Star Party at a elementary school...

We set up for a star party last night. It had been complete overcast all day but just as the sun was it looked like it would break. The Moon would pop in and out but after about 10 kids got a peak the hole closed. This was my first time at a public star party. I was surprised at the turnout considering the weather. Must have been at least 50 kids and thier parents there. The kids seem to enjoy just looking over the equipment. I kept a pretty good crowd around mine just checking out the telrad. The parents thought the telrad was neat too.

We decided to tell everyone we would be back tonight. The weather is suppose to be a lot better. Can't wait! I seem to enjoy showing first timers something in the sky more then when I find something new. I just like watching thier reaction.

Clear Skies, PLEASE
Marty
Crandall, GA

Good luck Marty!!
May the skies be clear tonite so you can show those kids & parents what a beautiful thing Astronomy is!

Please come back with a full report!


Clear dark skies!


Ivan

Public star parties and school star parties are something our club does a lot of. It is always really neat to see the reaction of a kid who sees saturn or the moon through a decent telescope for the first time. It is also an experience that may play a role in encouraging that child to study science, perhaps changing his or her life. I also think it's important to show kids that there's more to life than just Gameboys, pro wrestling and bad movies.

K. Michael M.

Second only to my first time at an eyepiece, Friday night was the most fun I ever had with my telescope. There was a line for my Astroview 120 with 10 to 15 people for 2 hours. It finally started to slow down around 10pm. With the people after 10pm there were tons of questions and I let those kids get some hands on time. I was set up between a SN10" and a C11, so I was a little scared that I wouldn't get any business. I was way wrong. I would say that there were somewhere between 200 to 300 people there. It had the appearance of a street fair. Can't wait for the next time.

Clear Skies,

Marty
Crandall, GA