Skylook123
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Reged: 04/30/05
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
#4889276 - 10/30/11 08:33 PM
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The 2012 Grand Canyon Star Party (GCSP) will be held the nights of June 16 through 23 in northern Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park. GCSP is an annual collaboration between the National Park Service and astronomers from around North America to bring astronomy outreach to Park visitors.
Amateur astronomers with a telescope and love of the sky to share, and the interested public of all ages, are invited to experience the beautiful Arizona nights in an exploration of the heavenly Grand Canyon skies. Not an astronomer? Drop in for an unforgettable and fabulous vacation for families, singles, and seniors.
GCSP will be held concurrently on both the North and South Rims. Vistiors to the park are free to show up at their leisure, and observe through any or all telescopes. Astronomers choosing to set up for the event need to register in advance with the appropriate coordinator below. The South Rim can accomodate 80 or more telescopes, and we have not had to limit South Rim attendance thus far. The dozen or so North Rim slots on the Lodge veranda, however, usually are accounted for by the end of February.
In general, volunteer astronomers are responsible for securing their own lodging, and, due to the nature of the venues for both rims, telescopes need to be set up and taken down each night. Please see the North Rim site for unique arrangements for that venue.
Web sites and contact information are shown below. Please contact Steve for the North Rim, or me for the South Rim, if you are interested in attending or for questions you might have.
North Rim
Steve Dodder
Coordinator, North Rim,Grand Canyon Star Party
53750 W. Prickley Pear Rd.
Maricopa, AZ 85239
E-mail: fester00 [at] hotmail.com
Phone:602-390-0118
Grand Canyon Star Party - North Rim
South Rim
Jim O'Connor
Coordinator, South Rim, Grand Canyon Star Party
P.O. Box 457
Cortaro, AZ 85652
E-mail: gcsp [at] tucsonastronomy.org
Phone: 520 546-2961
Grand Canyon Star Party - South Rim
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skyward_eyes
Vendor - Sky-Watcher USA
Reged: 12/12/06
Loc: California
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: Skylook123]
#4890103 - 10/31/11 11:08 AM
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I'm planning on being there Monday-Sunday, coming up two days earlier then the rest of the RLD.
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Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: skyward_eyes]
#4890582 - 10/31/11 03:52 PM
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Great, Kevin. While you're on the way up, why not snag one of those Lunt 230mm toys for us to play with? 
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Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: Skylook123]
#4890586 - 10/31/11 03:53 PM
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Six nights, Kevin? Don't forget to ask about a free campsite.
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skyward_eyes
Vendor - Sky-Watcher USA
Reged: 12/12/06
Loc: California
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: Skylook123]
#4897081 - 11/04/11 09:49 AM
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Jim,
I've already booked my hotel room. Its nice to come back to a nice bed instead of a sleeping bag every night.
I would have no chance with the 230, they are all accounted for. I should have the usual LS100 again though.
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Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: skyward_eyes]
#5181598 - 04/20/12 11:29 AM
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Just a reminder that if your travel plans include the Grand Canyon during the eight nights of GCSP, be sure to come and join us at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center to enjoy the 7000 foot elevation, or, on the veranda of the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim at 8000 feet. Your park admission is all you need to come and hang out back with 35 to 50 of us on the South Rim, or a dozen scopes on the North Rim. On the South Rim we have a sunset talk inside the theater that is always a great way to let the twilight settle in as well.
If you are thinking of setting up us as an astronomer volunteer, please do! The North Rim is always fully booked by January, but on the South Rim we always have room for more astronomers. South Rim volunteers will need to register in advance with me at the email address below, and I will send you your Welcome and Information package in late May with your free park admission letter, a welcome from, our lead interpretive Ranger Marker Marshall and me, and other hints and helps. Last year we had 109 astronomers register with the National Park Service on the nights of the event as official volunteers, and at least a dozen of us were also set up during the daylight hours at various locations around the park doing solar, lunar, and planetary observing. By the end, we had logged nearly 60,000 visitor contacts, a tremendously rewarding week.
So, join us on either rim as a visitor, or set up a telescope with us on the South Rim as a volunteer, for one night or all eight, or something in between!
For a narrative and pictures of last year's adventure, head on over to:
GCSP 2011
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skyward_eyes
Vendor - Sky-Watcher USA
Reged: 12/12/06
Loc: California
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: Skylook123]
#5181605 - 04/20/12 11:35 AM
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Looking forward to it! I cant wait to get out under the AZ skies again, the California skies suck... At least anywhere near by.
You still want me to do a talk on the sun?
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Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: skyward_eyes]
#5181700 - 04/20/12 12:39 PM
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Hi Kevin,
At this time, I don't think we'll need one. Thanks for thinking about it! We have a returning Ranger who does astronomy talks at Lake Mead (she was our Marker before Marker) and wants to be on the agenda, as well as one or two surprises that have come about. For a while I was worried, but it looks like we'll be covered.
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Joe Bergeron
Vendor - Space Art
Reged: 11/10/03
Loc: Upstate NY
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: Skylook123]
#5183459 - 04/21/12 03:56 PM
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I hope there will be a spot for me in the speakers schedule.
Working on the new logo...
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Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: Joe Bergeron]
#5185067 - 04/22/12 04:42 PM
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I hope there will be a spot for me in the speakers schedule.
Working on the new logo...
That's why I said now we're covered! 
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Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: Skylook123]
#5264314 - 06/10/12 05:07 AM
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Just a reminder that if you intend to drop in on the Grand Canyon Star Party, come on over to either the Visitor Center on the South Rim, or the veranda of the Grand Canyon lodge on the North Rim.
If you are wanting to be one of our volunteer astronomers, contact me at the email address below and Ill get you the registration material.
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skyward_eyes
Vendor - Sky-Watcher USA
Reged: 12/12/06
Loc: California
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: Skylook123]
#5264486 - 06/10/12 10:13 AM
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Have you sent out the Information packet email yet?
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Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: skyward_eyes]
#5265876 - 06/11/12 08:40 AM
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Yes, they were emailed a week ago. PM sent.
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Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: Skylook123]
#5265882 - 06/11/12 08:43 AM
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Well, my personal telescope operators from last year (granddaughters Jessica and Karina) have arrived, with operator #3, grandson Stephan. Since the crew is now of mixed gender, my wife Susan has changed their moniker from "The Girls" to "The Roadies".
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skyward_eyes
Vendor - Sky-Watcher USA
Reged: 12/12/06
Loc: California
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: Skylook123]
#5266056 - 06/11/12 10:35 AM
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Really looking forward to this year! Its been a crazy past few months moving so far from home so it will be nice to be back at this special place. Only thing special this year will be the double stack Coronado 90 solar scope we are bringing up!
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Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: skyward_eyes]
#5267343 - 06/11/12 11:57 PM
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You always have such interesting toys!
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: Skylook123]
#5268716 - 06/12/12 08:48 PM
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Quote:
Well, my personal telescope operators from last year (granddaughters Jessica and Karina) have arrived, with operator #3, grandson Stephan. Since the crew is now of mixed gender, my wife Susan has changed their moniker from "The Girls" to "The Roadies".
That's probably a good idea.
Looking foreward to reading your reports of the event. 
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James Ling
sage
Reged: 09/18/10
Loc: Singapore
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: desertstars]
#5268923 - 06/13/12 01:04 AM
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Quote:
Quote:
Well, my personal telescope operators from last year (granddaughters Jessica and Karina) have arrived, with operator #3, grandson Stephan. Since the crew is now of mixed gender, my wife Susan has changed their moniker from "The Girls" to "The Roadies".
Must post a lot of photos.....
Is Grand Canyon which I am sure people like myself form non USA country very much like to see and know how the place.....look like......
REgards
James Ling
That's probably a good idea.
Looking foreward to reading your reports of the event.
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Skylook123
Postmaster
Reged: 04/30/05
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: James Ling]
#5271995 - 06/14/12 09:59 PM
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James,
Check here for a few pictures from last year. Mostly on Pages 2,3, and 4. The telescope setup spot is about a five minute walk from the South Rim. We had 109 registered astronomer volunteers last year.
GCSP 2011
And any time you want to join us, we have a spot for you.
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James Ling
sage
Reged: 09/18/10
Loc: Singapore
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Re: Grand Canyon Star Party, June 16 - 23, 2012
[Re: Skylook123]
#5273679 - 06/15/12 10:32 PM
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Hi Jim....
Just read the last year , 8 days Grand Canyon Star Party forum...
Waiting to see your daily report in this annual event.....
Especially your wonderful 18" Dob...
M51 should be showing the spiral arms at your side, while mine is only 2 round bobs of lights, at my usual star gazing resort ......
REgards
James Ling
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