Today was my second day at the Grand Canyon. During the day, we hiked up Mt. Humphreys. This is the highest peak in Arizona, at the top it is at 12,650 feet. It was about 10.8 miles and went up a steep and rocky route, so it took most of the day. The view from the top was quite dramatic, although haze and some far-off rain limited the view somewhat.
In the evening, I enjoyed the final day of the Grand Canyon Star Party. There were many scopes set up, and crowds of visitors gathered around each and every one. It is really an amazing sight to see so many people, who often have zero knowledge of the night sky, showing an interest in astronomical observing. I heard tonight that in the past 18 years the GCSP has literally had hundreds of thousands of visitors! Most are people who are simply on vacation at the canyon and happened to see the scopes, or read about it in the park newsletter. Tonight was almost the perfect summer observing night, with temperatures around 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and very clear skies. The transparency was not perfect, but many objects like M13 were plainly visible to the naked eye. The Milky Way is simply spectacular here, it is so bright that many visitors mistake it for clouds in the sky.
I'm sure I will be back for more GCSP in the future, although it is undergoing a change. My friend Dean Ketelson (the "other Dean") is passing the reigns after 18 years of coordinating the star party. Fortunately he will still be spending half his time in Tucson.
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