Saturday April 7, 2012
CoE Star Party
James Hall
7:15p-11:15a
Guests: 90
Grounds good. Harlan working. I replaced the batteries in the Harlan TelRad, but still wasn't working so just used regular finder scope. Ealing Telrad working fine. Ealing tracked about 80%. Noticed something wrong with one of the 2" eye pieces. It looks like it was coming apart, the plastic and rubber were separated. I left it in the case for now but wasn't sure if we should try and repair it or replace it.
I was there at 7pm, when a very large group of adults and children arrived that didn't seem to speak much English. They didn't stay until dark, but walked around the observatory and grounds.
Mostly high cirrus clouds. Viewed Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Saturn,and Full Moon (in that order). Many passed around the binoculars to view items like the Orion nebula. The clouds were parted just enough for when most guests came to visit for the planets. But too many clouds for when ISS flew over. The place was completely full by 9:30. All were very impressed and were constantly hearing the word "Wow" all night long. Many had great things to say about Darin that had been at the observatory the night before.
Left at 11:30p, temp 71º.
