Our Winter 1999 trip had a perfect Friday evening with  clear skies and cool temperatures.  The moon, Venus, Saturn, Mars, the Virgo Cloud of galaxies,  M51, M3 and 13, numerous open clusters,  planetary nebulae, and Comet LINEAR  were viewed by those in attendance, a near-record number (just shy of the large Fall '98 group in October).  A young crescent moon graced the western sky near Venus and Saturn after sunset Friday - pretty!  Mr. Kevin Dehne gave his popular star tour Friday night and conducted a Saturday nature hike, and Mr. Eric Kennedy invited a number of model rocket students up on Saturday to participate in our rocket launches.  The large, loud  G35-4-powered rocket that drifted quite some distance was indeed found and retrieved from a tree about one-half mile north of the launch site.   Even the smaller rockets, including the red D-engine rocket, were recovered.  Success!

Bob Justin and Dave Ciali prepare scopes for a lovely Friday evening under dark, clear skies.

Dave Ciali and Clayton Kessler ready their scopes.  Dave wowed the folks with splended views
through his 14-inch Dob, and Clayton showed his success as an astrophotographer
via beautiful colorful prints he has taken of various Milky Way scenes.  Thanks guys!

Dell discusses the finer points of his Celestron C11 GEM mount with Bob and Clayton.

Observing activity picks up Friday night as skies darken....

A big breakfast readies the gang for a full day of Saturday activities.

The ice-covered bog adjacent to the dorm.  A lovely Saturday afternoon scene.

Kevin Dehne shows the sun through a Celestron 8-inch Schmidt-Cass

Jay Sinclair tinkers with his projection scope while Bob, Dell, and Jack  look on.

Students intrigued by views of Venus in the daytime viewed through a Celestron C5.

Large rocket snared by a tree 1/2 mile north of the launch site.

Scrounging for rocks and sticks to pull the rocket from the tree with nylon string.

A few scratches but at least the fins were OK!  The rocket will fly again...
We were clouded out Saturday night but still enjoyed a relaxing evening among friends....

Those with pictures from the trip, please send me copies or scanned images for inclusion to this page!
phy_vance@online.emich.edu