I arrived at the observatory (08/04/08) about 19:30. I was alone and the observatory was very quiet and peaceful. By twilight the weather was typical of August, hot hazy and still, with no stars visible near the horizon. A storm was building to the North-East. The twilight was illuminating the top of the distant thunderhead and cloud to cloud lightning danced around and through the high cloud. One moment it looked like another cancelled stargaze and the next minute it was looking better. As the twilight faded, bats began to take advantage of the open observatory grounds swooping low to catch their prey. The crescent moon was all that could be seen through the circum-horizontal haze. As the twilight faded into darkness the stars became visible one by one. First was Arcturus then the summer triangle, and finally Antares through the haze.

The group of gifted students arrived during civil twilight. Confused by the signage near the Day Lodge, they parked in the Day Lodge parking lot and walked down the arboretum trail to the observatory. The group consisted of about 30 teenagers. Their arrival was perfect timing. Still light enough to easily get acquainted with the observatory with a short wait for enough darkness to begin observing.

The only scope I used for the program was the 16 inch. The MCMO 12 inch was open and cooling just in case, but with only a few objects viewable around the zenith the 16 inch was the best choice of instruments. I moved the 16 inch to the west side parking area to view Jupiter still low in the South East. Jupiter revealed three moons and a shadow transit. What a treat to be able to see a transit. After the group got a few turns observing Jupiter it was dark enough for M13 and M57. M13 was well resolved with the 16 inch and 20mm Naglar ocular and the Ring was bright and easily visible. By 22:37 I walked the group towards the East fence to see the ISS pass under Arcturus then disappear into the Earth's shadow near the meridian. The remaining time and in-between targets of the 16 inch, I answered questions, pointed out stars and constellations, and handed out copies of the handy Skymaps.com free monthly sky map. The gifted students caught on quickly to the operation of the 16 inch telescope and began moving it between objects, usually returning to Jupiter and the still visible shadow transit. With a polite thank-you the group began walking back to their vehicles, asking questions all the way out the gate.

During the Glen Helen gifted student program a visitor arrived, Chris, a recently reacquainted old friend. I invited Chris to a camper stargaze earlier this summer and he got bit by at least one astronomy mosquito. Since then he has attended two of the Glen Helen stargazes at JB. I would bet that you will find his name on the club roster in the near future.

After our Glen Helen guests have left, Chris kept asking about the French 12 inch. You remember, the long red newtonian under the dome. Well, we opened it up to look at Jupiter and guess what I found in the finder scope? The missing 9mm Naglar eyepiece, now returned to the cabinet. I was not expecting much because it was pretty warm inside the dome and Jupiter is in the low night time Summer ecliptic. Since the 9mm was there I placed it in the focuser and was delighted to see a double transit and a moon just peeking over the limb. Very nice image, but to much power for these conditions. I returned the 9mm to the cabinet and grabbed a 20mm plossl. Perfect focal length for the conditions. The transits were clearly defined and I could detect more cloud bands and occasionally some detail in the equatorial cloud belts. Boy does that scope show off the planets even when they are low and the scope is hot. So after gazing at the glories of Jupiter a while, it was time to close up and run the deer gauntlant as I leave the park. A successful series of Glen Helen stargazes, three out of five for the night camps and the gifted student cloud date. Thanks to all that helped over the past 6 weeknights.