82 replies to this topic

[sdmacdonald]

Registration for the 41st Okie-Tex Star Party is officially open!

 

For those who might not know me yet, my name is Danny MacDonald, and I'm stepping in as the new chairperson for Mike & Larry this year. If you've ever been to a talk at an Okie-Tex, you've seen me frantically running around trying to get everything to work. For some reason, they put me in charge of the whole thing. Just because I'm new to this role though doesn't mean Okie-Tex is any different. Everyone that used to do all the work is still around and attending, it mostly just means there's a different name signing the checks to rent the port-a-potties.

 

We are still nailing down our speaker schedule, but if you're an astrophotographer we do have Jon Talbot back for another two-day PixInsight session. This year, Jon is doing more of a beginner session. So if you're new to taking deep sky photos, or if you want to see how a master uses PixInsight, it's definitely worth signing up for.

 

As always, Okie-Tex is a place known for incredible skies, fantastic talks, and a wonderful community of people that I look forward to seeing every year.

 

If you've never been, we are located right on the very edge of the Oklahoma panhandle at Camp Billy Joe campground, just a few miles from Black Mesa State Park. We might be in a remote location, but we have wireless internet, clean bathrooms with showers, catered meals, bunkhouses, and all sorts of other stuff to make 9 days in the desert feel comfortable.

 

To register, visit https://www.okie-tex...egistration.php. Catered meals by Jody's Catering and a ticket to the PixInsight session are separate registrations, but it's all on that page. Let me know if you have any questions!

 

We hope to see you out in the 'Mesa. Thank you all!

 

 

 

 

 

[kasprowy]

Hi Danny - Thanks for your work on this, and everyone else involved. I attended in 2021 and 2022. I was going to attend last year but the weather forecast deterred me from making the 2100 mile round trip. Hoping the weather is great this year. As a neutral observer (no pun), I can attest that this is a fantastic event and location. Hot during the day, nice and cool, and the darkest skies I've ever seen, at night. Hoping to do this along with Nebraska Star Party this year.

[lwbehney]

What is the elevation above sea level at your Okie-Tex site?

[sdmacdonald]

What is the elevation above sea level at your Okie-Tex site?

About 4500ft above sea level, give or take. Black Mesa itself is ~5k.

[Tinker]

What is the elevation above sea level at your Okie-Tex site?

High enough to get a serious sunburn in late September if you aren't wearing sunscreen!

[MikeTahtib]

I'm signed up.  I was there in 2021, great weather, but a bit of wildfire smoke.  I saw a forecast predicting fewer than average wildfires this year, so thought it would be a good time to make the trek out. 

[mogur]

 

Registration for the 41st Okie-Tex Star Party is officially open!
 
For those who might not know me yet, my name is Danny MacDonald, and I'm stepping in as the new chairperson for Mike & Larry this year. If you've ever been to a talk at an Okie-Tex, you've seen me frantically running around trying to get everything to work. For some reason, they put me in charge of the whole thing. Just because I'm new to this role though doesn't mean Okie-Tex is any different.
 
We hope to see you out in the 'Mesa. Thank you all!

 

Well, I certainly hope that SOME things are different! Please see this thread and respond.

 

https://www.cloudyni...022-info/page-2

[Joe F Gafford]

Well, I certainly hope that SOME things are different! Please see this thread and respond.

 

https://www.cloudyni...022-info/page-2

About the imagers and the bright screens and indicator lights on their rigs? This is an ongoing debate everywhere. I shroud my laptop setup and this is in a portable dome. It is the newer imagers that have the problem with the light discipline. We had this problem at my DSS as well. This is different now with our own imaging special interest group. Most Bluetooth or WiFi this to their laptop in the warming hut, leaving the fewer dim blinking lights on their rigs. The indirect light from the sewage treatment plant 1.5 miles away from my club's DSS is only a tad brighter than these. RV participation will increase as spaces may be decreased for us tent and pop-up campers. I just got back from Rocky Mountain Star Stare (RMSS) and the number of the behemoth RVs has increased over last year as the core amateur astronomers are aging. I'm a mid-line 71 in this group and the younger prefer a more solid shelter than a tent. 

 

Joe

[mogur]

No. I didn't mean about a few dim computer lights. Did you actually read the thread? I would like the NEW chairperson to respond.

Edited by mogur, 11 June 2024 - 06:15 PM.

[Knasal]

No. I didn't mean about a few dim computer lights. Did you actually read the thread? I would like the NEW chairperson to respond.

You seem upset…

 

You asked someone to read the thread and you linked to page two of it. So (perhaps) people were confused because when I got to what you linked, I couldn’t figure out what you were getting at.

 

Can you save us some time and state what you’re concerned about? The thread is 4 pages with 90+ posts…

Edited by Knasal, 11 June 2024 - 07:16 PM.

[streak]

I think he is referring to his post on page 2 about people saving camping spots for their friends.

 

https://www.cloudyni...nfo/?p=12161601

[sdmacdonald]

Hi everyone! We did have an issue in 2022 with at least one person trying to save a large swath of space for their friends, but it is not common problem. I don't recall it being a problem at all last year. So no, we don't police the field and proactively tell people where they can and can't set up. We have neither the manpower nor the desire to do something like that. Most years there is plenty of space and it's just not an issue. However, we are aware that that's something to keep an eye out for, and if someone saves a ton of space for theoretical people, we'll talk to them and see what the situation is, and adjust if necessary.

 

As far as light pollution goes: it's an ongoing issue both within and without the star party. We definitely enforce the no white light rule as best we can, but we can't be everywhere at once, especially overnight (we want to observe, too!). Most of the time, a simple conversation with the person solves the issue, but if it doesn't, report the problem to us and we'll handle it.

 

Okie-Tex is a laid back star party. We try not to overburden people with rules. Sometimes that leads to situations like the above, and we deal with issues like that as they arise.

[DeltaTango55]

Considering the Okie-Tex star party and had a few questions.

1)  I assume access to the bunkhouse is included in the registration fee?

2)  What is the arrangement in the bunkhouse?  I assume there is a top and bottom bunk in a room with how many bunks?  Is there any place for storage of equipment?  Is there electric available for charging phones, laptops etc?

Are there any bathrooms at the bunkhouse or is everything at the shower house?

3)  does the first come/first serve mean at registration or when you physically get there, and if so, does it fill to

   capacity?

4)  If gates close at dark, how do people get to accommodations off the ranch?

5)  Better to fly into Denver, ABQ, or some other airport?

6)  Are there any scope available to use or rent (can't find a way to get my Starmaster on the plane).

Thanks so much for your input.  Clear Skies, Lonnie

[sdmacdonald]

Considering the Okie-Tex star party and had a few questions.

1)  I assume access to the bunkhouse is included in the registration fee?

2)  What is the arrangement in the bunkhouse?  I assume there is a top and bottom bunk in a room with how many bunks?  Is there any place for storage of equipment?  Is there electric available for charging phones, laptops etc?

Are there any bathrooms at the bunkhouse or is everything at the shower house?

3)  does the first come/first serve mean at registration or when you physically get there, and if so, does it fill to

   capacity?

4)  If gates close at dark, how do people get to accommodations off the ranch?

5)  Better to fly into Denver, ABQ, or some other airport?

6)  Are there any scope available to use or rent (can't find a way to get my Starmaster on the plane).

Thanks so much for your input.  Clear Skies, Lonnie

Hi Lonnie! Good questions!

 

There is no additional charge or anything to use the bunkhouses. When you arrive, head over and claim a bed and that's it. They have bunk beds, but the actual number varies slightly between the bunkhouses. For storage, there is a little space under the beds and there's some space within the bunkhouse itself, but I'd caution to not take up too much space. Depending on when you arrive and who else is in there with you, many people have a "free" top bunk and store stuff up on the top bunk. The bunkhouses are usually the busiest during the first day or two of the star party, and then generally around Wednesday as people leave and new groups arrive. It's not particularly hard to find a bunk, but I can't guarantee anything.

 

The gates are shut at dark. If you're planning on staying off-site, you just park outside the gate (headlights facing away from the star party!) and can leave whenever you want. If you've never been, that probably sounds more complicated than it is. It's really simple and tons of people do it like that.

 

The closest airport is Amarillo, but people certainly have flown into other cities and driven. Amarillo is ~3 hours from Okie-Tex.

 

Finally, we don't have a checkout/rental systems for equipment, unfortunately. However, it is not difficult at all to find someone willing to let you observe with them, especially if you're staying in a bunk house . I personally have only taken binoculars the last 3 years and I have not had any trouble at all looking through tons of different scopes. People are excited to show off what they are looking at and people will flag you down to come look through their scope. It's a bummer to not be able to bring your own stuff, but there is no shortage of people willing to share.

 

I hope that helps. Let me know if there's anything else I can answer.

[mogur]

We definitely enforce the no white light rule as best we can, but we can't be everywhere at once, especially overnight (we want to observe, too!). Most of the time, a simple conversation with the person solves the issue, but if it doesn't, report the problem to us and we'll handle it.
 
Okie-Tex is a laid back star party. We try not to overburden people with rules. Sometimes that leads to situations like the above, and we deal with issues like that as they arise.

How can you "deal with issues" when there is no method to notify you of issues as they arrive? Yes, you can't be everywhere, but how do we report, and to who? Wanting to observe yourselves means you just want to HAVE a star party, instead of RUNNING a star party. I expect more from organizers.

[Knasal]

How can you "deal with issues" when there is no method to notify you of issues as they arrive? Yes, you can't be everywhere, but how do we report, and to who? Wanting to observe yourselves means you just want to HAVE a star party, instead of RUNNING a star party. I expect more from organizers.

Then don’t go. That simple. I’ve been to Okie Tex, never had a problem… If you’re looking for trouble, you’ll probably find it.

Edited by Knasal, 12 June 2024 - 08:31 PM.

[EVS]

If you need rules to go to star party enjoy the 2025 TSP. Don’t make problems from trying to be an enforcer of rules thats staffs duty. Most times there issues at OkieTex the staff was made aware last not first. 
 

[DeanS]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it

[rsalva1]

I’m just hoping for clear skies, last year sucked. 

[chvvkumar]

For family reasons, I could not make it to NSP this year as it clashes with my other family obligations. I have signed up for Okie-Tex this year and this will be my first time there!

[MikeTahtib]

For family reasons, I could not make it to NSP this year as it clashes with my other family obligations. I have signed up for Okie-Tex this year and this will be my first time there!

This will be my second year, I'm really looking forward to it.  The last time I went, the weather was great, clear, dry, no crazy thunderstorms (I was at Nebraska last year!).  They have excellent bathroom/shower facilities.  It was quieter than NSP (no Dob Row, I really enjoyed the party atmosphere at NSP).  It is smaller, so you cant' be 100 yards away from everyone like you can at NSP, but I was fine with that.

I've been watching the weather months, looking at the perfect conditions on the Astrospheric map all summer while MA was covered in clouds.  Now I see a bit more cloudiness, and some smoke.  Not that this has any bearing on what it will be like during the event, but the anticipation is killing me.

[chvvkumar]

This will be my second year, I'm really looking forward to it.  The last time I went, the weather was great, clear, dry, no crazy thunderstorms (I was at Nebraska last year!).  They have excellent bathroom/shower facilities.  It was quieter than NSP (no Dob Row, I really enjoyed the party atmosphere at NSP).  It is smaller, so you cant' be 100 yards away from everyone like you can at NSP, but I was fine with that.

I've been watching the weather months, looking at the perfect conditions on the Astrospheric map all summer while MA was covered in clouds.  Now I see a bit more cloudiness, and some smoke.  Not that this has any bearing on what it will be like during the event, but the anticipation is killing me.

I was at NSP last year as well and my canopy collapsed in that storm ha! While I will be missing all the folks from NSP this year but, I am looking forward to Okie-Tex. 

 

As someone who has been to both, logistically, how does this compare to NSP? In terms of light control at night and leaving scopes on the field while going out and about during the day in case you had to run to the nearest town? My understanding is that the remoteness is comparable to NSP and Valentine.

[MikeTahtib]

Okie-Tex is probably more isolated than NSP, as it si on private land, with no other events going on around it, as far as I know.  It would be very unusual for a stranger to straggle in.  I did not worry about leaving my equipment out unattended.  As for light control, I would say it's about the same as NSP.  You are expected to use dim red lights, but I did see some people had attached green glow-in-the-dark tape to some of their equipment, and I didn't hear anyone complain.  

I started out carrying a red flashlight everywhere I went, but I realized it was quite unnecessary, as I could see easily by the starlight.

[chvvkumar]

Okie-Tex is probably more isolated than NSP, as it si on private land, with no other events going on around it, as far as I know.  It would be very unusual for a stranger to straggle in.  I did not worry about leaving my equipment out unattended.  As for light control, I would say it's about the same as NSP.  You are expected to use dim red lights, but I did see some people had attached green glow-in-the-dark tape to some of their equipment, and I didn't hear anyone complain.  

I started out carrying a red flashlight everywhere I went, but I realized it was quite unnecessary, as I could see easily by the starlight.

Thank you! I see mentioned on the website as well as some youtube videos about being able to use an extension cable to get power for the rig only (i.e. no other electrical appliances like laptops are allowed to use the provided outlets). Are these outlets relatively close to where you setup? Trying to figure out what length of extension I should plan on bringing with me.

[MikeTahtib]

That's a level of detail I don't remember.  The only thing i need electricity for is recharging my dew heater battery during the day, and I can just carry that to the outlet if not nearby.  

 

One thing that was surprising, and I can't remember if ti was at Okie-Tex or NSP, was the presence of small cactuses in the ground, blended in with the grass.  They will stab you through a tent floor.  I heard about this and brought a tent footprint made out of indoor/outdoor carpet.  If this doesn't sound familiar from NSP, then it is at Okie-Tex. The more I think of it, the more I think this was at NSP, not Okie-Tex, but not sure.   

 

Also, the ground is a lot harder at Okie-Tex.  I brought screw-in tent stakes for the sandy ground at NSP.  At Okie-Tex, I used regular pound-in stakes.  They held well in the soil.  I'm not sure I could have gotten screw-in stakes into the soil at Okie-Tex.