Welcome!
The southern tier of Virginia offers some of the best observing skies along the Atlantic coast. Come join us at a star party at Staunton River State Park near Scottsburg, Virginia on March 21-25, 2012. The party is limited to the first 150 people who register, so click on the link above and register soon!
We hope we have done our planning well, and picked the time because you will be able to see four of the major planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) as well as trying your abilities at a Messier Marathon. The temperatures should be cool, but we wanted to hold this star party before the pollen season starts (thanks to the lack of winter this year, we might have missed this target). We will have a swap table where you can trade items as well as vendors and presentations to amuse you during the daylight hours.
Registration for the spring star party is now closed ... but look for information about the fall star party soon!
Location
Directions from: Durham | Richmond | Greensboro
- Take exit 176B on I-85 in Durham and turn north on US-501 (Duke Street)
- Drive north to Roxboro, then turn left onto US-501/N Main St in north Roxboro
- Cross the state line into Virginia
- As you are about to enter South Boston, turn right onto US-58/Bill Tuck Hwy
- Turn left at stoplight onto US-360 north
- Drive 8.3 miles, and turn right onto VA-344/Scottsburg Rd
- Drive 9.9 miles through Scottsburg and arrive at Staunton River State Park
- Continue in the park to the Visitor's Center
- Take US-360 south out of Richmond
- Drive for around 120 miles until just before South Boston
- Turn left onto VA-344/Scottsburg Rd
- Drive 9.9 miles through Scottsburg and arrive at Staunton River State Park
- Continue in the park to the Visitor's Center
- Take US-29N out of Greensboro
- At the VA/NC border, take the Danville Expy east toward South Boston
- In 7.3 miles, merge onto US-360/US-58 E toward South Boston
- Drive 28.8 miles, and then after entering South Boston, turn left following US-360 E
- Drive 8.3 miles, and turn right onto VA-344/Scottsburg Rd
- Drive 9.9 miles through Scottsburg and arrive at Staunton River State Park
- Continue in the park to the Visitor's Center
The star party will be held at Staunton River State Park in Halifax County, Virginia near Scottsburg and about 30 miles east of South Boston, Virginia. GPS coordinates are 36° 41' 46" N latitude and 78° 41' 06.9" W longitude. The area is in a blue area on light pollution maps.
Once you arrive at the park, follow the main road to the visitor center. The star party will be held on the field directly adjacent to the visitor center. Entrance to the field will be via the visitor center roads. Then follow the painted lines on the field.
Amenities
Attendees will be able to setup and camp near their equipment in either tents or RVs on the main field (although RVs on the observing field will not have hookups). You may also park next to your campsite, although (obviously) you will not be able to leave during the night, so plan accordingly. Staunton River State Park also offers a number of cabins and campsites with hookup, neither of which is far from the observing field. To reserve a park campsite or cabin, please visit the park's reservation page.
Electrical power will be provided for astronomy equipment on a first-come, first-serve basis, and will be limited to only certain parts of the observing field. Charging batteries, etc. will be possible for everyone.
Internet connectivity will be provided by AstroGizmos, a vendor. Bandwidth will not be sufficient for major upload or download of images and videos but will be fine for checking e-mail and weather conditions. We will also have a live feed of weather conditions in the visitor center.
Toilet and shower facilities are provided by the park, including porta-potties on the observing field as well as shower facilities in the pool house. The visitor center also has a store that provides items you might have forgotten to bring, as well as a wonderful meeting room where we will hold our presentations.
For those of you who wish to entertain yourselves during the day, the park offers hiking trails (although some are closed because of tornado damage) and quite an extensive area for boating on the adjacent lakes. Birdwatching is also great at the far east end of the park. And fishing is definitely one of the main attractions of the park. If you have an NC fishing license, you can fish in the park without getting a Virginia license. And if you need a VA license, you can purchase on in the park's visitor center, right next to the observing field!
Food will be provided by the park but the cost is not included in the star party registration fee. Certain items will be available throughout the night for observers. Here is the proposed menu:
| Chicken Nuggets | $2.25 |
| Corn Dog | $1.50 |
| Hot Dog | $1.50 |
| Cheese Pizza | $2.25/slice, $11.00/whole |
| Pepperoni Pizza | $2.50/slice, $12.00/whole |
| Supreme Pizza | $2.75/slice, $13.00/whole |
| French Fries | $1.50 |
| BBQ Sandwich | $2.75 |
| BBQ Plate (BBQ, slaw, bread, fries) | $5.75 |
| Botted Drinks/Water | $1.75 |
| Coffee | $1.25 or $1.50 to fill your mug |
| Hot Chocolate | $1.00 |
| Waffles with Bacon or Sausage | $4.00 |
| Fresh Fruit | market price |
Various other bottled drinks, as well as chips, crackers, candy, and pastries will also be available. Pricing for those items are still being determined.
Programs
Introduction to Astro Spectroscopy
Matt Lochansky
Spectroscopy is used in Astronomy for many purposes including discovering a star's chemical composition, environment, temperature, and even velocity and motion. While measurements are being made across different ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum, using visible light allows relatively inexpensive cameras and equipment to contribute scientifically or just enjoy the hobby.
Low resolution slitless spectroscopy using a diffraction grating alows measurements of stars without expensive specialized equipment. With an 8" SCT and mono video camera with up to 8 second integration objects down to at least mag +10 can be measured. Observing hydrogen balmer lines, identification and categorization of stars including wolf-rayet stars, shell stars, and even quasars and more are possible via driveway astronomy. The presentation will explain basic theory, equipment, data processing, and show some of the interesting objects in our sky.
Matt Lochansky an analytical chemist specializing in small molecule mass spectrometry of pharmaceuticals by day and amateur astronomer on clear nights. Matt has been learning the night sky for about 4 years and recently started making low resolution stellar spectroscopy measurements.
Overlooked Objects and Secrets of Eyepiece Selection
Jim Pressley
The dark skies of Staunton River State Parkcan provide a great opportunity to observe both challenging and familiar objects under excellent conditions. This presentation will feature a short list of astronomical "old friends", as well as a few objects that even experienced observers may sometimes overlook. These objects will be visible at the star party in March and should be excellent targets for the public outreach activities on Saturday night. Jim will explain why these objects were selected for a careful first look, or an even more careful second look. Participants are invited to suggest some of their own favorite objects.
We know from experience that observing quality is affected by many variables. In informal discussion, we'll explore how the visual impact of certain objects may be improved by careful eyepiece selection. Join us in observing some fun objects and participate in an exchange exploring how a given eyepiece might visually enhance an object. Among the targets to be considered are the Tau Cluster (NGC2362 and Caldwell 64), the Needle Galaxy (NGC4565 and Caldwell 38), Caroline's Rose (NGC7789), Hind's Crimson Star, Thor's Helmet (NGC2359), and even a few Messier objects.
Jim Pressley served as director of The Crafts Center and an arts administrator at NC State University for almost 40 years. Jim taught classes in astronomical mirror making and telescope building along with Dr. Gary Held and Phyllis Lang (Knightware). Together, they assisted in the production of over 200 telescopes ranging in size from 6 to 12.5 inches and focal ratios from f/4 to f/11. Jim has participated in star parties from Stellafane (43rd latitude) to the Winter Star Party (24th latitude). He currently enjoys comparing eyepiece types and designs, hoping to learn first hand which are best suited for a variety of observing conditions and targets. A long time mirror maker. telescope builder, and visual observer, Jim prefers targets bright enough to be seen (and enjoyed) in moderately-sized telescopes.
From Herschel to Hubble - Man Discovers the Galaxies
Dr. Jerry Watson
The construction of the heavens
(the size and shape of the 'universe') had been in the realm
of philosophical speculation for millennia. William Herschel in the 1770’s was the first to use telescopic
observation to determine the shape of, and to estimate the size of, the observable stellar system. Numerous
irresolvable nebulae strewn over the sky presented a puzzle, however. Were they nearby objects contained
within our galaxy, or were they very distant, independent “island universes” comparable to ours? The astronomical
community was almost evenly split in opinion. The resolution of this intriguing problem was to occupy the
research efforts of some of astronomy’s best observers and largest telescopes for the next 150 years. Today’s
presentation will review the history of this early cosmology up to the 1930s, when the work of Edwin Hubble and
others at last revealed the structure of our Milky Way system and the true nature of galaxies.
Dr. Gerald (Jerry) Watson is a retired Associate Professor of Meteorology at North Carolina State University. He has been an amateur astronomer for some 60 years, and is currently a member of the Raleigh Astronomy Club, in which he has served as an officer on several occasions over the past 30 years. Today’s talk is based on Jerry’s interest in the history of Astronomy.
AVIATR: Airplane Mission to Titan
Dr. Mike Malaska
Beneath the thick haze layers of Saturn's moon Titan is one of the most Earthlike landscapes in the solar system. But at a frigid temperature of 95 K, the materials are totally different from those on Earth. On Titan, hydrocarbon and nitrogen rains wash over the surface of organic molecules and create channels, lakes, and playas. The instruments on board the Cassini spacecraft have given us the first hints of this fascinating world, but more detailed investigation is needed to tease out the complex processes. The AVIATR misson concept is a nuclear-powered unmanned aerial vehicle that would spend a nominal 1-year mission flying through Titan's thick atmosphere imaging the terrain in detail. The airplane would have the capability of flying to different selected targets to image features in high resolution and in stereo. Instrumentation on the aircraft would also be able to measure surface IR spectra, RADAR altimetry, atmospheric structure, and weather phenomena. AVIATR could contribute significantly to Titan science either as a stand-alone misson or as part of a sustained Titan Exploration Program. From these studies, we would be able to compare and contrast the geology of Titan with processes here on Earth to learn how planets work.
Mike Malaska is a PhD organic chemist who has 20 years of experience in drug discovery who has also contrinuted to the field of planetary science. For the past several years Mike has been collaborating with several members of the Cassini RADAR team studying Saturn's giant moon Titan. His research involves characterizing the Sikun Labyrinth canyonland region and hydrocarbon channels located near Titan's south pole. He is also a volunteer artist for the AVIATR Titan Airplane misson proposal. His scientific and artistic works have been presented at several planetary science conferences.
Deep-Sky Planner 5 User's Workshop
Phyllis Lang
Author Phyllis Lang will answer questions and demonstrate some tips for users of Deep-Sky Planner 5 in this hour long, hands-on workshop. Users are encouraged to bring their questions (and laptops) so that we can learn how to achieve best results in planning and logging your observations.
Phyllis Lang is the author of Deep-Sky Planner, currently in its 18th year of publication. She has been observing with telescopes since 1985, and taught telescope mirror making for 17 years at NC State University. Lately, she enjoys binocular observing with Fujinon 16x70s mounted on a T&T Sidesaddle mount, and hunting for planetary nebulae and other deep-sky objects with her 8" and 14.5" telescopes. She enjoys playing electric and acoustic guitars, swimming, genealogy and history.
Eyepiece Shootout
Jim Pressley
Join Jim Pressley and other attendees on Friday afternoon for an informal discussion about eyepieces and a hands-on comparison of different types of eyepieces on terrestrial targets. Weather conditions will determine demo location. Check for times and place on the observing field Friday afternoon.
Do you need a coma corrector? Coma will be demonstrated using a fast scope (f/3.9) and corrected with a Paracorr. See for yourself! Do you need more eyepieces? Compare expensive and vintage eyepieces to see if they actually deliver a better view. Sometimes the difference can be very subtle. But most importantly, add your opinion and experience to the discussion!
Jim Pressley served as director of The Crafts Center and an arts administrator at NC State University for almost 40 years. Jim taught classes in astronomical mirror making and telescope building along with Dr. Gary Held and Phyllis Lang (Knightware). Together, they assisted in the production of over 200 telescopes ranging in size from 6 to 12.5 inches and focal ratios from f/4 to f/11. Jim has participated in star parties from Stellafane (43rd latitude) to the Winter Star Party (24th latitude). He currently enjoys comparing eyepiece types and designs, hoping to learn first hand which are best suited for a variety of observing conditions and targets. A long time mirror maker. telescope builder, and visual observer, Jim prefers targets bright enough to be seen (and enjoyed) in moderately-sized telescopes.
Vendors
The Staunton River Star Party welcomes the following vendors ...
|
Knightware Maker of Deep-Sky Planner and SQM Reader Pro |
|
Southeastern Camera Providers of camera and telescope equipment and accessories |
|
AstroGizmos Providers of astronomy accessories that are ... beyond the ordinary! AstroGizmos will also provide Internet connectivity for the star party. |
The Staunton River Star Party would like to thank the following sponsors for their support:
Rules
- Since we will be guests of Stauton River State Park, all rules and regulations applicable to general visitors to the park will apply to us as well. Please review these rules at this website.
- Please do not throw trash on the ground. Bagged trash can be brought to the designated area near the visitor center where it will be removed daily by park personnel. Recycleable trash should be put in the proper containers.
- No ground fires are permitted. Charcoal fires are also prohibited, since smoke can be damaging to optical equipment on the observing field.
- Alcohol and illicit drugs are prohibited on the observing field (too much expensive equipment). Please refer to park regulations concerning the use of alcohol in other areas (cabins and campsites).
- Pets are not permitted to roam. Pet owners are responsible to see that their pets do not disturb other attendees, and are responsible for damage that occurs to equipment that is caused by their pets. In general, pets should be confined to their owner's camping area. Owners are asked to clean up after their pets promptly.
- Red lights are to be exclusively used after sunset on the observing field. Please be conscientious and not shine headlamps directly in the eyes of other attendees. Green lasers will be permitted only on Saturday night on the observing field from sunset until 10 PM, but are prohibited all other times, to help our astrophotographers.
- You may park near your tent/equipment, but if you need to leave between sunset and sunrise, please park in the parking lot near the pool complex. All visitors that need to leave during the "dark time" should also park in this parking lot.
- Setup in the observing field is on a first come, first served basis. RVs should park in the designated areas for RVs on the edge of the observing field.
- Generator use is prohibited after sunset. Electricity is provided to as much of the observing field as possible, and should be used between sunset and sunrise for only astronomical purposes (powering telescope mounts, laptop computers, camera, etc.). A charging area behind the visitor center will be provided to charge batteries.
Attendees who insist on violating the rules will be required to leave the event and will forfeit the remainder of their registration fee. Determination of who is violating the rules will be made by CHAOS club officers and state park rangers.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will there be Internet connectivity?
- Yes! AstroGizmos will be providing Internet connectivity, and since everyone on the field will be sharing the connection we ask that you do not upload or download large files. That way, everyone will have sufficient bandwidth where everyone can check e-mail or weather and observing conditions. Note also that some smartphones will have 3G data capability on the observing field (Verizon has been verified).
- When is the earliest I can check in on Wednesday?
- The field will open for setup at noon on March 21st.
- Will coffee be provided during the night?
- Yes! In addition, certain food items will be available to satisfy hunger pangs while you are observing.
- Are trailers allowed on the observing field?
- Yes ... and there is no extra charge.
If you have any questions that are not covered in this list, please feel free to use the Feedback link in the menu above to send us a question by e-mail.