Golden State Star Party 2026

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This year, Barbara, a friend from our astronomy club drove up with me. One of the items on her bucket list
was getting to observe at a real dark sky site. She finally got to check that off the list.
The first group of pictures are the ones that I took. The second set of pictures
are the ones that Barbara took.

Golden State Star Party 2026

We were there for five nights. The first and last nights were absolutely perfect for observing. Unfortunately, nights 2, 3 and 4 were all clouded out, so we broke out the wine and cookies and had some good times with our neighbors
Check out thos 360 viewof the observing field.

Golden State Star Party 2026

Here's Barbara on our first full day at GSSP taking shelter from the Sun. Looks like we just finished lunch.

Golden State Star Party 2026

This is our campsite. There's my U-haul Cargo Van on the left and Barbara's orange tent on the right

Golden State Star Party 2026

Even though we got clouded out most nights, we got to enjoy sunsets like this every night.

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Golden State Star Party 2026

Just a little different view of the preceding picture.

Golden State Star Party 2026

Barbara and Jeff. Jeff took over from me as president of the Santa Cruz Astronomy Club when I moved to Lincoln.

Golden State Star Party 2026

Bill, another Santa Cruz buddy, Ron and Jeff at the registration tent starting our gate-duty shift.

Golden State Star Party 2026

It's dinner time. Bill, Ron, Al (from S.C.), Barbara and our next door neighbor, Kathleen.

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Golden State Star Party 2026

This is a wider field view of Dob Alley. There are still a lot more of the big Dobs that haven't shown up yet.

Golden State Star Party 2026

A little closer view of the Valley of the Dobs.

Golden State Star Party 2026

One afternoon some of us went into town to Oneys for one of their world famous milkshakes. Really big and made with real ice cream. Here's Jeff, Me and Barbara.

Golden State Star Party 2026

Switching camera person - now we have Kathleen added in. Kathleen was brand new to astronomy, not yet even having a telescope. She wanted to see some scopes in action before buying.

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Golden State Star Party 2026

Yep. This is what we do all day waiting for the stars to come out.

Golden State Star Party 2026

A nice sunset, again.

Golden State Star Party 2026

Same sunset, just a slightly different view.

Golden State Star Party 2026

A little later with the same sunset. I like this one because you can see the shadow portrait of Barbara and me.

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Golden State Star Party 2026

I took the same sunset picture and lightened it up a bit so we can see us a little better.

Golden State Star Party 2026

Just after Jeff finished setting up his big Dobsonian telescope. His supervisory crew: Barbara, Jeff and Kathleen.

Golden State Star Party 2026

I just happened to stop right there to get a picture of Jeff's scope. If you just add a cigarette and a sarape, I'd look just like...

Golden State Star Party 2026

A shot off to the south-east sunset clouds.

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Golden State Star Party 2026

Here are a number of sunset pictures. We didn't get much observing in, but we got this every day.

Golden State Star Party 2026

Gotta get one with my rig. :)

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Barbara soaking in the sunset.

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Golden State Star Party 2026 Golden State Star Party 2026 Golden State Star Party 2026

Another one of Barbara. This picture was lightened up a bit.

Golden State Star Party 2026

One last sunset for this year.

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Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

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Here are all of the pictures that Barbara took on the trip.

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

First thing that Barbara noticed was the alfalfa fields down below. The observing field is up on a kind of plateau.

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

More alfalfa fields.

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

As the crow flies, I'm guessing that our spectacular view of Mt. Shasta is only about 20-30 miles away.

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

Just about every evening we had the most glorious sunsets.

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026 Photo 1 Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026 Photo 2 Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026 Photo 3 Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026 Photo 4
Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026 Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026 Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026 Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

The streets are laid out according to the Solar System. We set up with the Santa Cruz guys on the corner of Main Street and Saturn.

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Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

Some random telescopes.

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

Here's a look at Dob Alley.

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

And a little closer view of Dob Alley.

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

The hospitality tent right after it went up on the first day.

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Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

The vendors area. ZWO has a nice collection of planetary cameras. TeleVue has some great eyepieces. You can trade your drivers license for an eyepiece that you can use for a night. They always do a bang-up business at star parties.

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

Some more street signs heading off toward the Oort Cloud where the hard-core imagers set up.

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

The alfalfa fields - looking to the North.

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

Not sure what this is, probably an old part of the fencing.

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Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

MOS (More of the Same).

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

A nice shot of Mt. Shasta.

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

Our campsite is just off the left side. That's Al's Sprinter in the center.

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

A chronic napping condition. :-)

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Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

Looking a little south of west. These are the type of clouds that we had all week.

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

Ron's post-lunch power nap.

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

Some of the best sunsets...

Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

And more...

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Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026

And finally, there's Ron checking to see what objects might be available to look at if the weather holds up - which it didn't. :-)

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Barbara's Golden State Star Party 2026 Photo 25

Except as noted, all images Copyright © by Ron Yelton and may not be used without permission.
Contact Ron at Aileron355@aol.com