Sun, May 26 2013 - Stargazing with Telescopes + Free Camping, Hiking & Cookout + Perfect Weather! (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Charlie Cottingham, Harry F Participants: Charlie Cottingham, Harry F, Elsie Santway, Alicia R, Victor, Katie Madderra, Eva, Clay White, Brigitte, Denise

Thanks to our friendly Deerlick Astronomy Village hosts for a truly memorable Memorial Day weekend!  The weather couldn't have been better.  A rare "triple conjunction" of Venus, Jupiter and Mercury was a major highlight of the trip, easily visible in the western sky Sunday evening in a compact equilateral triangle.
After a sumptuous cookout with about 40 DAV members & other guests we had a fascinating walking tour of the astronomers' observatories. A bit later at "Grier's Field" we enjoyed naked eye and telescopic views of the planetary conjunction - then of Saturn and its rings and many lovely constellations including Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Virgo, Leo, Lyra and Scorpius.  A big bright moon - just 40-hours past full - rose at 10:30 and made a nice viewing object for the rest of the night with its huge round craters and other rugged features.
  We enjoyed camping overnight in the shady area near the DAV dining pavilion.  Monday morning we "tied a bow" on the trip with a relaxing and delicious group breakfast and a lively discussion of the joys of amateur astronomy with our gracious DAV friend Marie Lott.  We especially want to thank Marie for teaching us how to use her nice solar & "Dobsonian" telescopes.