Category: Star Party

  • Upcoming 2024 Maine State Star Party

    Charlie Sawyer has posted this nice info graphic of the upcoming schedule for the 2024 Maine State Star Party. Update: I was not able to attend the star party as the weather was poor that weekend, and I did not feel like driving 3.5hrs one way for one night of decent conditions. I did hear…

  • Public Star Party at Galaxy Quest 2/18/2023

    I attended the Central Maine Astronomical Society public star party at Galaxy Quest in Lincolnville. A large crowd (by our public star party standards) of a couple dozen people showed up. Jacob had his 18″ Obsession (like) dobsonian telescope rolled out of the observatory. Also was a Celestron 6″ dobsonian telescope, a smaller refractor, and…

  • Public Star Party at DRA 1/21/2023

    I attended the Central Maine Astronomical Society Star Party at Damariscotta River Association, now called Great Salt Bay Farm from around 7:15 until 9:30pm. A particularly cold night, though I had 3 layers of clothing on, I did not feel too cold. Conditions weren’t the best, a lot of moisture in the sky. Seeing was…

  • 2022 Maine State Star Party

    This past weekend I attended the 2022 Maine State Star Party at Cobscook Bay State Park in Dennysville, Maine. I arrived late Friday afternoon. Weather was pretty bad, cloudy & misty which eventually turned to light rain so no observing was done. We were finally given access to camp and observe from the large field…

  • 7/2 Star Party

    Held a small public star party that only 2 friends showed up for. One of those rare summer nights in Maine with decent weather conditions. Minimal wind. Warm in the mid 60F. Only some passing clouds occasionally towards the north. Seeing was excellent; very little twinkle of the stars. I had my 10″ dob out…

  • 2021 Maine State Star Party

    Unfortunately I was unable to make Friday night’s festivities. I was told there were intermittent clouds throughout the night but some observing was able to be done. I arrived Saturday afternoon around 1:30pm. Not many people had stayed through Saturday unfortunately. I missed seeing them as it has been over a year if not closer…

  • Countdown to the Maine State Star Party 2021.

    Counting down the days until the Maine State Star Party 2021 in Cobscook Bay State Park here in Maine. Fingers crossed for good weather, clear skies, and no wildfire smoke that we’ve been dealing with for a good part of the summer. Charlie Sawyer is the person who has been putting on this event for…

  • Public Star Party 6/22/2019

    CMAS held a public star party at my home (first star party here) aptly named Foss Hill Observatory, here in Rome. We had a great turn out of about 15 people. One new member joined us from our Facebook group. He was interested in astrophotography and got to see another member’s setup for taking photos…

  • Stellafane 2017

    Back towards the end of July, I attended the Stellafane Convention in Springfield, VT for the first time. Every amateur astronomer that I’ve talked with says that Stellafane is a must-do trip. I’m happy to report that yes it is a must-do trip. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Here are my thoughts in a somewhat chronological…

  • Workday & Public Star Party 6/24/2017

    With the help of members and volunteers, we managed to paint more of the exterior of the Brower observatory. I helped finish the installation of shingles. It’s nice to see the observatory looking much better. It felt much drier inside too. Still more painting to do, fill in cracks and eaves with spray foam, and…