by Michael Wright

AAAP held our annual star party from Friday, September 26 to Sunday, September 28, 2014 at the Hope Conference and Renewal Center, Hope, NJ.  On both nights, skies were clear; transparency was excellent and seeing was very good.  In my admittedly limited experience, these were the best skies I have ever seen in NJ, even at Hope.  The dust lanes in the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy and the Double Cluster were visible to the naked eye.  Only dew limited our observing time.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s party a success, particularly Chef Ludy D’Angelo, Jim Poinsett, the kitchen crew and everyone who shared their passion for astronomy.

The observing field. Credit: Rex Parker

Gene Ramsey supervises mounting of Larry Kane’s OTA.  Credit: Michael Wright

Brian Van Liew gets ready for imaging.  Credit: Michael Wright

Bill Murray and his Teeter push-to Dob. Credit: Michael Wright

Brian Van Liew explains imaging to Michael Wright and Lynn Sian Credit: Rex Parker

Larry Kane, Rex Parker, Michael Wright, Jim Poinsett and Gene Ramsey pause for a photo on the Solar System Walk. Credit: Lynn Sian

On the Solar System Walk, Jupiter appears to hover above the driveway. Set to scale, Mars is invisible by the right corner of the lodge.  Credit: Rex Parker