May 2017

TIG Star Party
This month we had a star party at the model airplane field just
west of Thunder Valley. Associated Modelers of Sacramento were kind enough
to allow us use of their airfield. The horizons are excellent and the site is about as dark
as we can get here in the valley. We had about eight telescopes from our group and quite a few
folks from the modelers group came out to check us out. We all had a great time. Ron Olson
put together an observing list that came in handy. We were able to see some moderately deep objects.
Thanks to Richard Sandler and Bob Collins for helping to set up this outing and Bill Weaver and Carla LaFave for the photos.

General Meeting        Start Party at AMOS        Star Party at Blue Canyon

Ron Olson, Carla LaFave and Ron Yelton's telescope	Ron Olson looking at Jupiter which was visible long before the Sun set
Bill Weaver's Telescope	All the telescopes on and around the "runway"
Richard Sandler getting set up to image with his MallinCam (a video camera)	The MallinCam is great for outreach events - it gives real-time color images with very short (1-2 min) exposures
Richard was a real hit with all everyone	Bob Collins chatting about astronomy apps with a guest
Jim Hallsworth's telescope	Carol and Al Witten setting up their Dob with Ron Yelton watching
Ron Yelton, Carol and Al Witten

Photos from Carla LaFave

	Ron Yelton setting up
Ron Yelton and Ron Olson with Ron's rig	Ron and Paul MacGarvey
Paul MacGarvey, Ron Olson, Bill Weaver, Chuck Smart, Ron Yelton, Ted Komaki	Ron Olson and his telescope
Bill Weaver getting ready	Bill Weaver, Carla LaFave, Ted Komaki, Chuck Smart, Ron Olson, Paul MacGarvey
Essential Equipment for stargazers	Bill explaining the inner secrets of his telescope to Chuck Smart
Carla and Bill	Bob Collins, Ted Komaki and Ron Olson
Chuck Smart, Bill Weaver and a guest	Ron Yelton, Bob Collins and Paul MacGarvey
Al Witten	Carol Witten and Carla LaFave
Carol Witten	Carol and Al Witten
Ron Olson going over his observing list	Paul MacGarvey and Ted Komaki
Pete Bower and Ron Olson	Richard Sandler, Bob Collins, Pete Bower and Ron Olson
Richard Sandler, our host for the evening	Bill getting things dialed in