Image Quest Family Camping Trip - Toulemne Meadows, Yosemite

July 23-25, 2011

Alas, I didn't realize my SD card for my Nikon D40 was in the little Lumix, which I did not bring. So, no pictures! But Dave Wyman got many fine ones, which I'll link here as soon as he publishes his page. I was asked to come along to show the kids and their parents the stars. I brought the 10" LX200, and set up on Saturday evening - first night of the trip - in the little meadow next to our campsites (Loop D in the Toulemne Meadows campground). I showed them constellations, a few constellation stories, red giants, the Milky Way and why is has a dark lane through the middle of it, and in the telescope we examined Saturn, it's moons, the Ring Nebula, the Dumbell Nebula, M13, the new supernova in the Whirlpool Galaxy, the beautiful 'married' stars Albireo in Cygnus.... and plenty of laser'ing of stars and patterns in the sky.

As always, Dave put on a great trip for all. Explorations of the meadow, sunny rocks and "hot tubs" on the unusually full Toulemne River near camp, Pothole Dome, the class VI rapids below Pothole Dome, Tenaya Lake, and great meals designed by Irene, including her delicious home-made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.