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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Day 6 - Tuesday June 9th
Day 6 - Tuesday June 9th
Written by Team Couselors! (We ran out of time for our campers to write this one.)
Campers got up late after a night of observing and after a light breakfast.
Last push on the projects.
Team Scorpius' final presentation.
The campers each got a chance to present on everything they researched during the week. Midway through we had a quesedila break.
To celebrate the achievement of surviving a final presentation, campers were given their camp T-shirts. We all marched to the launch pad.
Fresh new outfits.
Bach of the shirts inspired by our welcome signs.
Launched at a safe distance.
What's left over from the rocket launch.
The pressure generated from the liquid nitrogen reaction explodes the soda bottle. In the launch cannon this launches the waterbottle full of water into the air.
After launch, campers scampered back to the dorms for some quick packing before dinner.
The scampering.
The planning before the packing.
Launched at a safe distance.
Eagerly awaiting mealtime.
We had a cookout for dinner! Many thanks to the campers who helped our chef Austin.
Finally, as is tradition, we ended the night with liquid nitrogen experiments, darwin awards, and liquid nitrogen icecream. Thank you campers for a wonderful campers!
The brew.
Some of the experiments.
Day 5 - Monday June 8th
Day 5 - Monday June 8th
Written by Team 4: Alexander Sanko, Kal-el Wallace, Luca Mitrinovic, Luke Rouse, Lucianna Soto, Emma McHugh, Liheng Liu, Jennings Hyder
(jennings): We had a ton of fun staying up for saturn we played a lot of poker. The memories that I made here will forever be remembered.
Scale question of the day.
Organizing Galaxies.
In this photo, we were having a ton of fun lighting paper on fire using the focused energy of the sun. We managed to burn through 5 or so sheets of paper using the energy. - Luca Mitrinovic
Here we were working on our Constellation projects. my group collaborated well and we had lots of fun, we did a 3d scale model for our constellation ibra, and used materials like cardboard, string, and thumbtacks.
-Lucianna
Working on projects
Building 3d scale model
Solar system hike.
(Luke) We went on a hike that represented the scale of the Solar System with the Sun being a 10 inch ball and the planets and their moons accurately spaced out in respect to their orbits. The campers learned how far each of them were and that the closest star is across the Atlantic!
(Kal-el W.) whenever it was late out we would always go watch the sun set in the west and we would always take pictures. the Sun set was really beautiful to watch and after we watched it we would look at the stars for a while.
61 in telescope
Mt. Bigelow dorms
(Alexander S.) We all got together at the 61 inch for one final time and some of us took pictures of the stars with the seestars while others learned how to operate the big telescopes. We went down into the nearby underground dorms to listen to the counselers give words of wisdom for our future, and more importantly, to eat cookies and brownies.
(Liheng) Unfortunately, clouds came in after two hours, so we had to return to Mt. Lemmon. This was very sad as we effectively only had one day at the 61 in.
(Liheng) Instead, we woke up at 4 am to observe Saturn. We were able to see its rings and moons, while some of us watched sunrise an hour after. This was an amazing experience, being able to see a gas giant.
Sunrise
Day 4 - Sunday June 7th
Day 4 - Sunday June 7th
Written by Team 3: Bailey, Emma Milan, Gabe, Katherine, Anthony L., Liam, Nico, Samuel
Today we learned about how stars are very much like people: some are big and some small, some rare and some more common. Some are even married, these are double star systems that orbit around each other. They have kids which are planets and live and die at different rates.
-- Liam Karr
Who will win, gravity or pressure?
Learning about stars
Solar printing
Painting with the Sun
We used the actual Sun to create pictures, paintings, and masterpieces. The ultraviolet light from the Sun shines down onto a special paper that is being partially covered by different objects. This creates a picture where that object was on the paper, making a Solar Picture.
-Samuel Wertheim
Solar print.
Moss solar printed
a leaf and a rock solar printed
just a leaf solar printed
We learnt about the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram in the Minnesota building . It showed us how stars evolve over their lifetime. It plots luminosity and temperature. - Anthony
HR diagram
applications of stars
Learning about stars
whiteboard temperature of the stars
working together to do this
2 people playing chess together
music sing along during free time
During our free time we play many games such as poker, chess, etc. We also meet with counselors to learn stuff such as how we process exoplanet transit data, or learn how redshift and blueshifts happen in space.
-Nico Frazier
Is it bonding or geting stuck in a human knot of arms and sweat?
-Emma Millan
human knot one=escaped
human knot two=fail
friends playing pokemon go and resting
teaching how to whistle with grass
sunset games
Many observatories found at the camp.
the sun setting
The beautiful sunset is looked at every night at camp because of its true beauty. At the sunset kids hang out with eachoter takeing picsures of the beautiful sunset.
-Bailey
61 inch teloscope
A big wow moment at the first night of the 61inch teloscope
The outside of the 61 inch telescope.
Shortly after sunset, we drove down the mountain to visit the 61-inch Kuiper Telescope. We learned about the telescope's operations, toured its large two-floor facility, and viewed a collection of celestial objects in a new dimension of detail!
--Katherine
This is the telescope's equipment
Human knot two= half escaped
Day 3 - Saturday June 6th
Day 3 - Saturday June 6th
Written by Team 2: Samantha, Saskia, Ellie, Annaliese, Andrew, Phoenix, Shawn, Kristian
Today, we worked on learning about light and spectra, phases of the Moon and Planets, Newton's Laws, and mapping planetary surfaces! By working in four teams and switching between stations, we efficiently breezed through many interactive activities. At night, we observed the sky.
-Andrew
We learned about wavelengths and variants of waves including different scales to measure them.
On the left, Counselor Eden led a class and demonstration on wavelengths using a rainbow slinky where Emma M helped out.
On the right, Counselor Lorelei led team 2 to use mirrors to form circles of light on sheets of paper using reflections from the Sun.
-Annaliese T.
Light lecture.
Mirror demos.
We used Holographic Diffraction Grating Glasses to see the different colors of light emitted by certain objects (you can see this in the pictures on the far left and the bottom right)
We also used different mirrors and glass prisms to change the direction of lasers to try to focus all of them at a certain point (This is shown in the bottom left image).
-Saskia B.
Using glass prisms to manipulate light lasers.
Learning together.
Using Holographic Diffraction Grating Glasses (the effect is seen through the camera).
We went into the gymnasium to simulate the moons phases using a wooden ball attached to a stick. We learned about why the moon goes through its phases, why we only see one side of the moon, and about lunar and solar eclipses.
We put the balls around our heads and saw all phases of the moon. We also learned that the orbital period of the moon is the same as its rotational period, this is why the moon is tidally locked to the earth.
-Phoenix G.
In the gym using wooden balls to simulate the moons phases.
Liquid nitrogen poured on the table.
We learned about forces and used liquid nitrogen as a visual to demonstrate it. We first poured it on the table and watched it move across, demonstrating friction and normal force, then we put it in a film container and watched the cap pop off and fly across the room demonstrating the gas expansion, pressurem and Newtons third law.
We all had fun doing the Newtons cars project. Team 3 won. There were some challenges with lighting the fuse and retracting our hand in time so as not to get in the way of the car. Team 2 had the idea to use a yardstick to measure the distance of the rollers to make sure they were equal. The counselors had their own car where they used a hammer as the base to launch the car and ultimately won if not counting the actual teams.
-Elise K.
Team 2 building the car.
Team 2 measuring the rollers.
Team one launched their car.
Team 1 maping.
Team 2 maping.
We where maping with a stick and the thing we where maping was coverd so we could not see it. Team 2 was the first team that completed it first.
-Samantha S.
For dinner we had chicken nuggets and salad, it was pretty good. People were chilling and having a lot of fun. Some tables were chatting and others where playing poker. Overall everyone was having a great time. After dinner, we walked over to a hill to watch the sunset again. Again people were having a great time, chatting and taking picture of the sunset.
-Shawn C.
Delicious dinner, thank you Austin & Wayne!
Observing the sunset.
Beautiful sunset atop Mt. Lemmon.
Enjoying the sunset.
Parallellogram structure used for binoculars to see Venus.
We observed galaxys, stars, nebulae, contelations, and clusters. we used the telescopes, binoculars, and observetorys, to see all of those stuff.
-Kristian T.
Using the telescope to see galaxies, Venus, and Jupiter.
HAPPY!
44th BIRTHDAY!
WAYNE!
Day 2 - Friday June 5th
Day 2 - Friday June 5th
Written by Team 1: Cheyenne, Grace, Tyler, Lyra, Tyson, Kevin, Anushka, Alex M
(Grace and Anushka) Day 2 was so fun! We spent the day walking around the mountain together, and looking through different telescopes. We used a 24 inch, a 32 inch, and a 8 inch telescope to observe golbular clusters, stars, galaxies, and more. We also used binoculars to observe binary stars and star clusters. We also learned important techniques that could help us identify constellations, stars, and other objects. Looking through them was amazing, we saw so much!
Dr. McCarthy talking about the Minnesota 60"' telescope
Walking back to the Learning Center
Touring the 20" Phillips telescope.
(Alex) After lunch, we all made star charts to help us better observe the night sky. Depending on the month, day, and time, the star chart can accurately display what stars or constellations are able to be observed in the night sky. In the evening, I was even able to put it to use and find constellations like Leo, Draco, and Bootes.
(Lyra) We got so many useful trinkets! Notebooks, space books, Planosheres, red flashlights, and customized water bottles!
First to finish the Planosphere.
The Campers receive their journals and books.
Deciding on distance.
Figuring out scale.
Connecting scale models.
Casting eclipses.
(Tyson) After we learned about the distance relationship between the Earth (Tennis Ball) and the Moon (bead), we went outside and simulated casting eclipses using the real sun in our research groups, then after casing the eclipses we observed the shadow on the moon and the earth (solar and lunar eclipses).
(Kevin) We learned how to use binoculars properly. At night, we observed lots of stars, where we found out that many famous stars (ex. Polaris) are actually multi-star systems!
Binocular learning.
Binocular testing.
Checking in.
Sunset #2 from the ridge.
Catching sunset.
Observing.
Setting up the 24"
(Tyler) We learned the secrets of telescopes and observations. The deep sky objects were breathtaking.
(Cheyenne:) We went to a bunch of telescopes, and were SOOOO hyped! At the end of the day, it was getting kind of cold, but we were still alive! And then, a RAT came into one, and we were like TOTES MAGOTES, WHAT IS THAT?!? But besides that, it was cool!!
Running the 32" telescope.
Eyepiece observing.
Day 1 - Thursday June 4th
Day 1 - Thursday June 4th
Written by Team 4: Alexander Sanko, Kal-el Wallace, Luca Mitrinovic, Luke Rouse, Lucianna Soto, Emma McHugh, Liheng Liu, Jennings Hayder
(Luke Rouse) After we arrived and got settled in their rooms, we watched the sunset, which was absolutely beautiful, and spotted planets after! (Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter) Then, we went to go stargaze and listen to a couple of calming songs while doing so, some campers spotted meteors, and satellites which everyone enjoyed!
(Emma mchugh) On the first night we went out and watched the sunset, we took many photos and it was very nice, then we had dinner and went out to look constellations!
(Liheng Liu) Happy birthday to Liam and Lorelei!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2026 T-shirt design.
Empty or Crowded?
Orientation.
(Kal-El) Mr. McCarthy showed us the dorm rooms along with the bathrooms and showers and other rooms while we got settled and moved in. Many of us haven't experienced dorm rooms before so we were quite excited.
Drivng up to Mt. Lemmon.
Enjoying a Tamle dinner.
Taking the camp camera for a spin.
Chilling at the top of Mt. Lemmon.
Binocular training.
Sunset watch.
DA BOYS
Now that's a good sunset
(Lucianna): We learned about black holes, constellations, and galaxies like the milky way. We also got to visit some of the telescopes which was pretty interesting, we listened to calming music which was compared to the starry sky.
(Jennings): I really enjoyed meeting the new people that I can relate to unlike in my schools. That was the most stars I've ever seen in my life. The pointing out of the stars was perfect and now I can see the constellations even if the sky is crowded with stars.
(Liheng Liu) We received water bottles as a welcoming gift, before coloring our flashlights red to avoid it ruining our night vision when using it.
It wasn't just about the flashlights - it was about the warm hospitality that made conveyed the spirit of camp.
Getting red flashlights ready.
(Alexander Sanko) We were able to see Jupiter, Venus, and even Mercury as the sun went down, although Mercury didn't show up until much later.
(Luca) This is a photo that we took yesterday. It shows Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury very faintly. We also took a look at a bunch of constellations, and the laser pointers that they used were really cool.
Welcome to the BTC 2026 blog!
Welcome to the BTC 2026 blog!
Hello BTC campers and families! Welcome to your inside scoop for Astronomy Camp. Since cell service on Mount Lemmon can be spotty, Astronomy Camp campers and counselors will use this space for updates and plenty of pictures. Expect a new post each evening starting June 5th—with photos and text directly from the campers—all about what we got up to the day before.
We have a privacy setting enabled that means this site won't show up in the results of search engines like Google, but it is still a public website: anyone with the link can access it. Please feel free to share the link to this site (https://sites.google.com/astronomycamp.org/btc-2026/home) with family and friends, but we ask you not to post the site on, for example, public social media. Thank you for helping to protect the privacy of the campers!
If you have any questions about this blog, you can email one of the blog-ish counselors:
Eden (emcewen@astronomycamp.org)
Lorelei (lstclair@astronomycamp.org)
Lucy (lsteffes@astronomycamp.org)
For general information about Astronomy Camp, please visit our website at astronomycamp.info.
Clear skies and safe travels, and we'll see you on Thursday!
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