Learning Curve Astro Photos

Yosemite 2015
Here are some of the gang on Friday shortly after arrival at Bridalveil Creek Campground. This year we enjoyed the addition of some extra astronomers from MIRA in Monterey. Nelson (from MIRA), Jeff, Ailine, Miguel and Chris.

Yosemite 2015
Evan and Rich from MIRA. The MIRA folks are contemplating fielding their
own team for the Glacier Point Star Party and we were fortunate to have an "advance team" with us to check things out for their club. We had a good time with them. Here's hoping they can join the rest of the other clubs next year when all of the California clubs bid for their weekend here at Glacier Point.

Yosemite 2015
Chris getting organized.

Yosemite 2015
Bill resting up before the evening festivities.

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Duane.

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Jeff and Terry.

Yosemite 2015
Once you get to the campground it's always fun to get in a good visit before setting up camp. Here's Bill, Ailine and Miguel.

Yosemite 2015
Who's faster on the draw? I think I won this time :)
Terry's Yosemite 2016 Video

Yosemite 2015
Bill (on the right) talking with some park visitors about the night sky.

Yosemite 2015
Another of our MIRA friends, Steve. Steve had a very cool cabinet for his gear. He did some video imaging and his wide-field of the Milky Way turned out very nice!

Yosemite 2015
Jeff chatting with our ranger for Friday night.

Yosemite 2015
Miguel all set up and ready to go. Ailine, Craig and Steve in back.

Yosemite 2015
Our certified "Lunatic," Craig, with Steve and Rich behind. Craig does incredible drawings of the moon using his refractor telescope.

Yosemite 2015
Chris taking a break before setting up. Glacier Point is at 7200' so going up and down the oddly-shaped stone steps while hauling your gear really gets you huffing and puffing.

Yosemite 2015
Bill and Chris deep in conversation.

Yosemite 2015
The Yosemite 2015 gang: Terry, Jeff, Tom, Nelson, Craig, Rich, Ron, Steve, Chris and Bill. Miguel, Ailine and Kirk didn't make it in time for the picture.

Yosemite 2015
A visitor checking out hikers on top of Half Dome through Bill's telescope.

Yosemite 2015
Steve (MIRA) chatting with a park visitor.

Yosemite 2015
A budding astronomer at Rich's (MIRA) telescope. Evan taking a break on the ledge.

Yosemite 2015
Nelson (MIRA) and his 14" Celestron.

Yosemite 2015
Ron's rig. Since my setup is geared for astro imaging, I have a bit more gear to haul up and down the steps. Sometimes I'm really jealous of the Dobsonian guys. Thanks again to Chris for hauling my pier and pier legs up on Friday night!

Yosemite 2015
Chris and his binocular telescope. It's a bit of a wierd feeling to be facing away from what you're looking at - but an excellent view just the same.

Yosemite 2015
Jeff standing proud with his scope. A good shot of Chris in the foreground. Finally got one of him smiling :)

Yosemite 2015
While waiting for dark it's always nice to just take in the fantastic view. The night sky here at Glacier Point is just as beautiful.

Yosemite 2015
Our Saturday night ranger. The rangers always give us a great introducton and do a very cool lecture as we wait for it to get dark enough to start observing.

Yosemite 2015
This is just about half of the folks that turned out for Saturday night. Park visitors file through until about 11:30 PM.

Yosemite 2015
Astronomy Just Doesn't Get Any Better Than This

Thanks To Terry Dietz Who Was Kind Enough
To Include Some Of His Photos

Yosemite 2015
A big thanks to Terry for sending his photos! There's Terry on the left. Jeff, Chris, Tom, Craig, Nelson, Ron, Rich, Evan, Steve and Bill. Nelson, Tom, Steve, Rich and his son Evan joined us from MIRA in Monterey.

Yosemite 2015
A view of our campground from Terry's perspective :) This year we had enough observers to take up the entire circle of campsites.

Yosemite 2015
Chris unloading his gear. Down below Jeff has already set up the screen for the pre-observing presentation.

Yosemite 2015
I don't usually take pictures of myself - so it's nice to get one of 'Me.' Thanks, Terry.

Yosemite 2015
Here's Steve, one of our guest observers from MIRA.

Yosemite 2015
Another of our guest observers from MIRA, Nelson. We got some fantastic views of a number of different objects, as well as an incredible view of Neptune with his big 14" Celestron.

Yosemite 2015
Gotta let everyone know who we are :) Jeff checking out some hikers up on Half Dome.

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Miguel getting ready.

Yosemite 2015
There's Rich and his son, Evan standing, with me (Ron) seated. A park visitor over to the right.

Yosemite 2015
Ron's 9.25" Celestron EdgsHD and Miguel's Dobsonian.

Yosemite 2015
Steve again. Here he's got a solar filter on his 8" Celestron. Some of the folks go down to Glacier Point and do solar observing for the park visitors in the afternoon. They really get a kick out of seeing the Sun and any sun spots that happen to be floating by.

Yosemite 2015
A park visitor enjoying a view of the Sun. Remember - NEVER look at the sun - ESPECIALLY through a telescope without a proper solar filter!!!

Yosemite 2015
Folks starting to arrive for the presentation we give before we start observing. Bill will usually talks about the kinds of scopes we'll be using as well as some of the objects we'll be showing them that night. A little bit of star party etiquette gets thrown in, too.

Yosemite 2015
We usually leave the campground (about 8 miles from Glacier point) around 5:30-6:00 in order to give ourselves plenty of time to get set up. It takes a little more time to set up as the visitors always have questions about our equipment and what we're doing.

Kirk Bender Added Some Of His
Photos To The Mix As Well - Thanks Kirk

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This looks like an early morning shot of our campground.

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Bill starting the evening program. Bill will usually show slides of the telescopes we're using as well as some of the objects that we'll be able to observe that night.

Yosemite 2015
Bill standing on the left, Ron seated, Rich facing away, Terry looking at Bill, Duane looking at Terry and Miguel looking off to the right.

Yosemite 2015
A quiet moment before everyone arrives for observing.

Yosemite 2015
I love this picture. I think this is Jeff's Dob looking over to Half dome. There are usually some brave souls at the top who adventure over to the edge at the left. Early arrival visitors get a peek as we're setting up before dark.

Yosemite 2015
Kirk's excellent telescope. Great viewing!