Green Bank Observatory – Vicariously

My husband went to at star party at Green Bank Observatory (West Virginia) last week. I didn’t hear much from him while he was there since it’s in the National Quiet Zone (no cell phones or other communication networks). He took a few pictures and I’m experiencing the place vicariously. He arrived home on Friday afternoon after heavy rain in the morning and continuing clouds in the forecast caused him to fold up a few days early.

The observing field – where people set up their telescopes and tents – one of the radio telescopes within site.

A jerry-rigged sun shade between the back of the car and the tent. It took him time to make his sunshade; the first after was evidently hot and sunny – and the field is very open (good for observing but there are no trees, shade is only what the star party participants can make for themselves).

It required some ducking to get into a shady spot.

But once inside there was plenty of space for a chair and much of the equipment stayed in the car when it wasn’t in use at night. Fortunately, the telescope tube was back in the car before the deluge on Friday morning!