With clouds and rain in the forecasts, Friday morning, 27 March 2026, I went to the observatory and put the Dome Cover ON. Later, after our Extreme Heat Wave ended, I turned the air conditioner OFF.

On Saturday, 28 March, I supported Oracle State Park, Arizona's first state park to be designated as an "International Dark Sky Park" (2014) at the Fountain Hills Dark Sky Festival.

Rain (0.18") arrived Monday night, 30 March, with a thunderstorm and almost continuous lightning. Had more rain (0.05") Tuesday evening, 31 March. Had some light rain (0.02") Wednesday morning, 1 April.

Saturday, 4 April, I attended a star party at Oracle State Park.

Monday night, 6 April, there was a launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Timing after sunset was good, but sky conditions were not ideal, as seen in the first photo showing clouds along with Orion, Taurus, the Pleiades, and the first stage (lower right corner).

1X lens


2X lens


5X lens


2X lens


2X lens

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