Public Observing on the 42nd Anniversary of the Launch of Apollo 11
by Steve Siok, Tom Thibault & Jim Hendrickson
Saturday July 17 had an afternoon with building cumulus clouds that I expected to evaporate at dusk but there seemed to be some high this cirrus that looked more problematic. However we determined to go ahead as planned. No need to cancel because there was no rain or persistent socked in cloud cover. So, the cumulus did dissipate an hour before dusk and the cirrus right about twilight. This was a good non-call.
Steve Siok and Jim Brenek opened the dome of the Clark. We were visited by maybe 20 people or so, mostly families with children from maybe 6 to early teens. We observed Saturn, Alberio, M57 and the moon. Moonrise interfered with observing most objects and made it difficult to find M57. The drive worked flawlessly.
At least two families sounded interested in coming to a monthly meeting and maybe joining Skyscrapers.
Additional targets seen through the 12" Meade were M13, M15, and the Double Double stars in Lyra. I was surprised how the view of M13 was still bright even as the moon rose above the tree line, not ideal, but still pleasing. As for the 12" Meade's performance, it appears Jim Brenek and Bob Napier's servicing has resolved the slop on the mount, improving alignment immensely.
