RE: ER: GSSP 2008

Nice email Mark.

Being on a grass site rather than TARMAC made a great difference in keeping
the heat down.

Kudos to the folks who found the site, and many thanks to all you organizers
!

Is the registration list up for GSSP 2009 yet ? :-)

Cheers

--Ivor

> -----Original Message-----
> From: sf-bay-tac-bounces@No-Spam [mailto:sf-bay-tac-bounces@No-Spam]
> On Behalf Of Mark Wagner
> Sent: Monday, July 07, 2008 1:43 PM
> To: tac
> Subject: [TAC] ER: GSSP 2008
>
> ER is for Experience Report, although today I feel like a trip to the
> "ER" could be in order. I'm fuzzy headed, sun-browned, fully soaked in
> distant photons, and fatigue still has a firm hold on me.
>
> But, I thought I'd share some impressions. Not my usual style report
> with a detailed listing of targets and descriptions of what I saw, but
> instead, what it was like *at* the GSSP, and about next year....
>
>
> - Exceeding Expectations -
>
> Everyone goes primarily for the skies. Each night condition
> progressively improved. Saturday, although (blessedly) cloudy all day,
> cleared out shortly after astronomical dark, giving us a very dark and
> transparent sky. Without resorting to the use of "squirrel meters -
> SQMs, I can say the only thing standing between us and the sort of
> dazzling skies I saw last year during the site survey, was some smoke
> haze. Still, it was so transparent that on Saturday night, as I was
> observing with Steve Gottlieb on his 18" Dob, his custom printed charts
> were not deep enough for what we were picking out, most notably in
> Abell
> 2256 (centered on NGC 6331). We had to fire up my laptop and use
> MegaStar to confirm or place dim galaxies that were at the threshold.
> I'm sure Steve will go into the details. But I believe if the skies go
> deeper than what Steve prepares for, we're doing pretty good.
>
>
> - Pre-Party Party -
>
> Several of the organizers were fortunate enough to take off last
> Monday,
> meet at a motel in Redding, and go out for dinner and drinks. We
> thought getting within two hours of the observing site a wise choice,
> and it worked so well I'm sure we'll do it that way for upcoming GSSPs.
> We had a great time, partying at Chevy's across the street from the
> motel. After that, it was an early night for everyone with a big job
> ahead of us on Tuesday.
>
>
> - My Neighborhood -
>
> The organizers decided to situate themselves in a group, at the center
> crossroads of the observing site. This would make it easy for
> attendees
> to find us if needed. I set up my 10x20 canopy, and shaded my tent and
> other camping gear under it. I had around me Alvin Huey, Steve
> Gottlieb
> (direct neighbors), Ken Archuletta, Ted Hupper and John Hoey, Paul
> Alsing, Jeff Gortatowski, Charlie and Susan Wicks, Jane Smith, Randy
> Muller, Ed Smith, Jim Bartolini, Evan Garber, and the across the
> north/south road was Rich Girard, Bob Jardine, Marsha Robinson, Peter
> McKone, Richard Ozer, Pete Santangeli and Dan Wright. Nothing like
> having so many of your friends around for a multi-day star party!
>
>
> - Yea, Though I Walk Through The Valley Of Shadow Of -
>
> The Dobs.... I felt small and almost insignificant with my 18"
> Obsession. Our little "corner lot" had a 30", two 25's, a 22" and 2
> 20's. I was reintroduced to the concept of humility. The last night I
> found it totally unnecessary to uncover my little telescope!
>
>
> - Community Within And Around -
>
> I was tremendously impressed with what a fine, considerate, helpful
> group amateur astronomers are. Everybody was friendly, cooperative,
> and
> understanding. When our shower truck was called away to support the
> firefighters, the GSSP's backup, which we though we'd never need but
> should plan anyway, worked great. The Beiber High School showers were
> very welcome, and got us out into that town, whereas if the truck was
> available, most of the traffic would have been into Adin. Still, the
> folks at Adin Supply were welcoming and gracious, and if you didn't
> realize it, they catered our Friday night dinner. I was pleased to
> hear
> that they saw significant benefit from our visit. I also *thoroughly*
> enjoyed the Albaugh family's "Ranch Days" event on Saturday. Those who
> went (and you *all* should) were treated to displays of products we all
> use daily that are supplied by rancher/farmers like the Albaughs.
> There
> was a man named "Buck" who was teaching how to rope a steer - with some
> horns attached to a small bale of hay about ten feet away - he called
> it
> the dummy, but after I had trouble "ropin" it, and a seven year old
> local walked up and showed everyone how to do it, I felt like the dummy
> (and enjoyed it!). It was very nice of the Albaughs and neighbors to
> create a GSSP brand! The Frosty Acres brand will be on the GSSP
> web-site soon, but the one they made for us was used to burn into about
> a 10 inch diameter piece of log we cut individually with a long lumber
> saw. What fun! Outside were sheep being escorted around by some
> neighborhood girls, and around back a man with a beautiful horse.
> Talking to him, I had to have him repeat what he told me about his
> family. His eldest child is 37 years old, youngest grandchild is 16,
> and youngest child is 2. Amazing! He may have set a record for widest
> age spread between children, short of perhaps some biblical stories....
>
> I also had a very special treat this year. Turns out my observing
> buddy
> Richard Navarrete was unable to attend and sold his meal tickets to a
> local woman in the Adin area. We met, and she ended up hanging out
> with
> our group - Charlie and Susan, Jeff G, etc. I learned that her
> property
> has a lot of geothermal on it, and she had built a hot-spring fed
> outdoor shower. So, the last three days, while my friends would trek
> down to Beiber High School to shower, I'd be treated to that great hot
> spring water, with views of the big valley as my shower "walls". I'd
> first fallen in love with outdoor showers at Michelle Stone's which has
> one that is creek fed. Thanks again "Z" for the hospitality.
>
> The most outstanding aspect of the community "around" us though, was
> our
> wonderful hosts, and their friends. Warm, welcoming people who you
> immediately feel a kinship to, and know you've found "the genuine
> article". From Barbara "mom" Albaugh to Becky, Helen and their
> friends,
> the women are beautiful, intelligent and healthy looking - the life
> there unquestionably agrees with them. Dale Albaugh, the patriarch, has
> lived in Adin since 1937, and along with sons Aaron and Andy, combine a
> sophistication and true "rugged" western look that is a piece of
> American heritage lost to many of us. What a treat to have been there,
> with these people, over 4th of July!
>
>
> - Omnivorously Speaking -
>
> The human species is successful in large part due to the fact that we
> are garbage disposals. We eat almost anything! But being modern and
> somewhat civilized, we have specialized and developed highly selective
> preferences. My meat preference became more refined last August at the
> Albaugh's dinner table, when I first tasted the Frosty Acres brand of
> gourmet grass-fed beef. Awesome stuff! Did you participate in the
> Saturday night BBQ at GSSP this year? That's it. I took an order form
> and am looking at ordering direct. I *highly* recommend it, and
> encourage others to order as well. Its no fresher or better, and
> supports our host! Here - http://www.frostyacres.net - seriously,
> check it out, and tell your friends. This is a find!
>
>
> - Organizer Notes, What I Would Do Differently -
>
> One thing I love about our organizers is that we're all looking to
> improve our experiences - those who organize, attendees, our hosts, and
> the community. I know the Albaughs are looking already at new things
> to
> offer and show us for next year. The citizenry of The Big Valley now
> sees who we, their guests, are. That will help us all, locals and
> visitors, next year. But from a "star party" perspective, there are a
> few things I will be recommending, as a first time through at a new
> location, you learn. So here are some suggestions:
>
> Speed limits. The only dust we had on-site was from vehicular traffic,
> especially along the long road running north south bordered by the
> bathrooms. We need a speed limit no faster than walking. That will go
> a huge way in controlling dust. If you noticed, even with the strong
> afternoon breezes, dust did not kick up. It was only cars, trucks and
> RVs "churning" it by driving too fast. Hey, what's the rush anyway,
> right? Slow down!
>
> Grass length. With warm weather, we all would prefer to be in shorts
> and sandals. But that heritage wheat grass can be tough on the legs.
> It was upwards of 12 inches long this year. We expected it would be
> mowed, but the Albaugh's felt it was not too long, and left it. Live
> and learn, everyone's intentions were good. Next year a shorter grass
> would be helpful.
>
> Porta-Potties. So many people camped by the hospitality tents, that
> the
> two handicapped units we had there were overused. Next year, they
> should be more even dispersed. And more porta-potties overall.
>
> Hospitality Tents. More of them - expand the size. Move them
> centrally
> along the western edge of the star party.
>
> Light Attenuation. While the local lighting on the horizon was mostly
> a
> non-issue when we are concentrating at the eyepiece, we can reduce it
> by
> having the RVs line up north south along the west side of the main
> road. This was our original plan, but the RVs surprised us by
> congregating en-masse to the north. By having them line up, not only
> would they provide additional light shielding, but those folks would be
> closer to the rest of the observers on the field, which would be nice.
>
> Activities. Kites, we have a great venue for kite flying. A natural
> activity there. We should encourage responsible kite flying. We also
> found people interested in the Scrabble games going on near my
> campsite. We might have daily round-robin Scrabble games. More
> speakers, something that people seem to enjoy, so let's do more.
> Movies
> - - - something many star parties offer if we get skunked one or more
> nights - we can do them in the hospitality tent. Other suggestions?
> Ideas are certainly welcome.
>
> I guess that's about it, for experiences and ideas. Oh, wait...
>
> No more California wildfires! Mid-June to mid-July is usually pretty
> good for avoiding them. This year was a huge fluke, but fortunately we
> had a good backup plan for showers. In all likelihood we won't have
> fires next June, which means the shower truck won't be called into
> service for the CDF. That will make it an even easier event to attend.
>
> And, without the fires, you all who were there Saturday night, enjoying
> a spectacular Milky Way, will be treated to an even more amazing sky.
>
> I'm already looking forward to it, and I'm still tired from this year's
> event...
>
> What will I remember the most out of it all?
>
> That we had Four Nights of Peace and Starlight, on that farm in Adin...
>
> What was your experience there?
>
> Clear skies,
>
> Mark
>
> ps - One more aspect that needs to be noted. The Big Valley on Sunday
> morning, with much less haze than prior days, again because an awesome
> view. The huge bluff our star party is set on is dwarfed by the
> expansiveness of the area. I can't wait until my friends and fellow
> observers see it at its best....
>
> m
> --
> TAC mailing list - join or leave here:
> http://seds.org/mailman/listinfo/sf-bay-tac

-- 
TAC mailing list - join or leave here: http://seds.org/mailman/listinfo/sf-bay-tac