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.
Pre-registration for the event is now over, but It will also be possible to register at the site.
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 would like to take part in the training program to operate the 30" telescope, please contact Tim Spuck at (814) 354-6515.
Here are the fees for those registering on site:
Camping on Wednesday or Thursday evening -- $6 per night (individual, student, or family)
Individual or student registration, one day only -- $11
Family registration, one day only -- $22
Individual registration, entire event -- $15
Student registration, entire event -- $12
Family registration, entire event -- $30
Pizza party – $7 per adult, $5 for children age 13 or under
AstroBlast 2018 agenda
Wednesday - August 8, 2018
6:00 PM -- Gate opens at Observatory.
9:00 PM – Those not staying overnight must move their vehicles to the lower parking area, with lights facing east toward the exit.
Thursday - August 9, 2018
6:00 PM -- Gate opens at Observatory.
7:00 – 11:00 PM – OBSERVATORY OPEN HOUSE
7:00 – 7:30 PM – Tour of new Observatory and telescopes
7:30 – 8:30 PM – What’s Up, with Tiffany Stone Wolbrecht, Planetarium Lecturer at Ward Beecher Planetarium at Youngstown State University. (Ms. Wolbrecht will take the audience on a tour of what they can see in the night sky throughout the month of August.)
8:30 PM – 9:00 PM - Tour of new Observatory and telescopes
9:00 PM – Those not staying overnight must move their vehicles to the lower parking area, with lights facing east toward the exit.
9:00 – 11:00 PM -- Public observing
Friday - August 10, 2018
3:00 PM - Gate opens at Observatory.
6:00 – 6:30 PM – Welcome and logistics (Lower building - classroom)
9:00 PM – Those not staying overnight must move their vehicles to the lower parking area, with lights facing east toward the exit.
9:00 – 10:00 PM – Video Astronomy Demo – Larry McHenry, ORAS and Kiski Astronomers member (Lower building - classroom)
9:00 PM - ??? – Dark sky observing
Saturday - August 11, 2018
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Astronomy Camp for Kids – Miranda Heller, ORAS vice-president (Observatory)
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Astronomy yard sale: Bring any items you wish to sell! (Lower building)
12:00 – 1:00 PM – Astrophotography 101 – Samara Nagle, Astrophotographer/Telescope Addicts co-administrator (Classroom)
2:00 – 3:00 PM – Chile to the Stars – George Guzik, ORAS and AAAP member (Classroom)
3:00 – 4:00 PM - Halton Arp and his Peculiar Galaxies – Larry McHenry, ORAS and Kiski Astronomers member (Classroom)
4:00 – 5:00 PM - What? You Broke your Corrector! -- Daniel Holler, ORAS member (Classroom)
5:00 – 6:00 PM – Astronomy Gadget Round Table Discussion: Bring your best gadgets and online resources to share with the group (Classroom)
6:00 – 7:00 PM – Pizza party (Lower building)
7:00 – 7:30 PM – Door prize drawing (Lower building)
9:00 PM – Those not staying overnight must move their vehicles to the lower parking area, with lights facing east toward the exit.
9:00 – Dark sky observing
Sunday - August 12, 2018
Site is open all day.
9:00 PM – Those not staying overnight must move their vehicles to the lower parking area, with lights facing east toward the exit.
9:00 PM - ??? – Dark sky observing
Monday - August 13, 2018
1:00 PM – ASTROBLAST 2018 ends.
Wednesday - August 8, 2018
6:00 PM -- Gate opens at Observatory.
9:00 PM – Those not staying overnight must move their vehicles to the lower parking area, with lights facing east toward the exit.
Thursday - August 9, 2018
6:00 PM -- Gate opens at Observatory.
7:00 – 11:00 PM – OBSERVATORY OPEN HOUSE
7:00 – 7:30 PM – Tour of new Observatory and telescopes
7:30 – 8:30 PM – What’s Up, with Tiffany Stone Wolbrecht, Planetarium Lecturer at Ward Beecher Planetarium at Youngstown State University. (Ms. Wolbrecht will take the audience on a tour of what they can see in the night sky throughout the month of August.)
8:30 PM – 9:00 PM - Tour of new Observatory and telescopes
9:00 PM – Those not staying overnight must move their vehicles to the lower parking area, with lights facing east toward the exit.
9:00 – 11:00 PM -- Public observing
Friday - August 10, 2018
3:00 PM - Gate opens at Observatory.
6:00 – 6:30 PM – Welcome and logistics (Lower building - classroom)
9:00 PM – Those not staying overnight must move their vehicles to the lower parking area, with lights facing east toward the exit.
9:00 – 10:00 PM – Video Astronomy Demo – Larry McHenry, ORAS and Kiski Astronomers member (Lower building - classroom)
9:00 PM - ??? – Dark sky observing
Saturday - August 11, 2018
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Astronomy Camp for Kids – Miranda Heller, ORAS vice-president (Observatory)
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Astronomy yard sale: Bring any items you wish to sell! (Lower building)
12:00 – 1:00 PM – Astrophotography 101 – Samara Nagle, Astrophotographer/Telescope Addicts co-administrator (Classroom)
2:00 – 3:00 PM – Chile to the Stars – George Guzik, ORAS and AAAP member (Classroom)
3:00 – 4:00 PM - Halton Arp and his Peculiar Galaxies – Larry McHenry, ORAS and Kiski Astronomers member (Classroom)
4:00 – 5:00 PM - What? You Broke your Corrector! -- Daniel Holler, ORAS member (Classroom)
5:00 – 6:00 PM – Astronomy Gadget Round Table Discussion: Bring your best gadgets and online resources to share with the group (Classroom)
6:00 – 7:00 PM – Pizza party (Lower building)
7:00 – 7:30 PM – Door prize drawing (Lower building)
9:00 PM – Those not staying overnight must move their vehicles to the lower parking area, with lights facing east toward the exit.
9:00 – Dark sky observing
Sunday - August 12, 2018
Site is open all day.
9:00 PM – Those not staying overnight must move their vehicles to the lower parking area, with lights facing east toward the exit.
9:00 PM - ??? – Dark sky observing
Monday - August 13, 2018
1:00 PM – ASTROBLAST 2018 ends.
AstroBlast 2018 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
--TeleVue 1.25" 2X Barlow lens, donated by TeleVue
--Celestron Powertank lithium portable power pack, donated by Celestron
--Celestron NexYZ smartphone adapter, donated by Celestron
--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. There will be simple meals available for purchase Thursday and Friday evenings -- hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, etc. We will also have a pizza party on Saturday evening, and possibly lunch on Saturday as well. Or you can bring and prepare your own food, if you are so inclined. 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 and a microwave available for campers to share, and we're planning a Saturday night pizza party. There will be simple meals available for purchase on Thursday and Friday evening. Or you may wish to patronize one of the restaurants in the nearby town of Knox, or one of the eateries 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). Also, Schreffler's Snack Shack, at 1552 Route 322, offers a variety of options for meals and ice cream. It's open Tuesday through Sunday from 11-9.
In case you prefer to stay in a hotel during AstroBlast, there's 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 and a microwave available for campers to share, and we're planning a Saturday night pizza party. There will be simple meals available for purchase on Thursday and Friday evening. Or you may wish to patronize one of the restaurants in the nearby town of Knox, or one of the eateries 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). Also, Schreffler's Snack Shack, at 1552 Route 322, offers a variety of options for meals and ice cream. It's open Tuesday through Sunday from 11-9.
In case you prefer to stay in a hotel during AstroBlast, there's 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.
What else to do in the neighborhood
There are a number of tourist attractions in the general vicinity. The Sandy Creek Trail, a rails-to-trails trail that leads from the nearby village of Van to the Allegheny River and beyond, is located within ten miles of the observing site. This is a wonderful place for bicycling or walking in the woods. Cook Forest State Park has a fabulous collection of old-growth trees, many of them over 100 feet tall. There are also many things to see and do in Oil City, Franklin, Titusville, and the region around Clarion. Here are some links to a bit of tourist information for Venango and Clarion Counties.
Group photo from AstroBlast 2018, courtesy of Steve Behringer
