Star Party 2010


READ this First!

ASTROBLAST 2010 will take place August 10 - 15, however the agenda and information are not yet ready for distribution. PLEASE check out below what happened at last year's event!

Pre Registration - Register by Friday August 7th and SAVE 25%

Click here for printable registration form!

ASTROBLAST 2009 will take place August 18 - 23

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 2009 will be held August 18 - 23!

    ASTROBLAST 2009 VENDORS

    Additional Door Prizes will be Listed Soon!

    Skies Unlimited donated a Explore Scientific 14mm 100° Series Eyepiece ($499 value)

    HighPoint Scientific - donated an Orion #5580 Stargazer Filter Set ($100 value), and a TMB 6mm Planetary Eyepiece ($99 value)

    DEEPSKY Astronomy Software - donated DEEPSKY Imaging Software ($50.00 value) and DEEPSKY Astronomy Software ($70 value)

    Lumicon - donated two $50 Gift Certificates ($100.00 value)

    JMI Telescopes - donated two $35 Gift Certificates ($70.00 value)

    Astronomical Society of the Pacific - donated two Tours of the Night Sky - A guided tour of the stars and constellations cassette/cd set and two Cosmic Decoders Card Games ($70.00 value)

    Oceanside Photo & Telescope - donated an OPT 2" Diagonal ($40.00 value)

    Scope City - donated a $25 Gift Certificate ($25.00 value)


    Astroblast 2009 Flyer

    Astroblast 2009 will be held August 18 - 23


    Special Features for Astroblast 2009!!

    **Opportunity to use an Australian robotic telescope!

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

    **Saturday Morning Nature Hike.

    **Astronomy Yard Sale - Bring all those items you don't use any more and take a few extra bucks home with you!

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

    **Astronomy Mini-Camp for Kids!

    TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

    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, August 18

    7:00 PM Register at Observatory

    9:30 PM - ??? Dark Sky Observing

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

    Wednesday, August 19

    7:00 PM Register at Observatory

    8:00 PM Getting Started in Astronomy - Beginners Night (Mr. Tim Spuck & Ms. Danielle Yeager, Oil Region Astronomical Society) ** NOTE: Bring your binoculars and telescopes if you have them! **

    9:30 PM - ??? Dark Sky Observing

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

    Thursday, August 20

    7:00 PM Register at Observatory

    7:30 PM - 8:30 PM - CCD Imaging Round Table Discussion - Come share and learn new tricks of the trade. This will be an open forum where individuals can share imaging and image processing techniques. Computer and projector will be available. So PLEASE come share your best work!

    9:30 PM - ??? Dark Sky Observing

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

    Friday, August 21

    NOTE: Moon sets at 8:40 PM and Sun sets at 8:15 PM

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

    5:30 PM - 6:00 PM - Welcome to Astroblast and Event Logistics

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

    6:00 PM - 6:45 PM - Extraterrestrial Intelligence: Three Views (Dr. Dale Partin, Warren Astronomical Society - Michigan)

    7:00 PM - 7:45 PM - Space Exploration Roundup 2009 - A review of current space exploration projects and the NEW knowledge they will bring. (Mr. Phil Tramdack, Oil Region Astronomical Society)

    8:00 PM - 8:30 PM - Put Away the Camera and Let's Observe! This will be an open format round table discussion on telescope observing techniques and interesting objects to observe. Come share your expertise or just learn from others how to get the most out of your equipment!

    9:30 PM **Messier Marathon 1** Pick up your form at the Registration Table

    9:30 PM - ??? - Dark Sky Observing

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

    Saturday, August 22

    NOTE: Moon sets at 9:05 PM and Sun sets at 8:10 PM

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

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

    9:30 AM - 10:30 AM - Nature Walk & Talk (Dr. Bruce Smith, Clarion University of PA)

    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!

    10:30 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 or for interested kids to learn something new about their universe!! -Fee is $5 per child. (Lead Teacher - Ms. Jennifer Heffernan, Oil Region Astronomical Society)

    10:30 AM - 1:00 PM - Astronomy Yard Sale - Bring all that extra stuff that's been collecting dust and make a few bucks!!

    11:00 AM - 11:45 AM - National Radio Astronomy Observatory - A Research Experience for One High School Graduate (INTEL Talent Search Semi-Finalist Mr. Matt Walentosky, Oil Region Astronomical Society)

    12:00 PM - 12:45 PM - Astronomy from the Bottom of the Earth - Observing from the Antarctic (Dr. Thomas Oberst, Assistant Professor of Physics, Westminster College - Pennsylvania)

    1:00 PM - 1:45 PM - First Results from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (Dr. Arthur Kosowsky, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Pittsburgh - Pennsylvania)

    2:00 PM - 2:45 PM - Amateur-Professional Collaborations in Extrasolar Planet Observations (Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez, Associate Professor of Physics, Grove City College - Pennsylvania )

    3:00 PM - 3:45 PM - Exploring Galaxy Clusters (Dr. John Feldmeier, Assistant Professor Department of Physics & Astronomy, Youngstown State University - Ohio )

    4:00 PM - 4:45 PM - Spitzer Discoveries and other Recent NASA Missions. (Dr. Varoujan Gorjian, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory - California)

    5:00 PM - 5:45 PM - China 2009 - Astronomy And More (Mr. Dan Holler, 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 - Citizen Astronomy and the Citizen Astronomer - Getting Involved in the Epsilon Aurigae Project (Mr. Tim Spuck, Oil Region Astronomical Society )

    8:00 PM - 8:30 PM - CCD Imaging Round Table Discussion - Come share and learn new tricks of the trade. This will be an open forum where individuals can share imaging and image processing techniques. Computer and projector will be available. So PLEASE come share your best work!

    9:00 PM **Messier Marathon 2** Pick up your form at the Registration Table

    9:30 PM - ??? - Dark Sky Observing

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

    Sunday, August 23

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

    10:00 AM - Messier Marathon Winners Announced

    12:00 PM - Astroblast 2009 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!