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Amateur Observers' Society of New York, Inc.

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This year's starfest was held on May 30th-June 1st, 2008. AOS would like to thank our hosts, the Stone Tavern Farm, all of our donators, vendors, and everyone else who helped to make it a success.

 
 

This event will be once again hosted at the Stone Tavern Farm under the exceptionally dark skies of Delaware Co. NY. The Stone Tavern Farm is a 400 acre working farm located near the Catskill town of Roxbury, NY.
There's a large pavilion with enough seating for all the attendees during meals and talks. It overlooks one of the large grassy fields used for camping, included free with your registration, and observing. In addition, there is a spring fed swimming pond for you to relax in the warm weather.

A Gallery of the 2007 StarFest.
 
The brochure for the 2008 Starfest.

 

Daytime Activities!
This is a family friendly Star Party with activities for both adults and children planned throughout the day on Saturday.

Solar Observing!
The AOS will be bringing our H-Alpha Solar telescopes. Us, and other attendees will provide spectacular views of our closest star for all!

Famous Featured Speakers!
We have one of the top speakers in the astronomical community coming to give a presentation at the AOS StarFest:

•Sue French: Sky & Telescope contributing editor Sue French has gained a worldwide following with her "Deep-Sky Wonders" column. Her expert opinions and tips can also be found in her book, "Celestial Sampler: 60 Small-Scope Tours for Starlit Nights".

•Rob Teeter has designed and built some of the finest "Dobsonian" telescopes. He has promised to talk this year about a top secret telescope project that he has in the works. Look out Hubble!

•Lisa Beightol is currently an International Weather Forecaster for Accuweather.com, and also writes an Astronomy blog for them. We're hoping she is going to give us a perfect forecast!

FRIDAY SCHEDULE

Registration Open 11:00am - 8:00pm
Observing field Setup 11:00am - 8:00pm
Parking 11:00am - 8:00pm
AOS Store (all day)
Solar observing (all day)
Pizza Party 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Speaker Rob Teeter 8:00pm - 9:00pm
Raffle & Door prize drawing 9:00pm
Lights out for observing 9:30pm – 4:30am

Note; People arriving after 8pm are welcome to join us
but will NOT be allowed to set up on the main observing field.

SATURDAY SCHEDULE

Vendors and AOS store All day
Registration All day (till 8pm)
Solar observing All day

AOS Breakfast 9:00am - 11:00am
B&B Breakfast 8:00am - 11:00am*
Free Coffee & Tea 11:00am - 1:00am
Lunch 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Family program 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Speakers Russ Lederman and Doug Baum 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Speaker Lisa C Beightol 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Star-B-Que Dinner 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Speaker Sue French 7:30pm - 8:30pm
Main Raffle 8:30pm - 9:00pm
Lights out for observing 9:30pm - 4:30am

Note; During breakfast the Pavilion will be reserved for attendees
who have pre-paid. If you would like breakfast, but have not
pre-paid, please see a Starfest official. (* By Shift)

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

Coffee 9:00am - 11:00am
Breakdown 8:00am - 1:00pm
Please have all gear removed from the fields by 1:00pm

Donations provided by:


 
Grand Prize valued at $500 provided by Denkmeier Optical




A copy of Bang! The Complete History of the Universe






 

 

Vendors attending the 2008 StarFest:

 

More vendors and donations to come!!

AOS Starfest Rules

The following rules apply to the AOS Starfest. We hope everyone will cooperate so that we can guarantee "star party dark" skies to each observer.

Lighting Restrictions

Vehicle headlights, parking lights, tail and brake lights, and interior dome lights must remain extinguished. All RV, trailer, and camper lights must be extinguished, unless proper shielding is installed on all windows and doors to prevent light escaping. Coleman-type lanterns, campfires, grills, and outdoor lighting are NOT permitted. All flashlights must be equipped with red filters and should be pointed toward the ground at your feet. Dim RED lighting for reading starmaps and equipment illumination is allowed. Laser pointers and any other form of lighting is not permitted during dark out. The lighting ban will be in effect when the sky is more than 20% clear. If it is raining, the ban will be lifted. If it is cloudy with the potential for clearing or there are some holes in the clouds, please keep white lights to a minimum to protect other people's dark adaptation.

For Late Arrivals and Non- AOS Guests: The front gates of the Stone Tavern Farm will be closed at 9:00 PM to restrict traffic and minimize disturbance to observers. DO NOT plan to arrive at night. Park your car outside the gates if you plan to leave during the night.

Electricity Use Rules

Due to heavy demand in the telescope fields, we are limiting the use of electricity by providing top priority to telescope equipment. The following rules are in effect at all times, day or night: Only telescope drive equipment, anti-dew gear, drive correctors, LED bulbs, and 75 watt or less laptop computers may be connected to power outlets. PERSONAL COMPUTERS and appliances such as hot-plates, coffee pots, fans, heaters, and refrigerators are NOT to be connected to power outlets. Use LOW-HEAT setting on hair-dryers and avoid running yours when you hear another one being used nearby. These rules do not apply to personal battery electric connections. NOTE: Portable and RV electric generators will NOT be allowed.

Computer Rules

If you are going to bring a Computer to use at the Starfest during "blackout", the following rules apply: Laptop computers that use more than 75 watts are not to be connected to Starfest power cords. Display screens must be used at very low intensity. Display screens should be covered with red material or sufficiently shielded so light from them will not disturb neighboring observers. If you plan to operate your PC or viewer from inside your tent or trailer, install proper shielding to prevent light from escaping.

Observing Field Guidelines

There will be no tents (sleeping or storage) allowed in the main observing field. Tents are permitted in marked areas only. Approved areas for setting up tents will be marked. Do not leave cars parked on the observing fields, remove them as soon as you have loaded/unloaded. We want to maximize the amount of telescope space available, prevent tents from blocking the horizon for telescopes, and to limit the possibility of injuries caused by tripping on tent/awning support ropes and spikes.

Music

There is a ban on the playing of music through speakers from 10PM to 10 AM. You may continue your private enjoyment through headphones however. All other times, music through speakers must be kept at low volume, so as to not disturb nearby people. (Preference is for headphones at all times. Please use discretion.)

Alcohol & Pets...

Boistrous or loud/obnoxious behavior will not be permitted at the AOS Starfest, especially during observing conditions, or late at night. Drunken behavior is grounds for immediate expulsion from the event. Dogs are not permitted except with permission of the Starfest

Smoking

There is no smoking of cigarettes, cigars. or pipes on any of the observing fields after sunset. The upper (main) observing field, and the Pavilion field will be designated a Smoke-Free Zone . The camping areas are also a smoke free zone. There is a no-smoking policy for all buildings & bathrooms. If you smoke, please do so outside these areas. Please clean up your cigarette butts from the ground.

Now that you know the rules ... have fun!