Great October Days and Nights!

From a group students from Olin College and Wellesley College to a troop of brownies from nearby Peru, MA, visitors have been enjoying the telescopes, trails, and wonderful dark skies of Arunah Hill this month. Local town residents were treated to some fine stargazing at Notchview, thanks to a crack team of Arunah Hill astronomers.

The college students caught a windy but transparent night of the Friday of Columbus Day weekend. They are a knowledgable and enthusistic group, and were rewarded with fine views of everything from Jupiter to the Pinwheel Galaxy. The Veil Nebula and Comet Hartley as seen in Barry's scope were particular treats to this discriminating group.

This past weekend, a local Brownie troop found geocaches, built cardboard telescopes and lauched a rocket, braving the elements before the persistent clouds washed out any hope of stargazing. Still, everyone had a great time, and I suspect they will be back soon for a promised look at the Moon and some planets.

October Workday

Chainsaws and gravel work marked a fine October day. With color in the distant hills, Dan Carnevale and I took some trees down behind the telescope shed... starting to open up some of the east and the northeast from the top of the clearing.

Tom Walker, Ray Burk, and Jonathon Klipkowski hauled brush, raked out gravel on the driveway, and otherwise worked to clean up the site.

After sunset, Jonathon and group of folks had a fine night of observing the crisp and pristine skies of October over Arunah.

A good day. Thanks to all involved. The hill is in great shape, and October has a busy schedule of Scout visits and a field trip for Olin College of Engineering.