From: "Howard" <howard.fink@nyu.edu>

Date: January 31, 2010 8:55:05 PM MST

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Extreme astronomy NYC

The Amateur Astronomers Association of New York (aaa.org) held a mars opposition party Friday, January 29, 2010 at the foot of the Great Lawn in Central Park.  Clear and cold, the temperature was 19 degrees F, or -7 C.  I brought out my 10" Zhumell Dobsonian; eight telescopes and their owners in all.  About forty to fifty people showed up over an hour and a half.  Another half hour for everyone to break down their scopes and we were all numb.  I could see some detail on Mars at 90 power now and then.  An eight inch scope at 200 power had a larger disk, but the same seeing.  

Howard Fink