June and July Star Parties
Published on Jun 9, 2009 at 8:28 pm.
1 Comment.
Filed under observing.
For many people, summer is a time to get out and do things. Many amateur astronomers like to observe in the winter because the skies are often clearer, darker, and the nights are longer (permitting more observing and observing starting earlier). Serious amateur astronomers know how to dress for cold weather. However, for most other people, the summer months are when they think about doing such things. So, this summer, I am helping the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife host two star parties at Dinosaur Valley State Park. For those of you who are not familiar with the term, a “star party” is a night of observing the sky. I typically start the event with a public lecture once it gets dark enough to see the projector. Often I have friends who are amateur astronomers come with their telescopes. I bring either a couple of my telescopes or some of the college’s telescopes. By the time I finish talking, it is dark enough to see things in the sky, so we observe for a while. The event is free (other than the standard park admission) and open to everyone.
The dates for the star parties this summer are June 27, 2009, and July 18, 2009. Sunset occurs about 8:42pm on June 27 and 8:37pm on July 18. So, I’ll be starting talking soon thereafter. It won’t be dark enough to do much viewing until after 9pm both nights. Usually my pre-observing talks say a bit about what we will be observing, and a bit about some other topic. The July 18 star party will be right before the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the Moon, so naturally that will be focus of that talk. So, if you are in this part of Texas on those nights, think about dropping by.
-Astroprof
Space Geek : ) on June 24, 2009 at 12:56 pm: 1
I would have loved to join you for this. It sounds like an amazing evening. Maybe you’ll be able to put one of these star parties together for the DC area someday?