Saturday evening was fun-filled as over a hundred people from LCOGT, Sedgwick staff and docents, and special guests from Direct Relief International as well as families and friends filled Sedgwick Reserve. After welcomes by Wayne Rosing(LCOGT), Dorothy Largay (DRI), and Kate McCurdy (Sedgwick), the group socialized with hors d'oeuvres and drinks, took a walk to the pond to watch the flocks of birds fly in, and went on a tour of the old buildings on the property while hearing about the Sedgwick family. Later, everyone enjoyed a fantastic catered dinner by local favorite New West Catering and a then headed up the hill for a night of stargazing.
The 0.8m Byrne Observatory at Sedgwick was pointed at several object such as the Hercules Cluster and the Ring Nebula while a 7 inch refractor was pointed at Jupiter (where a transit of one of the Galilean moons was visible!) and the bright 3-days-past first quarter Moon. A tour of the stars and constellations was given by Rachel Ross, as visitors waited in line to be awed by the view through the telescopes. Unfortunately the evening was cut short by quickly moving fog blanketing the sky.Throughout the week leading up to the event, project manager John Martinez installed a new, permanent pier for the 7 inch refractor as well as making sure the walking area around the observatory was as safe as possible, especially in the dark (although there are no guarantees about rattle snakes, tarantulas, coyotes, mountain lions, deer, and all the other wildlife that call Sedgwick home).
All in all it was a great evening and a big thank you to everyone who was involved in making it happen!
Sedgwick Reserve is one of 36 reserves that is part of the University of California Natural Reserve System.
(Pictures will be coming as soon as wecan find someone who had a camera that evening.)
