The details of the Kopernik AstroFest 2011 have been officially announced. While some changes can be expected, here are the details as we know them right now.
AstroFest 2011 – 6 PM Friday September 30th to Sunday afternoon October 2nd
Kopernik Observatory & Science Center
698 Underwood Road, Vestal, NY 13850 (607) 748-3685 http://www.kopernik.org
Sponsored by the Kopernik Astronomical Society
http://www.kopernik.org/kas/index.htm http://kopernikastro.org/
Workshops
Alan Friedman on Solar Imaging
Dr. John Delano
Family/Student Workshop
Educator Workshop
Lectures/Talks
Dr. John Delano University of Albany
Dr. Joseph Veverka Cornell University
Exhibits
Solar Viewing – with Barlow Bob
Evening Viewing – in the 3 domes, or in the yard; our scopes or yours
Swap Meet
Camping ($5) & Discounts in Area Motels
Food & Snacks
Vendors
Admission: $5 for one day, $10 for all three days
20% Discount Admission for Astronomy Club Members, seniors and students
Vendors, RV Campers – call for information
Fibber (607) 875-4112 or Art (607) 659-7855
Tentative Agenda
Friday – 9/30/11
5:00 PM Doors open to public
5:00 – 7:15 PM Dark Sky Exhibit/NYSERDA Exhibit/Night Sky Network Workshop
Food available
7:30 – 8:30 PM Dr. John Delano – University of Albany (general public talk)
8:30 PM to Dawn Night Sky Viewing
Saturday – 10/1/11
7:30 – 9:00 AM Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate, Juice, Bagels, Donuts, Muffins, Pastries, etc.
All Day Dark Sky Exhibit/NYSERDA Exhibit/Solar Viewing and Imaging
9:00 AM – 2:30 PM Swap Meet/Night Sky Network Workshops/Making Stuff Workshops
Solar Viewing – Barlow Bob
10:00 – 11:00 AM Alan Friedman Solar Imaging Presentation
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Dr. John Delano Student/Family workshop
11:00 AM – 1:15 PM Lunch (TBD)
1:30 – 3:00 PM Dr. John Delano – Teacher Workshop
2:00 – 5:00 PM Night Sky Network Workshops/Making Stuff Workshops
3:00 – 4:00 PM Alan Friedman Solar Imaging Presentation
4:00 – 6:00 PM Dinner (TBA)
6:00 – 7:00 PM Dr. Joseph Veverka – Cornell University
7: 30 – 8:30 PM Dr. John Delano – Albany University technical talk
8:30 PM – Dawn Night Sky Viewing
Sunday – 10-2-11
7:30 to 10 AM Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate, Juice, Bagels, Donuts, Muffins, Pastries, etc.
All Day Dark Sky Exhibit/NYSERDA Exhibit/Solar Viewing and Imaging
9:00 AM – 2:30 PM Solar Viewing – Barlow Bob
10:00 – 11:00 AM Alan Friedman Solar Imaging Presentation
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Night Sky Network Workshops & Making Stuff Workshops
11:00 AM to 1:15 PM Lunch (TBA)
About Kopernik Observatory & Science Center, the KAS, and AstroFest 2011
The KAS is a group of volunteers interested in astronomy. We volunteer our services on behalf of Kopernik Observatory. Kopernik Observatory is perched atop a 1720 foothill in Vestal, 13 miles Southwest of Binghamton, NY. We have calculated a Sky Quality Meter (SQM) reading of 21.00 (naked-eye limit of 6.12 magnitude) with a light dome in the NE. Operating for over 35 years, the Kopernik Observatory & Science Center was New York State’s first science laboratory facility designed for K-12 teachers, students, and their families. Today, our regional Science Center is also dedicated to public programming and to teaching students from Kindergarten to the Graduate level.
We are planning our AstroFest 2011 event for this fall. We are hoping you would consider being a part of our event. At this time nothing has been finalized; some talks are targeted for a more advanced group of amateur astronomers from Kopernik, and other astronomy clubs, as well as college professors, graduate and undergraduate students from area Colleges and Universities; as well as interested members of the public.
Our AstroFest will begin at 6 PM on Friday, September 30, and concludes Sunday afternoon, October 2. You can decide how much you would like to participate from one day to all three. Camping will be available at the observatory or you can find lodging at a special discount rate in Vestal motels. We are hoping for clear skies to observe after the talks Friday and Saturday, and sunny skies for solar observing with Barlow Bob and “company” on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Dr. John Delano (Albany University) has also agreed to provide talks/workshops for us on Friday night, Saturday morning and Saturday evening. Alan Friedman (Buffalo) will be providing talks and workshops on Saturday and Sunday. Dr. Joseph Veverka of Cornell University will be speaking on Saturday evening.
At this event, we will be inviting vendors and are planning a swap meet as well. At our swap meet, you are welcome to sell your astronomical items. We will provide you with a free spot under our Gazebo or dining canopy to do so (first come, first served). One of the purposes of this year’s event is to get others to visit us and see the jewel we have here at the observatory in Vestal.
Not-for-profit Kopernik Observatory is regionally known as a “Space Education Center”. We also claim to be the best sited, best equipped observatory in the Northeast US which is open to the public. We have three domes, one with a 6” f/12 Astro Physics Planetary Special (the second best of the batch of 25 produced) on a G-11 mount/clock drive and NGC-Max mount; one with a Celesteron 14” with a CGE computer drive and our flagship, a 20” Ritchey-Chretien with an OGS drive. On occasions we talk with astronauts in space on the ISS, Space Shuttle, and in the past, on Mir via short wave radio.
Directions to Kopernik Observatory, 698 Underwood Road, Vestal NY:
From the E or W – take Route 17 (Southern Tier Expressway – future I-86). Get off at the Vestal Exit 67 S (26 S) and proceed up the hill about 5.5 miles. Just past Vestal Center (alleged to be a 40 mph “speed trap”), turn right at the sign “Observatory 2 Miles” onto Glenwood Road. If you miss the turn, you will hit the Pennsylvania state line in about a mile – just turn around and go back a mile. Take Glenwood road a block to the first left hand turn (about .2 mile). This is Underwood Road. Drive up the hill 1.8 miles. Kopernik Observatory is on the left.
From the N or S – take I-81 to Route 17 (Southern Tier Expressway – future I-86). Then follow directions from E or W.
