Star Party 2008

Pre Registration - Register by Monday September 15th and SAVE 25%

Click here for printable registration form!

ASTROBLAST 2008 will take place September 23 - 28

ABOUT ASTROBLAST...

ASTROBLAST is an annual event, first held in June 1994, by the Oil Region Astronomical Society. Our organization is blessed with a remote "dark sky" site located far from the light pollution of large urban areas. The event is held in a large field surrounding our observatory known as Lockwood Group Campground at Venango County's Two Mile Run Park, near Franklin, Pennsylvania.

Astroblast is a regional gathering of amateur astronomers and those interested from the general public. Lectures, information and educational sessions, and dark-sky observing are all a part of our annual Star Party. The event is open to registered participants only. On-site registration will be available during the event. Newcomers are welcome to attend.


Observatory Grounds

Participants are invited to bring their own telescopes or binoculars. Everyone attending is expected to abide by the following general rules:

  • If you need a flashlight, please use a red lens or lamp, or tape red cellophane over the lens.
  • Participant parking for anyone leaving during dark hours will be located adjacent to the main entrance gate. Please park with headlights facing away from the observatory.
  • There will be no vehicle entry or exit allowed from the camping area after dark.
  • Park rules prohibit the consumption of alcoholic beverages on site.
  • Please be courteous to other participants and don't touch anyone elses equipment without their permission.


    • Astroblast 2008 will be held Sept 23 - 28!

    ASTROBLAST 2008 VENDORS (More to come!)

    Door Prizes Received as of August 30, 2008 (an more on the way!)

    Skies Unlimited donated a 13mm TeleVue Ethos eyepiece ($620 value)

    HighPoint Scientific - donated a TMB 30 mm Paragon Eyepiece ($250 value)

    Le Sueur Manufacturing Co., Inc - donated a $200 Astro Pier Gift Certificate Astroscan Wide Field Telescope

    Edmund Scientifics - donated an Astroscan Wide Field Telescope ($199.00 value)

    PIXSOFT Inc. - donated a StarGPS-NX GPS-NexStar ($150.00 value)

    Orion Telescopes & Binoculars - donated an Aristocrat Executive 15-45X 50 mm Brass Refractor Telescope, Starry Night Plus Pack, Under a Starry Night, and an Explorer Galaxy CD ROM. ($110.00 value)

    BigBinoculars.com - donated 8 X 56 Oberwerk Binoculars ($119.00 value)

    Oceanside Photo & Telescope - donated an OPT 2" 2X ED BIG BARLOW ($80.00 value)

    TAURUS Technologies - donated The Deep Space Image Catalog and the new DARK SKY ATLAS CD ($70.00 value)

    JMI Telescopes - donated two $35 Gift Certificates

    Astronomical Society of the Pacific - donated two Tours of the Night Sky - A guided tour of the stars and constellations cassette/cd set ($40.00 value)

    ProtoStar Telescope Making & Upgrading - donated 80" X 30" Black Flocked Paper Telescope Baffling Material ($40.00 value)

    AstroGizmos - donated a 9" Red LED Flashlight, Kick-Me-Not Red Flashing Marker Lights, and two Platinum Crystal Adjustable Light Angles ($30.00 Value)

    - donated a GSO 32mm Plossl eyepiece ($35.00 Value)

    - donated a series 500 25mm Plossl eyepiece ($30.00 Value)

    - donated a ScoutCase for Celestron SkyScout ($30.00 Value)


    Astroblast 2008 Flyer

    Astroblast 2008 will be held Sept 23 - 28


    Special Features for Astroblast 2008!!

    **Opportunity to use an Australian robotic telescope!

    **Visit the Oil City High School Planetarium and check out the new low cost Digitalis Alpha 2+ full dome planetarium projector!

    **Astronomy Geocaching Event - Bring your GPS units and join the hunt for astronomy prizes throughout Two Mile Run County Park.

    **Astronomy Mini-Camp for Kids.

    **Saturday Morning Bird Watching Tour - Use those binoculars for something other than the stars.

    **Free High Speed Wireless Internet Access is NOW AVAILABLE at the Observatory site!!

    TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

    TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

    SHOWER ACCESS - Showers are available in the main Park Campground and may be used by those attending Astroblast. The showers are within 5 minutes of the Observatory site. Limited electricity, water, drinks and snacks will be available throughout the night.

    Tuesday, September 23

    6:30 PM Register at Observatory

    8:30 PM - ??? Dark Sky Observing

    11:00 PM Gate closes (Anyone not staying overnight must leave or move their vehicle outside the gate.)

    Wednesday, September 24

    6:30 PM Register at Observatory

    7:00 PM Getting Started in Astronomy - Beginners Night (Mr. Tim Spuck & Mr. John O'hara, Oil Region Astronomical Society) ** NOTE: Bring your binoculars and telescopes if you have them! **

    8:30 PM - ??? Dark Sky Observing

    11:00 PM Gate closes (Anyone not staying overnight must leave or move their vehicle outside the gate.)

    Thursday, September 25

    6:30 PM Register at Observatory

    8:30 PM - ??? Dark Sky Observing

    11:00 PM Gate closes (Anyone not staying overnight must leave or move their vehicle outside the gate.)

    Friday, September 26

    NOTE: Moon sets at 5:47 PM and Sun sets at 7:08 PM

    3:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Astroblast On-Site Registration

    3:00 PM - 4:30 PM - Low cost Digitalis Alpha 2+ full dome planetarium projector demonstration at Oil City High School Planetarium (Ms. Danielle Yeager, Oil Region Astronomical Society)

    5:00 PM - 5:15 PM - Welcome to Astroblast and Event Logistics

    5:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Food Tent Open

    5:30 PM - 6:15 PM - Radio Astronomy: International Year of Astronomy 2009 (Dr. Ron Maddalena & Ms. Sue Ann Heatherly - National Radio Astronomy Observatory)

    6:30 PM - 7:15 PM - Make Your Own Observatory (Mr. Phil Harrington)

    8:00 PM **Messier Marathon 1** Pick up your form at the Registration Table

    8:30 PM - ??? - Dark Sky Observing

    9:00 PM - 11:00 PM - CCD Imaging Techniques (Mr. Dan Holler & Mr. Larry Stack)

    11:00 PM Gate closes (Anyone not staying overnight must leave or move their vehicle outside the gate.)

    Saturday, September 27

    NOTE: Moon sets at 6:10 PM and Sun sets at 7:07 PM

    7:30 AM - 9:00 AM - Bird Watching Tour in the Park

    9:00 AM - 8:00 PM - Food Tent Open

    9:00 AM - 10:00 PM - Astroblast On-Site Registration

    9:30 AM - 5:00 PM - Astronomy Geocaching Event ... Bring your GPS Units or rent one of ours, and discover a variety of astronomy prizes hidden in the Park!

    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Astronomy Mini-Camp for Kids - Open to kids ages 6 - and up. A great way for Scout groups to earn merit Badges!! -Fee is $5 per child. (Lead Teacher - Ms. Jennifer Heffernan, Oil Region Astronomical Society)

    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Astronomy Yard Sale - Bring all that extra stuff in the closet and make a few bucks!!

    11:00 AM - 11:45 AM - Pennsylvania Trees and Why Should I Care (Dr. Bruce Smith, Clarion University of PA)

    12:00 PM - 12:45 PM - Student Research Using the Spitzer Space Telescope (Ms. Jennifer Butchart, Ms. Shana Kennedy, Ms. Alexis McCool, Rachele Siegel, and International Science & Engineering Fair 2nd Place winner Mr. Matt Walentosky, Oil City High School)

    1:00 PM - 1:45 PM - Constructing Itty Bitty Radio Telescopes (Ms. Sue Ann Heatherly & Dr. Ron Maddalena - National Radio Astronomy Observatory)

    1:30 PM - 4:00 PM - Low cost Digitalis Alpha 2+ full dome planetarium projector demonstration at Oil City High School Planetarium (Ms. Danielle Yeager, Oil Region Astronomical Society)

    2:00 PM - 2:45 PM - So You Think You Can Write (Mr. Phil Harrington)

    3:00 PM - 3:45 PM - Planets Beyond Our Solar System (Dr. John Feldmeier, Youngstown State University)

    4:00 PM - 4:45 PM - Recent Results from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and Mars Phoenix Missions (Dr. Varoujan Gorjian, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)

    5:00 PM - 5:45 PM - Amateurs, Educators, the Public and the International Year of Astronomy 2009 ... What's in it for You? (Mr. Tim Spuck, Oil Region Astronomical Society)

    6:00 PM - 7:00 PM - ** Pizza Party ($6 Adults $4 Kids) and Door Prize Drawing **

    7:00 PM - 7:45 PM - Turn off the Go-To and rediscover the way to some old and new favorites. (Mr. Phil Tramdack, Oil Region Astronomical Society)

    8:00 PM **Messier Marathon 2** Pick up your form at the Registration Table

    8:30 PM - ??? - Dark Sky Observing

    9:00 PM - 11:00 PM - CCD Imaging Techniques (Mr. Dan Holler & Mr. Larry Stack)

    11:00 PM Gate closes (Anyone not staying overnight must leave or move their vehicle outside the gate.)

    Sunday, September 28

    9:00 AM - 11:00 AM - Food Tent Open

    10:00 AM - Messier Marathon Winners Announced

    12:00 PM - Astroblast 2008 Ends

    Places to stay and things to do in the area . . .


    OPTION #1: Those attending Astroblast have a number of overnight options. First you can camp out overnight at the Observatory site. The Observatory site (where Astroblast takes place) has a large 13 acre field where most Astroblast participants set up camp (either tent or trailer) and their telescopes. Water for cleaning purposes only is available. There is no electricity, unless you tap into the Observatory itself, but showers are available within a 5 minute drive at the main Park Campgrounds.

    OPTION #2: Those attending Astroblast who want more modern accommodations may want to stay in the campgrounds or in one of the cottages/houses available within Two Mile Run County Park. You can check out the availability of accommodations at http://www.twomilerun.net or call them at 814-676-6116.

    Check out the following websites for more information on places to stay and things to do . . .

    **Visit the Franklin Chamber of Commerce at http://www.franklin-pa.org/ **

    **Visit the Oil Region Alliance at http://www.oilregion.org/ **

    How to find us...

    The Oil Region Astronomical Observatory is located in Venango County’s picturesque Two Mile Run County Park. The observatory is located in the Lockwood area of the park and is only a short drive from Oil City, Franklin or Titusville in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Oil Country.

    From Franklin: Take PA Route 417 north approximately 3 miles to the Y - intersection with Cherrytree Road. Veer right onto Cherrytree Road and drive approximately 3.5 miles. Lockwood and the observatory entrance are on your right.

    From Oil City: Take PA Route 428 North 5.6 miles to Cherrytree Road. Take a left onto Cherrytree and proceed west through the park. The entrance to Lockwood and observatory will be on your left, approximately two miles past the park office.

    Click here for printable registration form!