STARFEST '95
STARFEST '95 PROGRAM
The North York Astronomical Association invites all astronomers to attend its fourteenth annual astronomy convention. The weekend includes observing sessions, formal and informal slide presentations, workshops and commercial exhibits. Observers are invited to bring their telescopes and astronomical images and share their observing experiences.
Thursday, August 24
Evening Activities
7:00 Gate Registration Opens
9:00 Observing Session Begins
10:00 Gate Registration Closes
Friday, August 25
9:00 Gate Registration Opens
Morning Activities
10:00 Rec Hall Observing Basics Workshop Starts
-Terence Dickinson
10:00 Main Tent CCD Imaging Workshop
Selecting The Right CCD Camera
-Tom Bisque, Mike Palermiti
11:00 Science With A CCD Camera
-Doug Welch
12:00 LUNCH
Afternoon Activities
1:30 Rec Hall Observing Basics Workshop (cont'd)
Main Tent CCD Imaging Workshop
1:30 Tips And Pitfalls On Planetary Imaging With CCD's
-Don Parker
2:30 Astrometry with CCD's
-Doug George
Putting the Cookbook CCD To Work
-Dave Petherick
Outputting CCD Images
-Doug Clapp
The Ultimate CCD Guide Scope
-Peter Ceravolo
NYAA Image BBS
-Rick McWatters
Evening Activities
7:00 Main Tent ASTRO-RAP
9:00 Observing Session Begins
Rec Hall Red Light Café Opens
West of
Main Tent The Sky Tour
12:00 Main Tent Remote Control Observing Demonstration
-Tom Bisque, Mike Palermiti
12:00 Gate Registration and Gate Close
Saturday, August 26
9:00 Gate Gate and Registration Opens
Morning Activities
10:00 Main Tent Super Nova Scotia
-Paul Gray, Dave Lane
10:00 Small Tent Children's Program Ages 3 - 5*
Earth, Moon and Sun
-Ken Davy
10:30 Children's Program Ages 6 - 8*
Meteorites and Craters
-Kirsten Vanstone, Jenny Krestow
11:00 Main Tent Astro-Imaging 2000
-Tom Bisque, Mike Palermiti
Rec Hall Commercial Exhibits Open
11:10 Small Tent Children's Program Ages 9 and up**
Planets and Comets
-Kirsten Vanstone, Jenny Krestow
11:30 Main Tent Penetrating The Fog: Two New Galaxies Behind The Milky Way
-Marshall McCall
12:00 LUNCH
Afternoon Activities
1:30 Small Tent Optical Testing
1:30 Main Tent The Impact Of New Technology on Amateur Astronomy
-Don Parker
2:15 To Boldly Go Where No Child Has Gone Before:
Some Thoughts About Astronomy Education
-David Levy
3:00 A Boy And A Telescope: A Story
-Peter Jedicke
Optical Testing Closes
3:30 Small Tent Swap Table Opens
5:00 Main Tent Swap Table Closes
Commercial Exhibits Close
DINNER
Evening Activities
7:00 Main Tent Door Prize Draws
7:30 Measuring The Size And Age of the Universe
With The Hubble Space Telescope
-Wendy Freedman
9:00 Observing Session Begins
Registration Closes
Rec Hall Red Light Café Opens
West of
Main Tent The Sky Tour
11:00 Main Tent Remote Control Observing Demonstration
12:00 Gate Gate Closes
* Parent or Guardian attendance mandatory.
**Parent or Guardian attendance recommended.
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WHAT'S NEW AT STARFEST '95?
A FULL TWO DAY PROGRAM!!!
OBSERVING BASICS WORKSHOP If you are new to the hobby and would like to learn more about how to observe the night sky, then this workshop is for you. The workshop will be conducted by Terence Dickinson on Friday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm in the recreation hall. Topics covered will include what is visible in the night sky, how to use star charts to find your way around the sky, the use and utility of binoculars in astronomy, telescope fundamentals, eyepieces, and basic astrophotography.
KIDFEST '95 This year there will be special programs aimed at giving children who attend STARFEST an opportunity to learn a little more about "what's up there." The program will be held on Saturday, August 26, in the small tent. The following activities are planned:
10:00 - 10:20 Ages 3,4,5*
Earth, Moon and Sun. A talk about the Earth, Moon and Sun. After the talk the children will use construction paper, glue, and scissors to construct the sky.
10:30 - 11:00 Ages 6,7,8*
Meteorites and Craters. After a short talk about meteorites and how craters are formed, the children will simulate meteorite impacts by throwing rocks into a flour-filled container.
11:10 - 12:00 Ages 9 & up**
Planets and Comets. A talk about the planets and their relative distances and sizes. After the talk the children will use a "Planet Rope" and relative size objects to compare planets and their distances. This will be followed by a talk on comets and the construction of comets using dry ice.
*Parent or Guardian participation mandatory.
**Parent or Guardian participation recommended.
OPTICAL QUALITY TESTING The Telescope Makers Association will be conducting an optical quality testing service on Saturday on a first come first served basis from 1:30 - 3:00 in the small tent. They will be using an optical flat and autocollimation Ronchi test. They will be able to test telescopes up to 11 inches.
GRIND-A-THON The Telescope Makers Association will make a 6" telescope during the conference. The completed telescope will be raffled during the door prize draw on Saturday. To be eligible to win you must help grind the mirror for a minimum of 10 minutes. The Grind-a-thon will be held by the picnic shelter.
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SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
ELECTRONIC IMAGING WORKSHOP This all day workshop gives STARFEST participants an opportunity to get in-depth information about the latest developments in this rapidly changing technology, from the people who are on the cutting edge. Workshop speakers include Don Parker, Tom Bisque, and Mike Palermiti from Software Bisque, Doug Welch. The workshop will be held on Friday, August 25, from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm.
THE SKY TOUR If you are new to the hobby and feel like you are "lost in space" the Sky Tour may help you. Between 9:00 PM and midnight on Saturday, Tony Ward and other experienced observers will give a tour of the night sky using various types of telescopes. The Sky Tour will be conducted west of the main tent.
RED LIGHT CAFÉ The Red Light Café's friendly atmosphere provides a place to get warmed up and chat with friends over a cup of coffee and donuts. The Café, located on the second floor of the recreation hall, will be open all night on Friday and Saturday. Donuts, coffee and other hot beverages will be available on a pay as you go basis. The hall has a piano, so bring your guitar or other musical instruments and join us for a homespun sing along.
SWAP TABLE Participants will have the opportunity to buy, sell or trade astronomical articles. This table is not for commercial sales. Individuals will be responsible for their own property at the table. Please note that the swap table will be held in the small tent this year.
ASTRO-RAP On Friday night you are invited to join us in the tent to rap about astrophotography and astronomy in general. Bring your slides or CCD images and share your experiences with others.
OBSERVING SESSIONS Bring your telescope and binoculars, and join us for our evening observing sessions.
COMMERCIAL EXHIBITS Astronomical dealers will be on hand to show and demonstrate all the latest from the world of astronomy. If there is something that you've been thinking of adding to your observing equipment and want to examine or possibly test under actual observing conditions, this is your golden opportunity. Commercial displays are located in the recreation hall located west of the tent and at select campsites directly north of the tent.
Last updated: Wednesday, October 18, 1995.
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