Durante el fin de semana organizamos un programa de observación de estrellas en el Shooting Star Golf Club en Teton Village. Lo que se esperaba que fuera un programa de observación de estrellas de rutina para un grupo grande casi tuvo un impacto desastroso en nuestro equipo.
Sam se puso en marcha con un programa en interiores para dar inicio a la noche para las aproximadamente 60 personas que asistieron para observar las estrellas justo cuando yo había regresado de dar los toques finales en el área de observación cercana. Se esperaba que el programa en interiores tomara aproximadamente 45 minutos más o menos para entusiasmar a la gente con el cielo nocturno, ya que se oscureció lo suficiente como para ver objetos del espacio profundo. La multitud pareció generalmente receptiva al programa, con muchas preguntas y respuestas, y después de aproximadamente una hora, todos salimos al campo de prácticas para ver en persona gran parte de lo que acababan de aprender.
Sam y yo comenzamos a alinear los dos visores diferentes que teníamos y pronto la gente miraba de cerca la media luna. En ese momento, sin embargo, la temperatura estaba empezando a bajar demasiado para ser cómoda para algunas personas, a pesar de las mantas que teníamos. Después de echar un vistazo rápido a la luna, algunos optaron por terminar la noche allí.
Para aquellos que se quedaron, tuvimos una gran mirada a Saturno a continuación, pero como se esperaba que el mínimo estuviera a mediados de los 30 durante la noche, el aire nocturno se acercaba rápidamente a su objetivo, que era demasiado para la mayoría de las personas. Aunque impresionada por ver Saturno, la mayoría de la gente se había ido después de verlo. En este punto, Sam y yo alineamos nuestros visores con la Nebulosa del Anillo, lo que fascinó a la gente que todavía estaba fuera, pero ni siquiera eso fue suficiente para atraer a la gente a permanecer fuera más tiempo.
As the last people made their way from the driving range, we began our routine of systematically taking down the scopes and gear that was out. Sam began unplugging his scope while I began turning off the iPads that we use to let people browse the night sky digitally when they’re not looking through a scope. We were making our usual slow progress when a very unsettling sound brought our attention to the hole across the path: two sprinklers had just automatically turned on. "Uh-oh" was about all that was muttered before we ran to the most expensive gear out there to begin breaking it down. Even just a quick pass from one sprinkler would be enough to cause significant damage to our most expensive gear. We had no clue where the sprinklers were or how many were expected to go off, all we knew is we needed to get everything safe immediately. I was taking down our 20" scope, our pride and joy, faster than I ever had, knowing we were now engaged in a race against the automatic sprinkler system. There were two Shooting Star staffers with us as well, one helping to move things to safety, another frantically making calls asking why the sprinklers were on.
Of course we weren’t sure if the sprinklers at the driving range would even turn on, but seeing them across the path was enough warning. But then, on the driving range just a few dozen yards away, two sprinklers came on, just out of reach of us. They were coming, and all we knew was that our time was limited. By now I had the 20" mostly broken down and I wheeled it to safety to the path where there was a large dry section. On my way back, a sprinkler began spouting practically right where the 20" was. I immediately became soaked as I scrambled to get things out of the way: iPads; telescope gear; a battery for the scope that was still out on a table. In my own rushed pace I lost track of what the others were doing, but a few minutes later, all of us regrouped and were dripping with water from saving what we could in a safe(r) spot.
Appearing to be out of harm’s way, we evaluated what got wet and what was kept safe, and aside from one telescope battery, the things that got wet were simply chairs, tables, and blankets. Fortunately, our instincts helped us keep everything simply couldn’t get wet safe, and we were back up and running the next night after letting everything dry out in the sun. Earlier in the night Sam had remarked how much earlier it was than he was expecting to finish. That definitely worked in our favor that night.
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