Astronomy Star Party. PA Pics

[MessiTom]

Hello,

I just got back from the "Black Forest Star Party" at Cherry Springs state park which is a dedicated astronomy field recognized by the International Dark Sky Association and sapposedly the darkest place on the coast. They sell out registration every year at 475 "tickets". This was my 5th year there.

Basically its a bunch of fellow astronomy/space/science nerds that camp with their scopes and stay up all night using them. There are guest speakers that give lectures during the day on Saturday along with a vendor tent. My favorite speaker this year was "Dr. Carey Lisse, head of NASA’s Comet ISON Observing Campaign" Speakers | Black Forest Star Party he also gave a bonus speech earlier on Saturday about comets throughout history.

So, some pics.

Only some of the observing field

pano by Messitom, on Flickr

My tent, scope (red/black) and a friends scope

_DSC8902 by Messitom, on Flickr

Waiting for the sun to set

_DSC8879 by Messitom, on Flickr

site by night. red light only after dark. See the pleadis?

_DSC8790 by Messitom, on Flickr

Cassiopeia, Andromeda region. See M31 galaxy and Caldwell 14 cluster's?

_DSC8787 by Messitom, on Flickr

A fellow astronomy, friend, and club president with his refractor

_DSC8786 by Messitom, on Flickr

My scope and the Sagittarius region milkyway

_DSC8784 by Messitom, on Flickr

The friday morning sun was a welcome site. It got 38* overnight

_DSC8793 by Messitom, on Flickr

Breakfast time! lol


One of the many vendors there was a meteorite seller. I thought the fact he had "new" stones from the Chelyabinsk meteor that fell in february WAS WAY COOL



I had to own a piece for myself (only 1 gram stone) to add to my meteorite collection


As usual this annual trip of mine was alot of fun. I usually take more photos of other scopes but I didnt do as much walking around this year.

Hope you like the pics....

 

[Shakenawake]

tried to rep you, can't yet. I freaking love the stars and great pics of them. very nice. I love camping during the new moon for this very reason

it's so easy to get caught up in life down here, it's nice to be reminded we aren't much more than a cosmic footnote

looks like my kind of party

 

[ped]

Yup, I couldn't rep you either Messi, gotta spread it around ect ect..

Great post, love the stars myself. Would love to do something like that.

 

[MessiTom]

Thanks guys. That's rite. We are all made of stars

 

[hwang21]

Very nice pics :beer: +1

 

[KapHn8d]

Looks like an awesome trip and a lot of fun. I live where there is a ton of light pollution, but each time I go visit my father in the country, I long to get into astronomy. I need to live a bit further from "urban sprawl" before I start down the path with any serious investment.

Thanks for sharing!!

c