A Word from the Black Forest Star Party

[Dave Mitsky]

Well, folks, things are not looking too good here at Cherry Springs. Last night a sucker hole opened up for a bit early in the night and we were able to observe a few of the showcase objects such as M11, M13, M27, V Aquilae, and T Lyrae. All the while there were brilliant flashes of lightning off to the north and northwest.

Since I had booked a motel room in "nearby" Coudersport, I left when the hole closed and the storm grew closer. As I was watching Stargate Atlantis, a tornado warning for neighboring McKean County flashed on the tube.

The forecast for tonight is not promising. As a matter of fact, as I drove to the Coudersport library to post this message a severe thunderstorm and possible tornado warning was issued on the radio.

What a shame it is to have the Black Forest Star Party suffer a similar fate as the Cherry Springs Star Party did two months ago.

http://www.bfsp.org/starparty/index.cfm?CFID=1134928&CFTOKEN=90820592

http://www.astrohbg.org/s4/

http://www.upstateastro.org/stars/cssp.html

Dave Mitsky

[Dave Mitsky]

IIRC, this was the worst Black Forest Star Party ever in terms of observing. During the official duration of the star party, there was about half an hour of observing time and under less than ideal conditions at that. I ended up regretting my decision not to leave for the park on Thursday, since there were a few hours of clear sky early that night.

Most people packed up and left on Saturday evening after Sky & Telescope columnist Sue French's keynote talk and the raffle prize drawing were finished. Needless to say, there was no observing at all on Saturday night. There was no severe storm at least but a steady rain fell on Sunday morning as I drove home.

However, I had a surprisingly good time at the 2006 BFSP nevertheless. I spent time with some good people I see only a few times a year at most and being in Potter County is always a relaxing experience for me. I also won two raffle prizes this year, a book (_Astronomy Hacks_) and a 4mm Burgess Optical/TMB Planetary eyepiece, which lessened the sting of the poor weather a wee bit.

Dave Mitsky

[George]

Winning two door prizes ain't bad. :)

Would you happen to know of any partys in southern PA or OH this Friday? I'll be in Marietta, OH.

[Dave Mitsky]

Star parties are not generally held during a First Quarter Moon weekend. It's possible that a local club, planetarium, or observatory may have a public observing session scheduled, however.

Dave Mitsky

[George]

Thanks.

[JohnW]

Star parties are not generally held during a First Quarter Moon weekend. It's possible that a local club, planetarium, or observatory may have a public observing session scheduled, however.

Dave Mitsky
Check with your local club. Mine usually has public observing nights on the weekends closest to the first-quarter moon. That way, if conditions are bad, at least there's a fighting chance of finding something in the sky to look at.

[bigbluestar]

I attended Starfest this weekend and had the same results. It was my first time there and had alot of fun but absolutly no observing time. I can not tell you how much I had appeture sickness from all the really big telescopes that were begging to be used. Alas they were there for display perposes only. I had great fun though and met alot of great people. Including one very nice gentleman who gave me an eyepiece as all I had was a crappy out of the box one. Needless to say I will never forget the weekend and I hope to return next year.

[Dave Mitsky]

Check with your local club. Mine usually has public observing nights on the weekends closest to the first-quarter moon. That way, if conditions are bad, at least there's a fighting chance of finding something in the sky to look at.

I'm curious why you quoted my response, since what I said was that it was possible that a club in the area that George is going to in Ohio and, by the way, which won't be local to him since he's from Texas, might possibly have a public observing session on the upcoming First Quarter Moon weekend.

Regional and national star parties are almost always held on a weekend close to the New Moon, or the dark of the Moon, if you prefer that term.

Dave Mitsky

[JohnW]

I'm curious why you quoted my response, since what I said was that it was possible that a club in the area that George is going to in Ohio and, by the way, which won't be local to him since he's from Texas, might possibly have a public observing session on the upcoming First Quarter Moon weekend.

Regional and national star parties are almost always held on a weekend close to the New Moon, or the dark of the Moon, if you prefer that term.

Dave Mitsky
Dave, I misread the responses - I didn't notice that George is based in Texas, not Ohio. Sorry for the confusion.

[Dave Mitsky]

Here are some shots from this year's Black Forest Star Party. The first is of the northern end of the Cherry Springs State Park Astronomy Field, the second photo shows me on the field on Saturday afternoon, and the third portrays Sue French as she gave the keynote talk.

Dave Mitsky

[George]

Nice to see the spirit was willing, though the weather wasn't accomodating.

There is an old saying with asphalt contractors regarding weather, "don't get scared out, get rained out". :)

[I withdraw my question regarding events in Ohio, it hasn't stopped raining since breafast. ]