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What a wonderful weekend of observing! While the forcast might have made the CSP look like it was going to get rained out, it couldn't have been further from reality. And again, my father and I and our StarWagon (read as, 1973 motor home) brought clear skies to a dreary weekend. Just as it did going to the Delmarva StarGaze 6 months ago, it rained and poured and thundered the ENTIRE ride to the CSP. Once we arrived around 3:30pm, the rain stopped, the clouds cleared, the wind died down and we were set for some major league observing.
Both Friday and Saturday nights were clear from dusk 'till dawn. The limiting magnitude was at least 6 at the zenith with a very prominent Milky Way (I give it a Chunky-Factor of 7...only superseced by Stellafane, out of those star parties that I have attended; Colliers Mills for example is a 5.5). I poked around with my 8" Dob until about 10 O'clock...I took a nap until 3 am and awoke to the most beautiful Winter skies. Orion, Auriga, Gemini, etc. were screaming out from a black night sky. By this time of night, the only source of major light pollution, the little town of Winsted, had shut down and was noticably not as bright as earlier in the night.
Saturday was the swap meeting...not too many vendors showed up, probably due to the lack-luster focast. However, 'Astronomy to Go' was there with their 36" Yard Scope...what a MONSTER! They had a 10-foot ladder to use when the scope was pointed straight up. Plus you could easily stand in the rocker box and be completely hidden. What a sight!
Saturday night was clear and very cool. It was a better night than Friday night was (at the beginning; as stated above, Friday around 3:30am was stunning!). Plus, we were able to see 8 satellites in a half-hour span along with 5 meteors in the same span. The skies were also extremely steady which allowed for some killer planetary observing.
It was a great weekend considering the bleak forcast and how it started out. Those running the star party estimated 200 people showed up...not nearly as many as they usually get. But it was still very busy. Do I wish I went to Black Forest? Prior to getting up there to the CSP I was having second thoughts, but now that I have experienced this year's CSP, I am happy I chose this star party and probably will continue to. Now the real fun begins with Stella-Della and South Jersey coming up in a few weeks.