Grand Canyon North Rim

I'd like to hear people's viewing experiences at the North Rim. What time of the year did you go? What was the weather like and viewing conditions? Crowds? How does it compare with other dark sites? I've only been to Cherry Springs in PA so if anyone's been to both I'd be curious to hear the comparisons. Thanks in advance.

Mark

Hi Mark.
I believe we've had this conversation before. Ah yes...July '08.
I still like it. I still recommend it.
I've never been to Cherry Springs, but just take a look at it's light pollution map...
http://cleardarksky.com/lp/ChrSprPkPAlp.html?Mn=meteorites
compared to the North Rim...
http://cleardarksky.com/lp/GCNrtAZlp.html?Mn=equatorial%20mount
I rest my case.
Linton

The Grand Canyon Star Party is June 5-12 next year.
http://www.tucsonastronomy.org/gcsp.html

I've been observing at CSSP for about ten years now. Cherry Springs is a great observing site but the desert southwest has the advantages of less light pollution, drier air, and greater altitude.

I attended the Grand Canyon Star Party in June of 2001 but it was at the south rim. The skies there were very good but the manner in which the star party was conducted, for the most part in a busy parking lot, was a bit of a turn off. I've read that the north rim is better. I also seem to recall hearing that air pollution is beginning to be a problem at the Grand Canyon.

Dave Mitsky

The north rim of the Grand Canyon is one of the darkest places in the United States. And it is fairly high. It is therefore a potentially great place for an observing session. It is open from late spring until the snows start. I believe it does get some monsoon weather in July or so, but I am not sure on that. The campground at the North Rim itself is infested with trees. Great camping, poopy observing.

The Grand Canyon Star Party is not an "observing" star party, although you can get some great observing in. It is perhaps the greatest outreach event in the United States, with thousands of people looking through scopes at the celestial wonders. However, the south rim version is in a parking lot with shuttle buses going through till about 11:00 pm, and the north rim has the lights of a hotel (although somewhat muted) shining. In short, it is a great place to outreach, but not so hot for strict private observing.

On the other hand, if you drive off to one of the nearby parking areas on the north rim drive, you could probably set up in peace and quiet, and observe away.

Alex