by James Adams
We had about 60 people show up between 6 P.M. and 11:00 P.M., several with department store refractors, and eager to use them. Unfortunately, there was no moon or planet to target; double-stars and colorful singles would have to do.
Fortunately, everyone was in a good mood after a day of soccer, birthday parties, and generally fine weather. I found a small gopher snake [I thought] sunning itself on the school steps, and when I tried to scoot it into the bushes, it rattled and struck at me! Yep, a rattler!
So I put it in a Tupperware box, to the immense enjoyment of the kids.
Aggressive little guy, it kept striking at the side of the box. Emigrated afterward to the Open Space Preserve [not Montebello].
Skies were clear and dark, and I brought my 10" f 6.3 Meade SCT, a 4" f 15 refractor on a CG-5, and a Unitron 62 mm. X 900 mm on a CG-3, all with drives except the Meade, whose drive is discompuesto.
Everyone got a look at M 13, M 15, M 57, M 31, the double cluster, and anomalous southern Milky Way views.
I had hoped for someone with a big Dob to show up, but no one from TAC or Pastro was able to make it. We barbecued, marveled in, and just enjoyed a fine evening.
I stayed until about 3 AM to watch Saturn. Some high clouds obscured things for an hour or two, but then cleared out for some of the best seeing of the night. I've never seen as much detail in the cloudbands and rings of Saturn, nor ever seen the Orion nebula so extended. The binoviewer with 16.8 mm. MegaVistas was a treat.
I'd like to do this again from time to time, based on the response, the dark skies in La Honda, and lots of friendly folks here.