Star Party 2011

Pre Registration - Register by Monday September 5 and SAVE 25%

Click here for printable registration form!

ASTROBLAST 2011 will take place September 22 - 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 2011 will be held September 22 - 28!

    ASTROBLAST 2011 VENDORS will be listed soon, but these vendors attended in 2010

    Additional Door Prizes will be Listed Soon, but these are some of the door prizes from ASTROBLAST 2010! We anticipate a similar response to this years event.

    Orion Telescopes & Binoculars - donated 1 Aluminum Focus Wheels, Sport, 5 Multi-Tool with Flashlight, 1 UltraBlock Filter, SCT, 1 Observer's Backpack Case, 1 HighLight Plossl, 26mm, 1 AudioView 7x17 Binocular, 1 Sirius Plossl 26mm 1.25", 1 Radial Aluminum Focus Wheels, 2 Starry Night Screensaver, 2 Eyes on Mars DVD, 2 Atlas of the Sky (DVD), 1 Funscope 76mm Reflector ($550.00 value)

    SkyStones - donated a variety of meteorite samples and items ($450.00 value)

    Skies Unlimited - donated a 18mm Explore Scientific eyepiece ($200 value)

    PIXSOFT Inc. - donated a StarGPS Mouse Receiver ($150.00 value)

    JMI Telescopes - donated a JMI Soft Carrying Case (CASE3811C) ($90.00 value)

    Royal Astronomical Society of Canada - donated an Observer's Handbook and an Observer's Calendar ($45.00 value)

    - donated a Agena AstroProducts Enhanced Wide Angle 9mm Eyepiece ($40.00 Value)

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

    ORAS Inc. - donated two Galileo Telescope Kits ($40.00 value)

    Bob's Knobs - donated a set of Collimation Thumbscrews ($30.00 value)


    Astroblast 2010 will be held September 22 - 28


    Special Features for Astroblast 2011!!

    **Galileoscope Workshop - construct a telescope similar to what Galileo used to observe the moons of Jupiter! Check out the details of the telescope you will be building at https://www.galileoscope.org/gs/.

    **Opportunity to use a robotic telescope in Perth Australia!

    **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 Kids Camp - A special series of activities for kids including assistance with earning Scout Badges will be held Saturday!

    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.

    Thursday, September 22

    6:30 PM Register at Observatory

    7:00 PM - 8:00 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!

    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 23

    NOTE: Moon sets at 4:47 PM and Sun sets at 7:17 PM

    3:00 PM - 11:00 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

    6:30 PM - 7:00 PM - Astronomy Software and Online Resources Round Table Discussion. Please come share your favorite software and online astronomy resources with everyone, and learn about the many FREE resources that are out there for your use! (Moderated by Mr. Tim Spuck and Ms. Miranda Heller, Oil Region Astronomical Society)

    7:00 PM - 7:45 PM Getting Started in Astronomy - Beginners Night (Ms. Danielle Yeager and Mr. John O'Hara, Oil Region Astronomical Society) ** NOTE: Bring your binoculars and telescopes if you have them! **

    7:45 PM - 8:30 PM - The Art of Collecting Meteorites (Mr. Dave Holden - Sky Stones)

    8:30 PM **Messier Marathon 1** Pick up your form at the Registration Table

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

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

    Saturday, September 24

    NOTE: Moon sets at 5:21 PM and Sun sets at 7:16 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)

    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 - 12:00 PM - Galileoscope Workshop. Construct and take home a telescope similar to what Galileo used to first observe the moons of Jupiter. The cost of the workshop is $20 per person and includes the telescope kit. Check out the details of the telescope you will be building at https://www.galileoscope.org/gs/. (Mr. Tim Spuck, Oil Region Astronomical Society)

    12:00 PM - 2:30 PM - Astronomy Camp for Kids (Ms. Miranda Heller and Ms. Alexis McCool, Oil Region Astronomical Society) - The Kids Camp will target children K through Grade 6, and will be free to all registered guests. If you do not wish to register for ASTROBLAST and simply want to bring your child for the Kids Camp only, the cost will be $7 for the first child, and $5 for each additional child.

    12:00 PM - 12:45 PM - Summer Internship and Classical Nova Research at the University of Alaska (Mr. Matt Walentosky - Clarion University of PA - Pennsylvania)

    1:00 PM - 1:45 PM - Solar Observing (Mr. Larry McHenry, Kiski Astronomers Club - Pennsylvania )

    2:00 PM - 2:45 PM - The Search for Exoplanets: There's No Place Like Home (Dr. Darren Williams, Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Penn State - Erie )

    3:00 PM - 3:45 PM - Large Survey Astronomy (Dr. Arthur Kosowsky, Associate Professor Physics & Astronomy - University of Pittsburgh )

    4:00 PM - 4:45 PM - Lyman Alpha Galaxies - Looking for the Baby Milky Way (Dr. John Feldmeier, Assistant Professor Physics and Astronomy - Youngstown State University)

    5:00 PM - 6:00 PM - New Results from NASA's WISE and Kepler Missions (Dr. Varoujan Gorjian, Spitzer Science Center - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory - California)

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

    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Astronomy Education and Public Outreach in Chile and Possible Opportunities for US Amateurs (Mr. Tim Spuck, Center for Authentic STEM Education - Pennsylvania )

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

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

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

    Sunday, Sunday 25

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

    10:00 AM - Messier Marathon Winners Announced

    10:00 AM - Please note there is much to do throughout the region during the daytime hours. Hiking, fishing, bike riding, boating, bird watching, and much more are located within minutes of the Observatory. Please see the links below for Two Mile Run County Park, Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Oil Region Alliance.

    7:00 PM Register at Observatory (If not previously registered)

    7:00 PM - 8:00 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!

    8:30 PM - ??? Dark Sky Observing

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

    Monday, September 26

    7:00 PM Register at Observatory (If not previously registered)

    8:30 PM - ??? Dark Sky Observing

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

    Tuesday, September 27

    7:00 PM Register at Observatory (If not previously registered)

    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 28

    7:00 PM Register at Observatory (If not previously registered)

    8:30 PM - ??? Dark Sky Observing

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

    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!