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| Messier 13 (M13) Globular Cluster |
060926 - 061426 Rocky Mountain Star Stare (RMSS) is an annual star party sponsored by the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society that is held every summer for 30 years. So how di I hear about it, you ask? Well, on the Built-to-Go podcast of course! Hosted by Jeff Wagg of the College of Curiosity. Jeff’s weekly podcast features everything and anything about van life including events and places to visit. Jeff is a member of the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society and told everyone about the RMSS during one of his episodes. So I signed up months in advance and it is finally here. I really didn’t know what to expect other than I knew there would be camping in a big open area and I would meet Jeff Wagg.
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| Jeff Wagg |
After leaving Yucca State Campground I stopped at Loves to fill my propane tank, then headed up to the coordinates provided by RMSS. I recognized Jeff as I was pulling into the registration building and he directed me to where the Van Life followers were parking. Figured out later that it was the members area. I was honored to set up right behind Jeff's truck camper.
There was nothing on the agenda the first day. I met all of Jeff's friends and the other Van Lifers that follow the Built-to-go podcast. We had hotdogs & drinks over with Yogi’s then later, around sunset one of the CSAS members, Bruce Bookout, conducted a opening presentation and someone set up a big telescope and showed us the moons of Jupiter! I was amazed and soaked in the presentation. We learned about the anti-solar on the east horizon; Earth's shadow / the "dark segment" and the "Belt of Venus". Scientists explain this as the Earth's actual shadow projected onto our atmosphere. Over the years there have been folk lore and symbolism such as, the soft, glowing pink arc separating the dark night from the bright sky was likened by astronomers to this legendary ribbon of grace wrapped elegantly across the horizon and The Magic Cestus: The name directly alludes to the Cestus (a beautifully embroidered girdle, sash, or breast-band) worn by Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty.
As the sun set, the Astrometers worked on setting up their equipment in designated areas in the middle of all the campers. A strict "Red Lights Only" policy went into effect at Sunset. No other lights allowed to preserve the night sky viewing.
I volunteered at the greeting table and directed campers arriving on Friday and Saturday. I find that volunteering is a good way to meet other people and for newbies like me to ask a lot of questions. Friday night I spent 3 hours with 2 members that I was on watch with. They showed me their smart telescopes and we set them up with a tablet and zoomed in on some star clusters far away. The first image on this blog is one we took that night.
Our group would usually meet in the evening at the observing area after dark and discuss the stars, sky and anything else there was to discuss. There were presentations by people from NASA about Catching Astronauts, Recovery of the Crew of Artemis II and their Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (
PUNCH) Mission. There was other presentations including Mystery and Majesty in the Northern Skies. There was always something going on at the main building, which was the only building.
The weather was fabulous until Saturday, we had some clouds, heavy winds and some light rain. Sunday morning Jeff was gone early but left a nice note on the discord. I was packed up and out by 1000. I stopped to dump my gray tank at the state campground then headed west through southern Colorado.
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| Chimney Rock |
I stayed at Ute Campground near
Chimney Rock National Monument that I visited in the morning before heading out of Colorado.
Just before entering Arizona I stopped at the
Yucca House National Monument a unexcavated archaeological site, based around an ancestral Puebloan settlement. The site was on a farm over by an old barn with a circle driveway. There was a walkway and trail that takes you right up to the ruins, an old brick-like wall that was first written about in 1878 then was made a National Monument in 1919. Read more about Pueblo settlements
here.
I stayed the night at the Sunset View Campground at the Navajo National Monument. Feeling kind of crummy, like I had a cold, I just stayed in the van and headed home the next morning, ending my 46 day trip. Total Miles 6856.7 average speed 47 mph, 17.8 mpg, Travel Time 145 hours
RMSS Photos
Ute CG Colorado photos
