A Gift from the Astronomers

The yearly visit from All-Star Telescope occurred last month and a week of Canadian Astronomers were busy imaging the sky from the Painted Pony Resort.  This was their 6th year visiting and while the men take over the hanger, setting up telescopes outside, the wives spend their time hot tubing and enjoying the amenities of the main estate.  After seeing the rock formation, the Mule Ears, on our yearly hike the owner of All-Star Telescope decided the outcrop would make a nice foreground to a star filled image of the sky.  Returning for a night of photography Ken captured the constellation Orion over the Mule Ears and was kind enough to send a copy to be posted which PPR certainly appreciates. Some past visits by All-Star Telescope are documented here and here.

An Image From a Guest

The recent 2015 All-Star Telescope star party at the Painted Pony Resort always brings a host of talented astrophotographers out to image the sky, but the landscape also draws attention.  Recent experiments with black and white photography motivated some others to experiment in capturing the Chiricahua mountains in black and white.  The image below is a view of the Chiricahua mountains in black and white taken by the talented Canadian astrophotograher, John McDonald.  While I get images when and where I can, this is an example of what someone who knows what they are doing and captures the Chiricahuas in a completely different light.  The small puffy white clouds contrast nicely with angular mesquite in the foreground with the 8000' Portal Peak and eastern flank of the Chiricahua mountains in between.  Truly a spectacular image and thanks to John for allowing the reuse of his image.

Other images by John McDonald may be found on his RSAC Victoria Centre Zenfolio astrophotography page

Portal Peak and the Chiricahua mountains in black and white.  Image and copyright by John McDonald.

All-Star Telescope Star Party, 2015

With 30 guests All-Star Telescope hosted another successful astronomy retreat at the Painted Pony Resort.  This marks their 7th visit over the past 5 years for a week of astrophotography in the high desert of southern New Mexico.  At night, the hanger becomes the congregating point for the astronomers while others enjoy the hot tub and courtyard area at the main house for other activities.  This year 2 daytime hikes were completed for a total of 11 miles, one hike up south fork canyon for some afternoon birding and a second hike across the high desert to the outcrops at the base of the Peloncillo mountains.  Dalton Wilson brought his drone and took some magnificent images of the estate and high desert, see below, showing 14 telescopes setup by the hanger.  The area around the hanger is ideal for astronomy since the main house, guest house, and bungalow are over 500' away and with minimal outdoor lighting does not interfere with astronomy activities.  At night only red lights, to preserve the astronomers night vision, can be seen moving around the telescopes in the New Mexican desert as they concentrate on capturing the perfect image of astronomical objects in the southern sky visible from the estate.  With dinners catered by Jackie Lewis of the George Walker house the guests reported having a wonderful time at this years star party and were discussing returning again next year.

Aerial view of 14 telescopes set up at the All-Star Telescope New Mexico star party.  Photograph by Dalton Wilson.

A view down the road in South Fork of Cave Creek Canyon with guests out for some birding.

Reflections in Cave Creek Canyon, Chiricahua Mountains

Astronomers with the All-Star Telescope star party are currently in residence at the Painted Pony Resort and today the group explored South Fork of Cave Creek Canyon.  About a dozen astronomers hiked up South Fork to Maple Camp and along the way we came across a small slot canyon on the west side of the trail.  Chimneying a short distance up the slot several reflecting pools were encountered.  While getting up and in was easy, coming down and back out proved a little more challenging, but it was possible to avoid the falling into the pools and still get a good photograph.

Of course the Panstarrs comet has been the subject of some interest and photography at sunset each evening and some photographs are posted here and here.

Small reflection pool off South Fork

All Star Telescope Star Party at the Painted Pony Resort

The All-Star Telescope star party ended, and the guests have returned home but work has not stopped.  The image processing from 2 weeks of astrophotography has been underway back in Canada.  One astrophotographer, John McDonald , made some outstanding photographs and videos during his stay and has shared some the work with the Painted Pony Resort.

Visit John's website

Morning Milky Way at the Painted Pony from RASC Victoria Centre on Vimeo.
This time lapse video of the Milky Way rising in the morning of Feb 23,
2012 was taken during the All-Star Alberta Party at the Painted Pony Resort
near Rodeo New Mexico.
Copyright W John McDonald
wjm890131@shaw.ca
Permission required for commercial use

Viewing the night sky at the Painted Pony Resort

Milky way over the Painted Pony Resort

Astronomers in Residence

The All-Star Telescope group has been in residence for a week imaging the sky (day and night) from the San Simon Valley. As with all guests a guided hike in the Chiricahua Mountains is offered and the hike chosen for this first group was one of the riparian hikes along Cave Creek which offers spectacular afternoon views of Cathedral Rock and the canyon walls.  The group traveled from the start of the Nature trail just past the Portal Ranger Station and emerging at Sunny Flat campground.  Then back down canyon along the road with a stop at Vista Point.  The afternoon sun illuminated the east wall of the canyon with spectacular views of Cathedral Rock.  The group found a metate along the route and spent some time creating some balancing stone artwork in the stream bed.  Just before heading back to the Painted Pony Resort for dinner the view below presented itself.  A group of upturned faces viewing the southern sky.  It appears the astronomers found themselves captured in stone in Cave Creek Canyon.

Viewing the southern sky

Cathedral Rock from the Nature Trail in Cave Creek Canyon

Telescopes at the Painted Pony Resort

About a dozen telescopes were set up at the beginning of last week down by the hanger where the southern sky is clear from horizon to horizon.  They stayed up during the entire visit and were manned nightly.  A lot of astrophotography was accomplished during All-Star Telescopes visit and except for one windy day and night at the end a good deal of viewing was accomplished.  The skies were clear (I chose a photograph with high clouds for the non-astronomers, a better photographic composition) and the night time temperatures comfortable.

Late afternoon telescopes at the Painted Pony Resort