What is AstroBlast?
Beginning in June 1994, AstroBlast became an annual event hosted by ORAS. It is a regional gathering of amateur astronomers and anyone interested in astronomy! Lectures, information, educational sessions, on-site camping, and dark sky observing are all a part of our annual star party.
AstroBlast is open to registered participants only. We ask that you register in advance, if at all possible. Newcomers are encouraged to attend! One of the benefits of our observatory's remote location is the truly dark sky we get each night. As you may already know, we are located far from the lights of any city plagued by light pollution.
AstroBlast is open to registered participants only. We ask that you register in advance, if at all possible. Newcomers are encouraged to attend! One of the benefits of our observatory's remote location is the truly dark sky we get each night. As you may already know, we are located far from the lights of any city plagued by light pollution.
AstroBlast 2018
The dates for this year's AstroBlast will be from the evening of Wednesday, August 8th, to the morning of Monday, August 13th.
Early registration for the event will begin in late May, when a pre-registration form will be posted on this site. It will also be possible to register during the event itself. We expect to have a full schedule of speakers on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, as well as some of our traditional AstroBlast activities, such as a nature walk and swap meet. Our new 30" f/3 Starstructure telescope with a mirror by Mike Lockwood will be available for viewing by AstroBlast participants. Our site also offers great dark sky observing for those using their own equipment.
If you are an ORAS member, and you would like to take part in the training program to operate the 30" telescope, please contact Tim Spuck at (814) 354-6515.
AstroBlast 2017 door prizes:
--Gift certificate for a set of collimation thumbscrews, donated by Bob's Knobs
--Cosmic Decoders games, contributed by an anonymous donor
--Sky & Telescopes Pocket Sky Atlas, donated by Sky & Telescope
--Orion AstroGoggles, donated by Orion
--Exploring the Cosmos, by R. J. Bartlett, donated by Orion
--Orion Star Target planisphere, donated by Orion
--Orion Mini 50-mm guide scope donated by Orion
--Orion Skyline Deluxe green laser pointer, donated by Orion
--Orion green laser point (GLP) to telescope bracket, donated by Orion
--Orion StarShoot Solar System color imager IV, donated by Orion
--Orion Telescope Observers Guide, by R. J. Bartlett, donated by Orion
--Orion 10x50 WA binocular stargazing kit, with planisphere and mini red light, donated by Orion
--Orion Binocular Astronomy Field Guide, donated by Orion
--Orion Moon Map 260, donated by Orion
--Orion Mars Map, donated by Orion
--Orion Jupiter Map, donated by Orion
--Orion Saturn Map, donated by Orion
--Orion Deep Map 600 folding star chart, donated by Orion
--Orion Solar System, Moon, and Meteor Kit, donated by Orion
What to bring to AstroBlast:
If you will be camping, you should plan to bring a tent or a camper with you, as well as the food you will need for the time you are there. You should also bring hiking equipment (optional), sunscreen, blankets or a sleeping bag, and a flashlight with a red filter. And, of course, yourself and all of your friends who are interested in astronomy!
In addition, participants are invited to bring their own telescopes or binoculars. For non-campers, another option is to stay at a hotel nearby. If you'd like to check out possibilities for accommodations and other attractions, you can find them on the website of the Oil Region Alliance.
In addition, participants are invited to bring their own telescopes or binoculars. For non-campers, another option is to stay at a hotel nearby. If you'd like to check out possibilities for accommodations and other attractions, you can find them on the website of the Oil Region Alliance.
Where to stay and where to eat:
Everybody needs a soft pillow, warm blankets, and a full tummy! We invite you to camp with us at the observatory. There is a 10-acre field where most AstroBlast participants will be setting up their telescopes. This is not luxury camping -- there will be NO water available for drinking on site. There is a spring for public use about a half-mile to the south along Camp Coffman Road. This is much used by local residents, but we have no test results or other information on the quality of the water. Thus, we cannot state for certain that it is safe to drink. We now have a functioning bathroom and shower room in the multi-purpose building. There will also be a porta-potty in the observing field.
There may or may not be electricity available in the observing field. We do have electricity in the observatory and the observatory support building, which will allow you to recharge some electronic devices. There is also a WiFi connection at the site. As for meals, we will have a gas grill available for campers to share, and we're planning a Saturday night pizza party. You may also wish to patronize one of the restaurants in the nearby town of Knox, or one of the restaurants in or near the Cranberry Mall. There are a number of restaurants in Seneca, directly to the north of the mall. For groceries, please note that Hirsch's Meats, which is at the intersection of Route 322, Route 338, and Camp Coffman Road, functions as a local convenience store as well as a meat market. Its hours are 9-6 M-F and 9-5 on Saturday (closed Sunday).
In case you prefer to stay in a hotel during AstroBlast, there is one not far from the Cranberry Mall. This is the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites, in Seneca. Slightly further away is the Days Inn Oil City Conference Center.
There may or may not be electricity available in the observing field. We do have electricity in the observatory and the observatory support building, which will allow you to recharge some electronic devices. There is also a WiFi connection at the site. As for meals, we will have a gas grill available for campers to share, and we're planning a Saturday night pizza party. You may also wish to patronize one of the restaurants in the nearby town of Knox, or one of the restaurants in or near the Cranberry Mall. There are a number of restaurants in Seneca, directly to the north of the mall. For groceries, please note that Hirsch's Meats, which is at the intersection of Route 322, Route 338, and Camp Coffman Road, functions as a local convenience store as well as a meat market. Its hours are 9-6 M-F and 9-5 on Saturday (closed Sunday).
In case you prefer to stay in a hotel during AstroBlast, there is one not far from the Cranberry Mall. This is the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites, in Seneca. Slightly further away is the Days Inn Oil City Conference Center.
General rules of AstroBlast:
- If you use a flashlight, please use a red lens or lamp, or tape several layers of red cellophane over the lens.
- Participants who drive: parking during dark hours will be located near the observatory support building, at a lower level than the telescope field. Please park with headlights facing away from the field.
- There will be no vehicle entry or exit allowed from the camping area after dark.
- Dogs and cats are permitted at AstroBlast. Dogs must remain on a leash, and dogs and cats are the sole responsibility of their owner. Please clean up after your dog! Other animals are not permitted on site for AstroBlast.
- Please be courteous to other participants, and don't touch anyone else's equipment without their permission.