21 replies to this topic

[Larry Mc]

Save the date!

 

Come join The Oil Region Astronomical Society (ORAS) in Western Pennsylvania, and other regional amateur astronomers for the 2024 AstroBlast convention! 

The dates for this year's AstroBlast will be from the afternoon of Tuesday, October 1st, to noon on Sunday, October 6th. 

 

AstroBlast will be held at the ORAS Learning Center and Bruce M Bedow Observatory, located at a dark-sky site in Northwestern Pennsylvania (Venango County).

The observatory comes equipped with a 30" f/3 Starstructure GOTO visual reflector telescope, a Celestron 14" SCT GEM pier-mounted dedicated astrophotography telescope, and a Meade 14" LX200 equatorial tripod-mounted telescope for both visual and beginning imaging, all under a roll-off roof, that will be open during the event.

In addition to the observatory, the site also includes the David L. Jones Activity Building containing a classroom and kitchenette and a restroom and shower, along with a large 25-acre observing field with power pedestals suitable for overnight camping.  

 

The ORAS Learning Center is located at: 4249 Camp Coffman Rd. Cranberry, PA 16319 United States.
Google Map Link: https://www.google.c...053,-79.5837455

 

Registration for the event will open later this summer, and attendees will be able to pre-register online, or at the door during the event itself. 

We expect to have a full schedule of speakers, as well as some of our traditional AstroBlast activities, such as a door prize raffle, and a Saturday evening pizza party!

 

In addition to details being posted here, for further information about the convention and new observatory, please visit the Oil Region Astronomical Society's website at:

http://www.oras.org/ 

[Richie2shoes]

Did they change the August date or is this a 2nd event?

[Larry Mc]

hi Rich,

Good question! A couple of weeks back, the ORAS AstroBlast Committee discovered that our initial planned August date would conflict with the tri-annual meeting of the International Astronomical Union Meeting that would be held in South Africa in 2024. This would impact one of our critical committee members who needs to attend the IAU meeting, and more importantly, impact the professional astronomer & educator speakers that we are lining up for AstroBlast.

 

Therefore, after considering several alternative dates, we decided to move the 2024 AstroBlast to the October New Moon period.

The AstroBlast Committee is still in the process of revising dates that we previously published around the web, so bear with us as we get those August dates changed to the new October dates.

Thanks, and hope to see you there at ORAS, (or Cherry Springs), this year.

Larry

[Richie2shoes]

This works well for me, I've been wanting to get to one of the Astroblast events for the last couple years but the dates never worked out.  I should be able to make this one.

[Larry Mc]

hi all,

Quick update, The ORAS AstroBlast Committee is putting together a great program schedule for this year. In addition to several observing contests, we'll have presentations on "Astrophotography Tools, Techniques and Tips", "Photoshop Astrophotography Processing", "PixInsight Astrophotography Processing",  "Visual Observing Tools, Techniques and Tips", "How to Sketch Deep Sky Objects", "Professional - Amateur Astronomy Collaboration", and "Getting Started in Astronomy", and several additional presentations (UAP's, star names, etc) in the works.

 

Our speakers include Ed Ting, Matt Dieterich, and a number of regional amateurs.

 

Finally, we'll have our usual observatory tours, nature walk, swap meet, doorprize raffle, and pizza party!

[Larry Mc]

hi All,

 

While the ORAS AstroBlast Committee is still in the process of finalizing this year's convention schedule, we have a high-level outline available.

Please visit http://www.oras.org/...blast-2024.html to see each day's planned activities and speaker bio's. (times are still TBD).

 

Early-Bird Pre-Registration is now open!  http://www.oras.org/...gistration.html

A great way to save some $$ for the raffle!! 

 

To learn more about ORAS, our observatory, and AstroBlast, please visit us at http://www.oras.org/

[Larry Mc]

to give everyone feel of what the skies are like at ORAS, here's a time-laspe that I made on May 8th: 

 https://youtu.be/7Gn...4KdDS_yUQeSCM4g

 

While we do have a small light dome to our SE & NW and a larger one to our SW, due south is good, along with the entire east and north east.

Of course directly overhead is great too. 

[Chucky]

Folks, I've had the pleasure of observing at the AstroBlast site.  All in all, it's really decent.  Yes there are some sectors that aren't ideal.....but taking all 360 degrees, it's more than good enough to have a highly enjoyable observing experience.  And their site is beautifully laid out with nice vistas and plenty of room to setup.   Excellent facilities.  Professional level observatory/telescopes.  You would not be disappointed.  

[Larry Mc]

hi All,

Just a reminder that the 2024 AstroBlast 'Early-Bird' registration will be ending on July 31st.

http://www.oras.org/...gistration.html

 

Plus, our program schedule continues to fill-out. Details here: http://www.oras.org/...blast-2024.html

Additionally, the new grass on our expanded observing field to the observatory's west and north is growing nicely. It will be ready in time for October!

 

      

 

(photos by Observatory Director Dan H)

 

To learn more about the Oil Region Astronomical Society (ORAS), please visit us at: http://www.oras.org/

Thanks, Larry

 

 

[Larry Mc]

hi All,

 

The ORAS AstroBlast Committee has finalized this year's 30th anniversary schedule.

Here's a few snippets:

 

Thursday, October 3
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Starry Nights: Developing space photos with Photoshop Workshop (Dean Salisbury, 4-hour Workshop): 
1:00 - 3:00 PM - Starry Nights: Developing space photos with Photoshop Workshop (continued)
6:00 - 6:30 PM - How to Sketch Deep Sky Objects (Larry McHenry)
8:00 PM - ? - Dark Sky Observing - - Unless cloudy, No white lights allowed on the observing field after dusk.

 

Friday, October 4
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM - PixInsight Image Processing Workshop (Gary Salisbury, 4-hour Workshop): 
12:00 - 1:00 PM - Lunch
1:00 - 3:00 PM - PixInsight Image Processing Workshop (continued)
3:15 - 4:00 PM - Our Changing Planet: Impacts on Astronomy and our Connections to the Sky (Tiffany Stone Wolbrecht)
4:00 - 5:00 PM - Share-a-thon – Visual Observing Tools, Techniques and Tips (Round-table Discussion): Come share and learn about best practices 
5:30 - 6:15 PM - Professional-Amateur Astronomer Research Collaborations: How you can engage – (Tim Spuck)
6:30 - 7:00 PM - Three Stars: Regor, Dnoces and Navi (Dean Miskovich)
7:00 - 7:30 PM - Tour of the Observatory & Telescopes (Dan Holler & Dean Miskovich)
7:30 - 7:45 PM - Green Laser Constellation Tour of the Night Sky (Larry McHenry)
8:00 PM - ? - Dark Sky Observing - Unless cloudy, No white lights allowed on the observing field after dusk.

Saturday, October 5
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM - Nature Walk (weather permitting)
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Astronomy Flea Market - bring those items you are interested in selling and earn some extra $$. 
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Share-a-thon – Astro Web Resources for a Better Astronomy Experience (Round-table Discussion)
12:30 PM - 1:25 PM - “UAP & Information Science: Organizing the X-Files for Evidenced-based Research” (Dr. Gretchen Stahlman)
1:30 PM - 2:25 PM - Stonehenge at the Winter Solstice 2023 (Ed Ting)
2:30 - 3:25 PM - The New Universe (Dr. Derrick Pitts)
3:30 - 4:25 PM - Share-a-thon – Getting Started in Astronomy (Round-table Discussion) 
4:30 PM - 5:25 PM - Nightscape & Wide Angle Astrophotography - (Matt Dieterich)
5:45 PM - 6:45 PM Pizza Party, Door Prize Drawing, Observing Contest Winners Announced
7:00 - 7:30 PM - Tour of the Observatory & Telescopes (Dan Holler & Dean Miskovich)
7:30 - 7:45 PM - Green Laser Constellation Tour of the Night Sky (Larry McHenry)
8:00 PM - ? - Dark Sky Observing - Unless cloudy, No white lights allowed on the observing field after dusk.
 

You can find the full schedule along with Speaker Bio's here: http://www.oras.org/...blast-2024.html

 

While the Early-Bird Pre-Registration has now closed, you can still save $$ by pre-registering before before September 16th at: http://www.oras.org/...gistration.html   

So don't delay, and save some cash by registering today! (plus it helps us in planning). 

 

Also, we are currently in the process of installing an EAA system on our Celestron 14" GEM (ASI2600MC, Focuser & Filter Wheel, and ASI220MM guidecamera), and will have that in operation during AstroBlast.

 

   

 

And our 30" f3 Starstructure GOTO Dobsonian and 14" Meade SCT will also be available for visual observing.

(weather permitting) 

   

 

To learn more about ORAS, our observatory, and AstroBlast, please visit us at http://www.oras.org/

Hope to see all you CN'ers there!

 

[Larry Mc]

hi All,

Just a reminder that the 2024 AstroBlast 'Pre-Registration' ends in less than a week, on Monday September 16th. 

 http://www.oras.org/astroblast-registration.html

 

Also, the club has received a 'loaner' for the starparty from Celestron of their new "Origin Intelligent Home Observatory Telescope".

Starparty attendees will get a chance for hands-on access of this new smart telescope.

[Richie2shoes]

I've had no luck with my planned dark sky weekends this year.  I hope the weather cooperates for AstroBlast!

[BCEagleScope]

Hi All, I'm Dave from MA and I just registered for my FIRST Astroblast! I'll be driving down and staying for the first few nights, while on my way to a convention in Nashville. I'm bringing my 16" Teeter Dobsonian with me. I look forward to meeting new friends in the hobby! This is my FIRST star party too! Making a checklist

[Larry Mc]

hi all,

We're in the home-stretch before the start of AstroBlast in one week with the gate opening at 3pm on Tuesday October 1st,

At this point all pre-registration is now closed, but you can still register onsite at the gate next week.

We have our list of 2024 doorprizes finalized, a mix of 'used' and 'new'. You can find the list at: http://www.oras.org/...oor-prizes.html

Complete event schedule and other info can be found at: http://www.oras.org/

 

Fingers crossed for good observing weather next week! See you all there!

[tag1260]

Is there any water available whatsoever? Like dishes or washing up?  We plan on coming up Thursday morning sometime. 

 

Thanks

[Larry Mc]

Hi Andrew, yes, there is water available (hose) down by the activities/classroom building. It's from our well, and while suitable for dishwashing, etc, has never been tested for drinking. (The restroom and shower run off the same well). There's also a natural spring about a quarter of a mile south of the Observatory on Camp Coffman Rd that people use. For drinking water, I bring a half dozen jugs from home.

Edited by Larry Mc, 01 October 2024 - 10:13 PM.

[tag1260]

Thanks!!!

[Richie2shoes]

I had a really great time at this year's Astroblast.  The members of ORAS did a great job.  I'm going to guess there was around 75 campers/tents on the field Friday and Saturday.  I was up there Thurs - Sun and had clear skies every night, although Friday night there were clouds off and on, but they did eventually push out.  There was quite a bit of dew though.  I met some new people, sat in on a couple interesting presentations by Tiffany Stone Wolbrecht and Ed Ting, participated in a good round table discussion and even won a door prize.  

 

Even though I'm a member, I live a couple hours away and am pretty active in my home club, so I haven't been to the site in a few years.  This trip reminded me that I need to change that.  Any new moon trips I plan for next year will be to the ORAS site instead of Cherry Springs.  True, it's not as dark, but it is much more peaceful and private.

 

The club site is in West Central PA and if you live within a couple hours drive, I recommend you check ORAS out or try and attend next year's Astroblast.

[Larry Mc]

Good to hear Rich!

We were fortunate in the weather, having four good nights (starting Wednesday) of observing. 

Our Registrar estimates there were 84 attendees thru the event. It was definitely the largest crowd that we've had at the new location.

Every attendee should have received a link to an online survey. The AstroBlast team would greatly appreciate it if those could be submitted by EOD Friday.

This will help us improve the event for next year, especially when to hold the event. (do we continue with early October or revert back to mid-August?)

 

Those folks interested in using the observing field throughout the year can do so with a club membership. As a club member, if you only want to setup for a couple of hours during the evening, that is free, if you want to stay the night its $8. You can also buy an annual pass. Access to the restroom/shower and kitchenette are included. Membership details can be found here: http://www.oras.org/join-oras.html

 

Hope to see everyone again for the 2025 AstroBlast!

[Larry Mc]

hi all,
I've uploaded a few cellphone photos to my website: https://www.stellar-...rtypictures.htm
Just scroll down to the "ORAS AstroBlast 2024" entry. If you see any pictures that you like, feel free to download.

Also, I've uploaded three time-lapse videos from AstroBlast - Wednesday, Friday & Saturday nights.
You can find them on my YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube....Journeys/videos

 

(Trip report still in the works)

 

Larry

[Randyf2017]

Yep. I was there. Very well organized.  If I am in the area next year I will b there.

[Larry Mc]

hi all,
Here's my October trip report to the ORAS Observatory for the 30th anniversy AstroBlast starparty: 

https://www.stellar-.../spr2024-AB.pdf