The 2023 Annual Picnic and Star Party is all about the moon and the upcoming eclipses. The club is providing hot dogs and hamburgers; you bring the potluck sides. Don't cook? Lend a hand with setup/take-down. Or bring a story of eclipses past to share over picnic dinner! But be sure to rsvp to Rene at reneg@astronomyhouston.org if you haven't responded to SignUp Genius.
Picnic Schedule:
2:00 pm HAS Dark Site gates open. Iced tea and lemonade ready!
4:00 pm Caravan to dark site from Columbus
4:00 pm Setup team begins
4:30 pm Lay out your potluck sides
5:00 pm Dinner is served in the picnic area
5:30 pm Get your solar eclipse glasses! At the canopy table with Celsa Canedo
Are you new to astronomy? Get your intro astronomy guide at the canopy table with Stephen Jones
6:00 pm Tag team presentations:
"How to Make Your Own Solar Filter" with Bill Spizzirri
"Eclipse Ambassadors Clue You In" with Dan Roy, Rebe Roy, and Khady Ndao
"Stories of Eclipses Past" with Brian Cudnik
7:00 pm Tear down, Recycle, and Dob Shed teams begin
Star Party Schedule: 1st Quarter Moon
6:30 pm Practice finding the sun. Bring solar filters for your equipment. Or watch someone on the field who can demonstrate how to find the sun (Yes, it's harder than you think, but we know some tricks.) Craig Lamison will be on the field by the VSIG sign.
7:30 pm Sunset.
7:30 pm Practice finding the moon, due south at this time. Bring moon filters for your equipment. A really good time to check off items on the Astronomical League Lunar list!
8:30 pm Observatory Open House with Joe Khalaf. View the moon through the C14 with Brian Cudnik. Plenty to see before the 10pm light window: Saturn in SE, Summer Triangle overhead.
10:30pm Jupiter rising
12:30 am Pleiades rising. Moon set 01:44.
Light Windows
10:00 pm & Midnight. We are holding early light windows for this event. You can also park along the exit road if you need to leave early.
Staying Overnight?
Contact [email protected] to reserve a bunk in the family, women's or men's bunk house. Camping also available in the clearing to the north of the picnic pavilion.
Questions? Contact Rene at [email protected]
See you soon!
Rene Gedaly
Field Trip & Observing Chair
