towards the White Hills and a land feature called "Cyclopic". Beyond them is the Grand Canyon.

 

I stopped briefly in Kingman for a quick breakfast and continued on my way passing some beautiful scenery. Heading east towards Williams I happened to see a fire burning on the side of the road and going down into the Willow Creek. I promptly used my cell phone (which amazingly worked) to call 911. I just can't seem to get away from that number no matter where I go! The last stop on the way is in Williams, Arizona. Every time I go there I wonder if the people who live there realize how jealous I am of them.

      

After a quick stop for gas (where I learned what "Highway Robbery" was about!) I continued along my way passing even more beautiful country-side.

 

Traffic had been light along the way but 280 miles after leaving my house I found my first traffic jam when I reached the entrance of the Grand Canyon sometime around 9am on Saturday.

 I promptly made my way to Mather Campground and on to Aspen Loop and set up camp. Upon my arrival I was greeted by the always smiling face of Geoff. Like me, he is another "renegade" member of the Sirius Lookers. He is our Chicago Chapter. He was sharing his site with Roy from Tennessee. Shortly thereafter our "Fearless Leader" Dennis arrived followed by the "Cluster King" Ara. Doug from Prescott arrived a little later and then our host Dean made a personal appearance to welcome everybody. Later in the afternoon, JC Willette, who is  President of The Astronomical Society Nevada-Las Vegas arrived. I told JC that he was more than welcome to share my campsite but if I caught him snoring like he has in the past, that I would let the hibernating Bears he woke up go into his tent! Thom, Ellen and Ron showed up later in the afternoon after getting caught up in a traffic jam on I-17.

Each day we drove from our campground out to Yavapai Point where we were greeted by Brain, our Park Ranger. On top of his regular duties, Brian made sure we had someplace to park our vehicles and had a place to set up our ‘scopes. Brian informed us that he was going to take some time off and that this would be his last year at the Canyon. When I take time off, I go to places like State and National Parks so I can get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. I figured Brian would want to get away from the more “primitive” lifestyle and go and see the sites of a big city. But no, in true Ranger fashion Brian said he was going to go and do some hiking and camping!

 

 Last year I had a 10” Dobsonian. Since then I’ve gotten a case of “aperture fever” and have been fortunate enough to be able to move up to a 16” Dobsonian.

 

The first night was unusual being that the larger 'scopes were set up quite by accident in order of aperture. Dennis with the largest (28"), then Ara and his 24", followed by Steve's 18", my 16" and rounding it off with Geoff's 12" truss Dob. John has to ruin it by arriving late and setting his 20" at the end of the line completely out of order. Geez...some people! I'm just teasing. I was really glad to see him. He was one of the first people I met way back when and showed my how to find things in the night sky by star-hopping.

Unfortunately the weather was not cooperating with us: our first night started off cloudy and windy. Jupiter was blinking in and out behind the red tinged clouds but we nevertheless aimed our 'scopes at the Giant Gas Planet and showed her off to the public which had begun to mill about the parking lot. As it got darker, more and more objects became available for the viewing. I chose to stay mostly on M57, the Ring Nebula and did a little of M51. The Sombrero Galaxy is always a crowd pleaser as well as the Double-Stars Albireo and Mizar/Alcor.

I met some interesting people who had traveled to the Grand Canyon from Poland. I also met a curious fellow named Bob who was from Ohio. We spent most of the night looking at some more familiar objects rather then the little faint galaxies I was hoping to rack-up while at the Grand Canyon. Early in the morning I used the still-rather-new 1rpd 2" EP that I have. I was amazed to see M31, M32 & M110 in the same FOV. The sky had cleared quite nicely (good enough to see the North American Nebula naked-eye) but most of the people with telescope had long ago packed up and gone back to their camps. Dennis stayed set up for a while and enjoyed a very nice view of the Veil Nebula before calling it quits. Bob remained 'till the bitter end as the Crescent Moon made it's way over the horizon. Unaware of the time, I actually thought daylight was going to break and started packing up. Bob headed back to his room while I finished packing my gear and then headed out leaving the parking lot to the early morning risers who had come to watch the sunrise. (Yuck! Just kidding) By 5am I was back in camp and headed for bed. Temperatures were a cool 55 degrees but the pesky wind was still whistling through the pine boughs. Tomorrow would be another day...