Sutter Creek Primary School Star Party
May 5, 2006

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The Amador Astronomical Society held a star party for all 2nd and 3rd Grade classes, their parents, and siblings at Sutter Creek Primary School on Friday, May 5 at 7:30 PM. Participants saw Saturn, the double star Castor, a first quarter Moon, Mars, the famous Orion Nebula, and the much talked about crumbling Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3.

Brandi Ehlers, reporter for the Ledger Dispatch, spent two hours covering the event and published this excellent article in the May 12th issue.
Waiting for the crowd to arrive before starting the presentation.
Still waiting. It turns out there were baseball games in Ione that were running late.
A young Sutter Creek astronomer correctly answering a question. She was rewarded with a red light.
Larry Brown describing one of the three red, white, and blue telescopes loaned to different families every year. In the background are AAS Astronomers Bob Works, Dennis Mashburn, Ken Mason, and Harold Connerley. Photo taken by AAS Astronomer Steve Durham.
AAS Astronomer Steve Durham helping a young stargazer enjoy the beautiful contrast between the light and dark sides of a 1st quarter moon through his long focal length Newtonian telescope.
Amador County Astronomer Emeritus Bob Works showing a parent the planet Saturn.
AAS Astronomer Ken Mason tuning up his 10″ Meade SCT for the nights observing.
AAS Astronomer Dennis Mashburn explaining inflation theory to a parent interested in cosmology.
We saved the worst picture for the last. It does show the large white tube housing Harold Connerley's 12″ Newtonian telescope.