Texas Star Party 2014

This year, we again were in RV 6, which means the kids didn't have to walk across the roads to get to the lower observing field.  We do setup on the lower field because of the kids and their tendencies to come in and out.  At 2:00am, the upper field is a little far and the roads are a little dark for walking by yourself back to the RV.  So, we setup on the lower field and S plays shuttle director between everyone who wants to come in.

The average night goes something like this:

Listen to guest speakers from 7:30 to about 9:00.
9:00pm - uncover telescopes and make sure all observing equipment is in good working order and at the observing site.  (Also a good time to go visit fellow astronomers and see what kind of goodies they have and that you "need" to get)
10:30pm - everything is finally dark
12:30am - everyone comes in for a late night snack and the youngest one outside generally stays in.
2:30am - C finally has enough fun and goes to bed
3:30am - Dad's ready to come in and the others are still looking
5:30am - the girls are falling asleep in their chairs so Dad forces them to come in.
8:30am - the little ones who slept all night are up and rearing to go.


Getting the telescopes ready to go each evening is usually a family affair....

 Some help by trying to decipher how the bungee cords are wrapped around the telescope and some just sit there wondering what they will be observing this evening.  Of course then there are the ones who keep themselves occupied with lego games and tormenting their sisters who want to play too.

 After deciphering the bungee cord issue, there is often a bad guy who needs to be disposed of.  In this case, it maybe wild hogs that need to be taken care of.

 The red light is essential to every astronomer and every other person in attendance also.  The lighting rules for the week are all white lights out at 9:00 and stay out until sunrise the next morning.  So, the only light available is via red lights, which don't disrupt your night vision like white light (or green lights or blue lights).  Every observing child now has their own red light and we have a red light for the RV for use when the doors open.  It stays on all night so for those who are afraid of the dark.  During the in-between times, those in the RV do use white lights with solar shielding covering the windows so the white light doesn't escape.

To help them tell me about their observing for the evenings, everyone also has their own sketch book and a sketch bag for supplies.  They use their red lights, to sketch the objects they are viewing through the telescope.  They don't sketch everything, just the objects of interest to each one.  With 4 observing children, I can almost see everything that was observed all night.

 We did have some clouds several nights this week.  Overall though, they cleared off beautifully for some great star watching (or so I'm told since I'm in charge of the RV party - which includes food, games, and SLEEP!)

 Here everyone is going to see the wild hogs that wandered onto the ranch during the week.  Looks like Z is headed back for his gun.

The lower field on Friday evening.  Friday night is one of two big nights for TSP.  The main guest speakers are on Friday and Saturday nights and the drawing for prizes are held each of those 2 nights.  On Friday, there is also a children's drawing.  This year, we cleaned up - Z won the grand prize for the kids, a beginners Celestron telescope.  C won gift certificates to a telescope supplier, and S won an observing guide.  Z was chosen to be the ticket drawer for the adults.  Craig's prize was an apron and oven mitts from NASA.  They look great in the RV!

Overall, a good time was had by most.  Several years of observing pins (suggested lists of objects to view) were completed by the older 2 girls and Craig.  Unfortunately though, C and N contracted Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease - which is a childhood illness that causes high fevers and blisters on hands, feet, and in the mouth.  So, neither one felt like doing too much during the week.  C did observe 2 nights before getting sick.  On the way home, H started her fever and Z got his the next day.  Rough week for some, good times for all!