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Hello to all,
We will soon be starting the 2003 season for the Star Walk and Sun Fun programs at Copper Breaks State Park near Quanah, Texas. Richard Brown, David and Jeri Turner, and I all welcome and appreciate your interest and participation. There will be some organizational changes we hope all will applaud and there will be additional instruments to pique the interest of all Sky Guides.
The Saturday dates for the Star Walk and Sun Fun are April 12, May 24, June 21, July 19, August 23, September 27, and October 18. Please remember that even if the weather does not allow for deep sky observing, we usually will plan an indoor program at the Headquarters building. Severe weather would be the only exception to this.
The Sun Fun location and time has changed. We will hold it at the Big Pond Campground at the same location as the evening program. Solar viewing will begin at 5 PM. This should give participants coming from out of town a more convenient travel schedule. It should also be a cooler time of the day and will eliminate the necessity of breaking down and setting up some of the refractors a second time.
We will continue to hold the Star Walks at the Big Pond Campground. David Turner recently told me that a considerable amount of brush has already been removed within and around the oval. This will provide more space for instruments and even better telescope vistas.
The foundation of the Star Walk will continue to be Jeri Turner's introductory presentation of the night sky. Afterwards, as before, the public will view through instruments run by Sky Guides. We anticipate a greater repertoire of instruments to choose from this year and we also anticipate adding a live video capability for those members of the public unable or unwilling to ascend ladders.
The mainstay instruments will continue to be the Obsession Dobs. Each of the current instruments now has a dedicated Equatorial Platform to allow tracking.
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