Author: Kevin LeGore

The Grand Canyon Star Party (GCSP), one, if not the largest public outreach star party in the United States.  Every year in June this massive annual event takes place at Yavapai Point on the south rim of the Grand Canyon and at the North Rim Lodge on the Grand Canyon’s northern rim.  This event offers astronomers a chance to enjoy a week of some of Arizona’s most beautiful scenery and skies; also being able to share it with others from all over the world.

During the evenings of the week-long event telescopes are aimed at all kinds of objects from galaxies to the bright planets; thousands of people with questions about the sky and the things they see in the telescopes.

But what about during the day?  After all this is a week-long event?  For most astronomers they are busy sleeping, preparing for the next nights crowds, but for some they taking advantage of the day time to inform people about the nights events.  Some use their powerful binoculars and small refractors to point out wonders in the Canyon, others spend time showing the public Venus and the Moon during the day, and then some spend time observing the sun!

This year the GCSP had a new addition to the day time events, an Lunt LS100T-Ha. At an elevation of nearly 7000 feet above sea level the seeing at the Canyon is normally very nice, this could be seen with the LS100T.  The Pressure Tuner performed beautifully at such a high elevation!  The views were sharp and packed with detail, one astronomer said, “The scope has resolution with a capital R”! Many astronomers were eager to sneak a peak through the monster solar scope, a scope such as this is rarely ever seen at the GCSP.

But the real reason for the LS100T was to use it for public outreach as this is what the GCSP is all about!  Over the four days I was present at the star party nearly 700 people viewed the sun!  Passer by were in awe of the prominences lifting off the sun’s surface and the explosive views of active regions!  While some were a bit hesitant to view, others jumped at the chance to take a glimpse at the sun, some even getting back in line to view again.  Some even tried their had at some  photography, leaving with some rather impressive shots of the prominences!  Towards the weeks end the weather became iffy, low temperatures and chances of rain but I still managed to get people a view of the sun!

All in all it was a great event, the views were incredible through the scope.   The coordinator of the GCSP south rim, Jim O’ Connor, called the LS100T a “solar masterpiece” on one of his Cloudy Nights posts, him and many others were all very impressed with the scope.  It was a joy to use as well and a great public outreach tool!

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.