Report on Rock Springs - Mt. Tamalpais State Park Astronomy Program.

Monthly, from April though October, the MT. Tamalpais State Park sponsors monthly astronomy lectures at the Mountain Theater on top on Mount Tam in Marin. The first was last night (Saturday April 25). Afterwards, the park permits the San Francisco Amateur Astonomy Association to set up our telescopes at Rock Springs a few feet away from the outdoor theater.

Last night's lecture was "The Search for Life on Mars and Europa by Dr. Chris McKay of Nasa Ames.Afterward Chris joined us in viewing in basically dismal seeing conditions. Eye view was no better than 2 or 3 magnitude and the horizon was saturated for at least 45 degrees to the point that you could make out details on your hand with the light. The skies in Marin were basically saturated during the day and at least until midnight and appeared white after about 2 in the afternoon.

There were a large number of observers with everythng from a Pronto to large homemade open truss Newtonian reflectors. At least five people had Meade 10" and 12" LX-200 and Lx-50's. There were an even larger number of newbies who were there for the lecture and lined up sometimes 6 deep to look through the scopes. They can only stay until 11. The time after that is left for SFAA members.

Chris' lecture was enjoyable and that and the opportunity to speak to a a large number of members and first time viewers help make up for lousy seeing conditions.

My last time up on the mountain was on a very good night in November with still skies and abnormally warm temperatures. The best nights there occur when a tight and low fog belt rolls in and covers the lower elevations blocking the city lights of the East Bay and S.F. from the local skies at that altitude.

The next lecture will be on May 23 at 8:30 entitled: "Sophia: A Far Infrared Look at our Evolving Galaxy" by Dr. Jacquel Davidson of Nasa Ames.

This will also allow for setting up scopes (If you are a member of the SFAA you can stay late otherwise the rangers ask you to leave with their bullhorn at 11.)

It appears that the seeing at Pacheco wasn'tmuch better.