ADVENTURES IN ASTRONOMY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Star Parties

Table Mountain Star Party, WA, 1998

The Table Mountain Star Party 1998 Well these are the shots I got this year at the Table Mountain Star Party. All of the pictures are linked to a larger version for better clarity so go ahead and click on them as you read. I arrived with my friend Al on thursday morning after putting up the mountain and stoping a few times to add a quart or two of oil. It took us a total of 3 hours to make the trip from Everett. The Astro Imaging area was already filling up when we arrived. I set up my tent and Al pushed up his 1977 westfalia pop top VW. We made a Tarp cover with fiberglass poles that worked ok but were a little flimsy in the wind and we probably will devise something a litte more sturdy next year. By the end of the day we had met our new neighbors Mike and Glen and Phil from that point on the rest of the weekend was full of interesting things to do. On thursday the forest service warned that lightning strikes were possible from a Thunder Storm that seemed headed in our direction. Luckly the storm flanked us to the east and we escaped the rain and lightning. There was a lightning strike far to the east that might have started a small forest fire but it was quickly extinguished. As soon as we were settled in we walked on over to the Vendor Strip at the begining of the Loop. There were quite a few folks set up and so I spent some time shopping around for a Telescope Cover. After Buying some stuff Al and I walked on over to get one of those Bill Burvee Burgers. Thanks Bill!

I have included a little more variety of pictures showing the vendor area and the wonderful scenery of Lions Rock. Last year I had not taken the walk up to Lions Rock though I was encouraged too. This year I did so and I was awed with the breath taking view. I have included a small part of the panarama view I took which can give you some idea how beautifull it is there. I walked around after this and ran into many of the people I met last year and a few new ones that new of me from my web page. Below you will find the Winning scope, A split ring F4 20 inch truss reflector Created by Fred Philips and Dave Kovinek. What a piece of work. My pictures don't even do it justice. The split ring base was made of beautiful Apple Plywood. It had dual axis drives. I also have some other interesting competitors that were equally as deserving. I entered mine but it didn't hold a candle to those other guy's. I say again as I did last year, if your wanting to build a scope make sure you get to one of these events before you do.

On saturday I went around and took photo's of the different vendors that were selling their products. I particularly enjoyed the wide variety of telescopes that had been brought up and put out on display. At captains they had some Vixon Giant 20 x125 binoculars. They offered magnificent views. I also did a lot of shopping around rex's astro stuff. Tony and Daphny hallas were also there with there wonderful Astro pictures. All in All the selections of astronomy products and equipment were excellent. Below is a nice panarama of thr lions rock area. I really enjoyed my walk there.