Greetings,

The Astronomical Society of Harrisburg is pleased to announce that as part of it's 50th Anniversary Year that it will be hosting it's 5th Annual Star Party at Cherry Springs State Park on June 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of 2005. The event will be dubbed fittingly the Cherry Springs Star Party. This will be our first attempt at a "full blown" Star Party at Cherry Springs and our membership is excited about this endeavor!

ASH completed a "feasibility" study into holding an event at Cherry Springs over the past few months and received positive response from both DCNR, Astronomy Vendors, as well as Cherry Springs Regulars and Local Amateurs. The response overwhelmingly showed us that there was in interest in seeing ASH pursue our Star Party at Cherry Springs. While there are dark areas in the Harrisburg Area, none of them quite compare to Cherry Springs. Why we've found many places comparable that our members frequent monthly, none of them would be able to hold a Star Party crowd, nor do they feature the amenities Cherry Springs does. So it was decided, it's time to go where its dark and to quit messing around with sites in our backyard that aren't conducive to a star party!

May's Munchables is on board and will be providing food at the Star Party Thursday Evening through Sunday Morning. As evidenced in our past star parties we expect to have an extensive list of vendors and door prizes and a slate of speakers that will blow you away!

The Astronomical Society of Harrisburg has a history of hosting quality Star Parties as is evidenced in the past by our S4 Star Party which was most recently held in July of 2004 at Pine Grove Furnace State Park near Newville, PA. ASH also has a history of being involved with and promoting Cherry Springs State Park. Many of our members frequent the State Park and we were one of the early groups to begin traveling to Cherry Springs. For a few years ASH even hosted a "No Frills" Star Party at Cherry Springs State Park in the Spring that you might have heard about.

The event will feature observing on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday Nights.

Most of the "normal" Star Party Activities (Speakers, Vendors, etc.) will be occurring on Friday and Saturday.

Registration will strictly be limited to 500 Registrations, which will most likely be filled via Pre-Registration.

Registrations will most likely fill quickly. Registration for the Star Party will open up at: www.cherrysprings.org by January 1, 2005.

Our website has some initial information on it now and the subpages contain info on our 2004 star party which will give you an idea of the caliber star party ASH provides. Feel free to visit: www.cherrysprings.org for more information and make sure to bookmark it! The whole site will be operational with 2005 information by January 1, 2005.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. If you know of a vendor that would be interested in signing up to come to the Cherry Springs Star Party or of a vendor who would be interested in donating a door prize, please let me know about them, or have them e-mail president@astrohbg.org .

ASH will be conducting a mailing to national vendors shortly, but feel free to contact us now to get on the list!

Regards,
Ted A. Nichols II
President - ASH
www.astrohbg.org
Society Founded in 1955!