Every year in June astronomers from across the southwest as flock to the north and south rims of the famous Grand Canyon.  The annual Grand Canyon Star Party (GCSP) is a star party dedicated to public outreach and education about preserving out precious night skies.  The event is held for eight nights during the new moon week of June; this provides an outstanding view of the heavens!  Visitors from around the world find themselves in a sea of glass and metal as they return from the famous canyon sunsets.

This year the GCSP: South Rim was held at the newly refurbished Visitor Center which is the main hub for anything on the south rim.  From here visitors can take several buses all across the southern rim, from Hermits Rest on the Western Rim to the famous Desert View Watch Tower on the Eastern rim.  This is certainly the place to been when trying to grab visitors!

The GCSP is mainly a night event, starting a 8pm with a talk into the visitor center’s auditorium then visitors are allows to wonder the forest of telescopes for the remainder of the evening.  This year the count was nearly 60 telescope, some as large as 28″!  While most astronomers ran deep into the night there were a few that caught the eye of the public during the day!

(Chris Palmer of the “Red Light District” (RLD) outreach team explains solar prominences to a group of tourists).

This year was quite impressive compared to years past, the amount of solar outreach during the day has grown.  This year several solar scopes were spotted all over the park.  Many of them are new to solar observing while others not so much.  The solar observers do a wonderful job at informing people about the evenings activities as well as educating them on our nearest star!  During the day some managed to talk to over 350 people during the four hour observing period!  Passers by were blown away by the views of erupting sun spots and flares!  One guest turned out to be a Solar Physicist who became quite impressed with the view through the Lunt LS100THa.

(Kevin LeGore of Lunt Solar Systems and Chris Palmer of the RLD show a UK Solar Physist the sun through the LS100THa).

As the days progressed the solar telescopes were moved to the main observing field to grab the last few hours of the sun before setting over the western horizon.  Several groups stopped by to take a look through the array of solar equipment from 40mm double stacked scopes to the 11″ white light telescope.  A large group from Asia stood in line for nearly a half hour, patiently awaiting their turn to see our star!

(Solar observers getting their last looks at the setting sun).

Solar astronomy is indeed an important part of astronomy outreach.  This aspect of astronomy can show the importance of solar energy and the impact that our sun has on our daily lives.  During the eight day event solar observers shared the sun with over a 1000 people!  Viewing the sun is something that very few ever have to chance to do and sharing it with someone is indeed an awesome experience.

The Grand Canyon Star Party will be back next year for its 22nd year from June 16-23.  A smaller event is possibly in the works for the May 20th eclipse next year as well!

In today’s world of amateur astronomy many chose to capture images with DSLR and CCD cameras.  But for some astronomers they still chose another route, sketching.  Sketching is an amazing way to observe, carefully examining the object, making sure to capture the smallest of details.  It is truly an art and also a measure of patients, but this hasn’t stopped many of today’s amateurs.  Sketching is alive and well, a quick look around many of the solar forums of the large astronomy websites and sketches of the sun can be seen every day!

One such sketcher is Alan Strauss.  Alan has become a well respected solar sketch artist on the forums of Cloudy Nights, posting a sketch nearly every morning!  Much of Alan’s work is done through his LS60THa/PT and his TEC140ED with a Lunt Solar Wedge for white light.  His sketches truly capture an impressive amount of detail!  Detailed surface detail, strong active regions, dark filaments, and raging prominences can all be seen in his sketches, much like a CCD image!  Below is one of his sketches through his LS60THa/PT.

While Alan does much of his sketching from his home observatory, Lost Pleiad Observatory, he does bring out his gear to some of the larger Arizona star parties.  I had the pleasure of meeting Alan and his good friend and observing partner Jerry Farrar at the All Arizona Messier Marathon in March 2010.  Both of them spent nearly an hour and half sketching through the LS60T, TEC140, and LS152T making sure they caught every last detail!

(One of Alan’s White Light Sketches)

Though Alan spends a considerable amount of time under the sun, he also does a lot of deep sky work, sketching galaxies, nebula, and star clusters; all of which can be seen on his website (click the link above).

Sketching takes time and practice like anything else, Alan gives thanks to his observing partner Jerry Farrar for teaching him the ways of sketching and observing. Alan plans to continue his sketching, always refining his techniques and constantly learning.  He hopes to one day upgrade to the LS100THa which will provide even high resolution and help capture finer details!

Sketching is indeed an art, it requires patients and a steady eye.  So give it a try next time your out on a scope!  Even just a basic drawing of what you see, this can help with further observations, maybe through different scopes, different filters, and different observing sites.  Most importantly, go out and have a good time!

(Alan’s White Light set up; TEC140ED with Lunt 2″ Solar Wedge)

About Lunt Solar Systems LLC…

Lunt Solar Systems is a manufacturing and sales facility located in Tucson, Arizona. Lunt Solar design, fabricate, assemble, and test solar telescopes and solar filters. Whether you are looking for a dedicated solar telescope or a solar filter for attachment to you own astronomy telescope, we can help. Solar telescopes models start at $499 for an LS35T (telescope) or the only slightly more expensive LS50F (filter), all the way thru the 152T and the 160F. Solar observing is both fun and educational. Don’t miss out on Solar Maximum.

This past Saturday was the SCAE at Oceanside Photo and Telescope!  Thank you to all who came out and saw the Lunt booth!

The event has been given a small write up and some photos in the North County Times.  Check it out!:  LINK

About Lunt Solar Systems LLC…

Lunt Solar Systems is a manufacturing and sales facility located in Tucson, Arizona. Lunt Solar design, fabricate, assemble, and test solar telescopes and solar filters. Whether you are looking for a dedicated solar telescope or a solar filter for attachment to you own astronomy telescope, we can help. Solar telescopes models start at $499 for an LS35T (telescope) or the only slightly more expensive LS50F (filter), all the way thru the 152T and the 160F. Solar observing is both fun and educational. Don’t miss out on Solar Maximu

Lunt Solar Systems will be attending the SCAE event at OPT in Oceanside, California this Saturday, July 17th, 2010!  If you are in the area please stop by and take a look through our scopes!  Andy Lunt will be giving a talk  about his recent eclipse trip to Easter Island.  Come see him talk and answer any questions you may have!

Hope to see you there!

www.optcorp.com/scae.aspx

About Lunt Solar Systems LLC…

Lunt Solar Systems is a manufacturing and sales facility located in Tucson, Arizona. Lunt Solar design, fabricate, assemble, and test solar telescopes and solar filters. Whether you are looking for a dedicated solar telescope or a solar filter for attachment to you own astronomy telescope, we can help. Solar telescopes models start at $499 for an LS35T (telescope) or the only slightly more expensive LS50F (filter), all the way thru the 152T and the 160F. Solar observing is both fun and educational. Don’t miss out on Solar Maximum. Feel free to contact us with question or comments and we’d be happy to help.

Well Arizona Solar Conference/ALCon 2010 has come and gone, we thank everyone who came out and joined us under the sun!  It was truly a great time and we hope to see you all again!

During the event we raffled off hats, shirts, and a brand new LS60THa/B600CPT with Sol Searcher and Zoom Eyepiece; this is one of our most popular scope packages!!  The lucky winner of this scope was Gil Bartee!  Congratulations Gil, we hope you enjoy it!

Here are some pictures from the event!

About Lunt Solar Systems LLC…

Lunt Solar Systems is a manufacturing and sales facility located in Tucson, Arizona. Lunt Solar design, fabricate, assemble, and test solar telescopes and solar filters. Whether you are looking for a dedicated solar telescope or a solar filter for attachment to you own astronomy telescope, we can help. Solar telescopes models start at $499 for an LS35T (telescope) or the only slightly more expensive LS50F (filter), all the way thru the 152T and the 160F. Solar observing is both fun and educational. Don’t miss out on Solar Maximum. Feel free to contact us with question or comments and we’d be happy to help.