Here is my one-man Marmot tent (in the background is the red van that brought us here):
Here are some of the telescopes/binoculars that people brought to the party:
This was the first star party I attended where I spent most of the night looking through other people’s telescopes, rather than observing through my own. Rather than a telescope, I brought along binoculars (8 x 35) that a dealer gave me for free at last year’s RTMC. I did some serious binocular observing in dark skies for the very first time. It was a revelation for me, especially with the Milky Way riding high in the sky.
One of the highlights of this event is the Merit Award competition for homemade telescopes and related astronomy accessories, moderated by Richard Ozer of the Eastbay Astronomical Society (in Oakland):
Here were some of the DIY award winners at the event:
o) 6”
o) 8”
o) Motorized binocular chair (Jeff Jolin):
o) 6”
o) 10”
o) 6”
o) 6”
This year, refractors dominated the awards.
Thanks for reading!
A 6 or 8 inch 
Telescopes: GSO 12" Astrograph, "Comet Hunter" MN152, ES ED127CF, ES ED80, WO Redcat51, Z12, AT6RC, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Mounts and tripod: Losmandy G11S with OnStep, AVX, Tiltall, Cameras: ASI2600MC, ASI2600MM, ASI120 mini, Fuji X-a1, Canon XSi, T6, ELPH 100HS, DIY: OnStep controller, Pi4b/power rig, Afocal adapter, Foldable Dob base, Az/Alt Dob setting circles, Accessories: ZWO 36 mm filter wheel, TV Paracorr 2, Baader MPCC Mk III, ES FF, SSAG, QHY OAG-M, EAF electronic focuser, Plossls, Barlows, Telrad, Laser collimators (Seben LK1, Z12, Howie Glatter), Cheshire, 2 Orion RACIs 8x50, Software: KStars-Ekos, DSS, PHD2, Nebulosity, Photo Gallery, Gimp, CHDK, Computers:Pi4b, 2x running KStars/Ekos, Toshiba Satellite 17", Website:
