Last revised: March 23, 2008
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TENNESSEE SPRING STAR PARTY 2008 SCHEDULE
FRIDAY APRIL 4TH
2:00 pm Observation field open for set up
2:00 pm Venders set up in lobby of Fall Creek Fall’s Inn
6:00 pm Red-light rules in effect*
7:00 pm Public viewing begins*
7:00 pm Movies ( Cascade Room/ bad weather)
10:00 pm Public viewing ends*
SATURDAY APRIL 5TH
CASCADE ROOM
10:00 am TSSP attendee’s participation hour: club intros, show and tell, venders, etc.
11:00 are Terry Alford “Surviving Light Pollution”
11:30 am Bob Smith “Lunar Myth Buster”
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm to 1:50 pm Dr. Tim Farris “Lunar top 100”
2:00 pm to 2:50 pm Paul Lewis “JPL Ambassador News & updates”
3:00 pm to 3:50 pm Dr. David James “Darwinism in the Heavens using Open Clusters to trace stellar evolution”
4:00 pm to 4:50 pm Janet Howard “A Worthy Successor to Hubble: The James Webb Space Telescope”
5:00 pm Dinner
6:00 pm Red-light rules in effect*
7:00 pm Jonn Serrie “Concert”* (Cascade room/bad weather)
7:00 pm Public invited to concert/Observation field*
7:00 pm Public viewing begins*
8:00 pm Randall Smart “Lore &Tour of the night sky”* (Cascade room/bad weather)
9:00 pm Movie (Cascade room/bad weather)
10:00 pm Public viewing ends
SUNDAY APRIL 6TH
11:00 am check out
2:00 pm clear observation field
*Observation field
• Planetarium Show on demand starting Saturday inside the Inn lobby
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Welcome to Fall Creek Falls State Park (FCFSP) and the fourth annual “Tennessee Spring Star Party” (TSSP). TSSP is designed for those who are interested in astronomy. From the beginner with a passing curiosity, to the professional, TSSP has much to offer. We have assembled a group of speakers and events which will be of interest to all who love the night sky.
FCFSP is one of Tennessee’s more remote state parks which provides for exceptionally dark skies. At an elevation of 1850 ft. above sea level, views from the observation field yield a very prominent Milky Way. The observation field is within walking distance of the FCF Inn.
Red light rules (no white light) will be observed after sunset both Friday and Saturday nights. There will be red cellophane and rubber bands at the hospitality tent for your convenience. For the general public, the hospitality tent will serve as a warming area if needed. At 10:00pm, after the public viewing ends, we will serve hot chocolate, coffee, and snacks at the hospitality tent for all the late night/morning observers both Friday and Saturday nights.
There will be a workshop (how to use binoculars and small telescope for astronomy) on the field from 8:00pm to 9:00pm Friday night. Meet at the hospitality tent at 7:50pm. If you bring your own telescope come at 7:30 and we will help you set it up.
Saturday night, Jonn Serrie, a nationally acclaimed New Age recording artist, will perform from 7:00pm to as long as he would like to play. It is strongly suggested that you be observing the stars during his performance. The combination of Jonn’s music and the night sky will be exhilarating and truly enhance your star gazing experience. At 9:00pm Randall Smart will give a night sky tour and tell stories of Cosmic Lore. If you love the night sky, Randall will make it come alive with his cosmic stories. Dyer Observatory will be presenting the night sky hourly in its portable planetarium. They will be located in the lobby at the FCF Inn. This is a must see show for it will give you a preview of the night sky you will see on the observation field. Venders, with astronomy related products will also be located in the lobby of the Inn.
In case of bad weather we will have programs in the Cascade room both Friday and Saturday nights.
The observation field is not a designated camping area. However, if you are observing all night, you may park your car, pick-up truck, SUV or van with your scope. You may nap and eat snacks out of your vehicle, but no travel trailers, large RV’s or tent camping allowed in this area. For your lodging needs FCF’s Inn has a special astronomy event package for the weekend, for large groups camping and cabins are available. If you’re staying the night it is highly recommended that you make reservations months in advance.
TSSP is strictly an outreach astronomy event. There is no registration or registration fee. The only cost you incur is lodging and food or you may come Saturday only to attend the speaker programs. FCFSP, Dyer Observatory (Vanderbilt University.), CAS (Cumberland Astronomical Society), and Astronomy in the Parks Society sponsors this event.
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Sponsored by
Cumberland Astronomical Society
Astronomy in the Parks Society
Dyer Observatory (Vanderbilt)
Fall Creek Falls State Park
If you have questions please contact:
Lloyd Watkins
watkinslk@comcast.net
or
Allen Ball
mistal@bellsouth.net
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Programs are entry level to professional level. There will be no registration fee. Your only cost for the event will be lodging and food. Make your own reservation with Fall Creek Falls Inn or you may camp in the park. (1-800-250-8610)
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The purpose of TSSP is a gathering of like-minded individuals to learn, share, and experience Astronomy under dark skies. There is no cost for this event; other than food and lodging which each participant may arrange directly with the park service. Fall Creek Falls State Park has created a special star party package for lodging at the Inn and will offer group camping. (see more information below) You will find this special offer very affordable. No camping or RVs will be allowed on the observing field but nearby camping areas, cabins and rooms in the Inn are available.
Fall Creek Falls State Park is among the premier parks in Tennessee with a very dark sky, 1850 ft. elevation, and 22,000 acres of prime forest, streams, and lakes. There are miles of hiking trails, a beautiful 256 foot waterfall, and many other amenities. Oh, did we mention how dark the skies are?
TSSP is open to all who are interested in astronomy and will begin Friday evening with open observing. A star party schedule, park map, and red light rules will be available at the lobby of the Inn. Red light rules will apply and red cellophane will be available on the viewing field. There will be no registration, all services and activities will be on a first come first served basis. As always, the public will be free to visit us on the field for viewing.
Come and enjoy a wonderful weekend of astronomy and outdoor activities!
As we continue to develop details we will update everyone on this website. In the meantime, please feel free to contact Lloyd Watkins at watkinslk@comcast.net or Allen Ball at mistal@bellsouth.net to volunteer your assistance or ask questions.
The Fall Creek Falls website is: http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/FallCreekFalls/
The observing field is located at approximately 35.655296° (North) Latitude, -85.371490° (West) Longitude
A “Clear Sky Clock” has been built for Fall Creek Falls State Park (Thanks Mr. Danko!)
You can see a satellite image of the location by clicking “here”
A map of the Park showing location of observing field can be found “here”
You can research events occurring in the night sky over Fall Creek Falls State Park via this “Heavens-Above link”.
The Fall Creek Falls website is: http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/FallCreekFalls/
Weekend Star Party Bed and Breakfast Package as presented by the Park Service. Please call the park at 1-800-250-8610 for more information.
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TSSP2008 OBSERVING FIELD RULES
1. Red light rules will be in effect from sun down to sun up. We will have red cellophane, rubber bands, and tape available at the coffee/warming tent. No white lights permitted. If you must leave during this time you must red cellophane any white light source and be escorted off of the field by red light.
2. Public is defined as anyone who is only visiting the observing field, has no astronomy equipment on the field, and is not with someone or part of a group on the field with astronomy equipment. Public visiting is permitted from 7:00pm to 10:00pm on Friday and 8:15pm to 11:00pm on Saturday. Most of the public will be transported from the Inn via Park Service vans, however, some may drive. They are not permitted to drive onto the observing field and must park along the road.
3. The observing field is not a designated camping area. No tents, motor homes, or travel trailers will be permitted; however, participants with astronomy equipment may park on the observing field all night at their viewing site. You may bring food/snacks but no cooking is permitted. Cars, pickup trucks, vans, and utility trailers, used to carry astronomy equipment, are permitted. You may use the comforts and utility of these permitted vehicles.
4. There will be a warming tent with coffee, hot chocolate, and heat source located in the middle of the field.
5. Once public viewing is over a cable will be placed at the entry of the viewing field and will be lowered only to allow exiting of vehicles.
There will be no AC power available on the observing field.
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Last revised: March 23, 2008