22 replies to this topic

[Etrsi_645]

Great Lakes Star Gaze
9/17-20/2020

River Valley RV Park Address
2165 South Bailey Lake Ave., Gladwin, MI 48624

Site Coordinates: 43.9580°N, 84.6460°W

 

http://www.greatlakesstargaze.com

 

 

“The 2020 eighteenth GLSG star party will be held September 17th through September 20th, 2020. Due to COVID-19 we will be scaling back this year's star gaze. With the possibility that we may have to cancel this year, we will only have walk-in registration. The price will be reduced to reflect this and posted in the near future on the website. In order to follow CDC guidelines we will not have the large tent set up. We will still have the hospitality tent.  We also unfortunately will not be giving out door prizes this year.
This year's star gaze will for the first time also be weather dependent. With the possibility of cutting out Thursday or the weekend entirely. We truly hope to still pull off a star gaze this year, enjoy Mars near opposition and get back to normal next year. This year we're just going to keep it simple and focus on the sky.”

 

Please see the web site for newest details.

[mogur]

Sorry to be a downer, but is it really worth it with the smoke issue?

[Etrsi_645]

Sorry to be a downer, but is it really worth it with the smoke issue?

Astrospheric says the transparency and smoke issue could be clearing up by Thursday or Friday.  I have the time off from work so I might as well...

[mogur]

Let us know the results. If clear how did the invisible smoke affect your views. I've heard some say a 3 magnitude decrease in brightness!

[Garry]

Clear skies & no smoke last & Going to get lucky again tonight .

[mogur]

Yes today does look much better than yesterday. Hope it stays that way for you. It changes from hour to hour.

[Etrsi_645]

Just back.  For me the views were excellent.. Friday and Saturday were two very chilly evenings.. I am not skilled enough to know if or how many magnitudes might have been lost due to smoke.  All I know is I saw a whole lot more than I ever see at home and the camaraderie was great. 

[STE411]

Hi, 

Back from the Great Lakes Star Gaze, three clear nights, but cold. Frost in the mornings and several of the usual activities 

had to be canceled, but the rocket launches on Saturday were great!

Steve

 

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[Etrsi_645]

What was the approximate total attendance?  I'm thinking close to 100?

[Etrsi_645]

Great Lakes Star Gaze 2021

Nineteenth Annual

9/9 to 9/12/2021

 

River Valley RV Park Address
2165 South Bailey Lake Ave., Gladwin, MI 48624

Site Coordinates: 43.9580°N, 84.6460°W

 

 

http://www.greatlakesstargaze.com

 

[MawkHawk]

The 2022 Great Lakes Star Gaze is scheduled for Sept 22-25. Location and web site are the same as shown in the earlier posts above. The last two years were really lucky with wildfire smoke clearing out giving us several clear nights each year. 2022-YMMV

[JimMo]

It's been a while since I attended the GLSG but plan on going this year if I don't go to Oki-Tex instead. Depends on weather and if there is any smoke out west in 2022.

[MawkHawk]

Jim, I'll be down in the campground with the Bottom Feeders just west of the pavilion. If you're willing, come on over and say hello!

[weis14]

The 2022 Great Lakes Star Gaze is scheduled for Sept 22-25. Location and web site are the same as shown in the earlier posts above. The last two years were really lucky with wildfire smoke clearing out giving us several clear nights each year. 2022-YMMV

I'm hoping to come up for at least a night or two this year.  It will be my first time at the GLSG since I moved back to Midland in 2018.  

[PlanetNamek]

Anyone else going to be there Friday?

[JimMo]

Sorry I missed it this year. Any reports? How was it?

[MawkHawk]

Jim, I was there in the campground Wed-Fri nights. Wed was clear all night. Thurs was clear until about 1am then clouded over for about an hour then clear again. Fri also clear until around 1am then clouded out. I left Saturday due to some home stuff that came up and also rain forecasted overnight into the morning. Who likes packing up in the rain, right? Days were mostly sunny and beautiful fall weather. Nights were cold in the campground into the low 30s Sat morning. My shroud was frozen when I got up Sat morning.

Beautiful telescoping though. The highlight for many was the nearly edge-on Saturn. We had several campers visit us and they were thrilled looking through the scopes.

One of the better Star Gazes this year. I had a wonderful time.

Edited by MawkHawk, 16 October 2024 - 04:59 PM.

[PlanetNamek]

That Friday night was so cold, I barely got any sleep! I ended up leaving early Saturday morning but the one day I was there (Friday) was really cool and fun. I enjoyed the "Tour of the night sky" presentation that was done with a really powerful green laser. I have never seen so many stars in the sky at one time, it was truly amazing.

[JimMo]

Glad you got some good views guys.

Well, I’ve missed all the Aurora and finally got a view of the comet last night off the stern of a cruise ship. Was in Alaska two new moons ago and saw nothing, not even any stars due to the ship being lit up like a small city.

I hope to be there next year.

Edited by JimMo, 16 October 2024 - 03:37 AM.

[MawkHawk]

That Friday night was so cold, I barely got any sleep! I ended up leaving early Saturday morning but the one day I was there (Friday) was really cool and fun. I enjoyed the "Tour of the night sky" presentation that was done with a really powerful green laser. I have never seen so many stars in the sky at one time, it was truly amazing.

Yeah, you need to get yourself a cold weather sleeping bag.

One advantage of staying in the campground is that there is power that you can run into your tent and run a small heater. Of course, the disadvantage is that there are some regular campers with their associated lights...

[Aerions]

Jim, I was there in the campground Wed-Fri nights. Wed was clear all night. Thurs was clear until about 1am then clouded over for about an hour then clear again. Fri also clear until around 1am then clouded out. I left Saturday due to some home stuff that came up and also rain forecasted overnight into the morning. Who likes packing up in the rain, right? Days were mostly sunny and beautiful fall weather. Nights were cold in the campground into the low 30s Sat morning. My shroud was frozen when I got up Sat morning.

Beautiful telescoping though. The highlight for many was the nearly edge-on Saturn. We had several campers visit us and they were thrilled looking through the scopes.

One of the better Star Gazes this year. I had a wonderful time.

2024 was my first time attending and I don't think I got a chance to meet you, but im pretty sure I nabbed a photo of your scope haha. I was running the 5" frac on the eq6r by the pavilion , next to a red orion xt8 dob. We'll have to meet next time! I have a gen 3 night vision intensifier we can mess around with both using the 1x lens, and through your 16" using a 55mm eyepiece connected to the device acting as a reducer. Would love to try horsehead and stuff like rosette nebula, you'd be seeing it like never before. Hope we can meet in 8 months! 

Nick

[MawkHawk]

2024 was my first time attending and I don't think I got a chance to meet you, but im pretty sure I nabbed a photo of your scope haha. I was running the 5" frac on the eq6r by the pavilion , next to a red orion xt8 dob. We'll have to meet next time! I have a gen 3 night vision intensifier we can mess around with both using the 1x lens, and through your 16" using a 55mm eyepiece connected to the device acting as a reducer. Would love to try horsehead and stuff like rosette nebula, you'd be seeing it like never before. Hope we can meet in 8 months! 

Nick

 

Hi, Nick! Yeah, we actually did meet an talk. I'm Mark S. Short guy, glasses, early 60's. Seven Ponds hat.

Yes, that's my scope alright. Ron Hawk chose a name for it: "The Big 'D'" which I'll have to explain to you in September. Nice to hear from you.

[Aerions]

Hi, Nick! Yeah, we actually did meet an talk. I'm Mark S. Short guy, glasses, early 60's. Seven Ponds hat.

Yes, that's my scope alright. Ron Hawk chose a name for it: "The Big 'D'" which I'll have to explain to you in September. Nice to hear from you.

Oh cool Not a surprise I tried to talk to as many people as I could. I don't specifically remember you too well but i must've not talked long . Can't wait to hear about the scope naming and nice to hear from someone else that went too. See you in September