Post by SpaceCommander on Jul 16, 2008 10:07:12 GMT -6
Hello all Chicago Astronomers,
The EPOCH 2008 Star Party (July 29 - August 3, 2008 http://www.starparty.info) is proceeding as planned, and Tom Pappalardo has made some significant investment in the property in the last two months. We are currently working on a much expanded electrical distribution on the site, and some additional roads have been put in. There are some things that will be different this year. St. Joseph's College students start moving in for the fall semester August 1, so we will not have dorm room housing available this year. We have contracted with the school once again for use of shower facilities - these worked out well last year, and are much nicer than anything we could bring in for the week. A 48 foot restroom trailer with nice male and female facilities has been contracted for the duration of the star party - no more porta potties! There was no food available on site last year - This year Bob and Jack's Pizza from Dyer Indiana will be out with us. They serve much more than just pizza, you can look at their menu at www.bobandjackspizza.com. Also, we will be catering in dinner on both Friday and Saturday, very good fresh local food. Vendors this year will be located in the community center in nearby Brook, Indiana. Getting all of our display telescopes clean after last year's star party proved to be a problem. Using the community center hall will resolve this, and provide a nice air conditioned place for tent campers to chill out at during the day. Our remote parking last year just didn't work out, so there will be a "come and go" parking area provided out on CR 100W. One very unique thing we will be doing this year is that a reciprocal agreement has been worked out with the Indiana Family Star Party, which is being held on July 31 to August 3 near Frankfort, Indiana. EPOCH will be operating a shuttle bus between the star parties, no charge. Registered participants at IFSP get a $10 discount on daily passes at EPOCH, and registered participants in EPOCH can get in to IFSP no charge. The EPOCH vendor area in Brook will be open to the public. (The community center is at 305 N. Railroad St.) Our keynote speaker, Jim Burr from JMI, has confirmed. He is rumored to be bringing a door prize - a Meade 8" Lightbridge with the new JMI TNT tracking system! Phillip Creed from Ohio will also be giving a very interesting presentation on Friday on the effects of air quality on observing, and how we can reasonably expect this to IMPROVE in the future. I will be giving away shopping sprees again this year, for a total of $2000.00, with the grand prize being one for $1000.00. All registered participants in EPOCH 2008 are eligible, and as was the case last year, winner need not be present. Discounted early registration has ended, so registration fees are now $125.00 per adult for the entire star party, or $30 per day per adult. A day is considered from 10am to 10am the following day. You can register at the gate 10am to 6pm Tuesday through Sunday. Some people have expressed interest in coming early, during the weekend of July 25 - July 28. You can do this, please contact Tom Pappalardo at 219-670-1510. There is no charge, however the only services available on these dates is electricity - no showers or restrooms available. These will probably be great observing nights - after all, almost every star party I've ever been to I was told "the weather last weekend was awesome!". We didn't advertise it last year, but we did have wi-fi available on the observing field, and we will have it again this year. No band has been engaged for this year, but if we get lousy weather we will have an open mic night. Another new thing for this year will be the pool party Thursday afternoon at the Beaver Township Pool in Morocco. EPOCH 2007 was a great star party, I expect EPOCH 2008 to be even better. For more information, see www.starparty.info See You there!
Chris Brownewell
219-322-8701
The EPOCH 2008 Star Party (July 29 - August 3, 2008 http://www.starparty.info) is proceeding as planned, and Tom Pappalardo has made some significant investment in the property in the last two months. We are currently working on a much expanded electrical distribution on the site, and some additional roads have been put in. There are some things that will be different this year. St. Joseph's College students start moving in for the fall semester August 1, so we will not have dorm room housing available this year. We have contracted with the school once again for use of shower facilities - these worked out well last year, and are much nicer than anything we could bring in for the week. A 48 foot restroom trailer with nice male and female facilities has been contracted for the duration of the star party - no more porta potties! There was no food available on site last year - This year Bob and Jack's Pizza from Dyer Indiana will be out with us. They serve much more than just pizza, you can look at their menu at www.bobandjackspizza.com. Also, we will be catering in dinner on both Friday and Saturday, very good fresh local food. Vendors this year will be located in the community center in nearby Brook, Indiana. Getting all of our display telescopes clean after last year's star party proved to be a problem. Using the community center hall will resolve this, and provide a nice air conditioned place for tent campers to chill out at during the day. Our remote parking last year just didn't work out, so there will be a "come and go" parking area provided out on CR 100W. One very unique thing we will be doing this year is that a reciprocal agreement has been worked out with the Indiana Family Star Party, which is being held on July 31 to August 3 near Frankfort, Indiana. EPOCH will be operating a shuttle bus between the star parties, no charge. Registered participants at IFSP get a $10 discount on daily passes at EPOCH, and registered participants in EPOCH can get in to IFSP no charge. The EPOCH vendor area in Brook will be open to the public. (The community center is at 305 N. Railroad St.) Our keynote speaker, Jim Burr from JMI, has confirmed. He is rumored to be bringing a door prize - a Meade 8" Lightbridge with the new JMI TNT tracking system! Phillip Creed from Ohio will also be giving a very interesting presentation on Friday on the effects of air quality on observing, and how we can reasonably expect this to IMPROVE in the future. I will be giving away shopping sprees again this year, for a total of $2000.00, with the grand prize being one for $1000.00. All registered participants in EPOCH 2008 are eligible, and as was the case last year, winner need not be present. Discounted early registration has ended, so registration fees are now $125.00 per adult for the entire star party, or $30 per day per adult. A day is considered from 10am to 10am the following day. You can register at the gate 10am to 6pm Tuesday through Sunday. Some people have expressed interest in coming early, during the weekend of July 25 - July 28. You can do this, please contact Tom Pappalardo at 219-670-1510. There is no charge, however the only services available on these dates is electricity - no showers or restrooms available. These will probably be great observing nights - after all, almost every star party I've ever been to I was told "the weather last weekend was awesome!". We didn't advertise it last year, but we did have wi-fi available on the observing field, and we will have it again this year. No band has been engaged for this year, but if we get lousy weather we will have an open mic night. Another new thing for this year will be the pool party Thursday afternoon at the Beaver Township Pool in Morocco. EPOCH 2007 was a great star party, I expect EPOCH 2008 to be even better. For more information, see www.starparty.info See You there!
Chris Brownewell
219-322-8701
