August 27, 28, 29 & 30, 2014
Long Lake Conservation Center
Palisade, MN
(Near McGregor, Minnesota)
Latitude: 46° 38′ 49.53” Longitude: -93° 27′ 53.89”
Join us for our 6th annual Minnesota Astronomical Society – Northern Nights Star Fest (NNSF). This event is held under the dark, dark skies in rural Aitkin County, about 125 miles north of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Offered in cooperation with the Long Lake Conservation Center (LLCC), this year’s program will include:
- Opportunities to view objects through the MAS’s largest aperture telescopes, the 25” and 30” Obsession telescopes.
- Excellent staging sites for setting up/using your scope. On- field electricity is available.
- An optional observing list will be available to challenge your skills. Pins are awarded for successful completion.
- Afternoon and evening presentations by MAS club members, astronomical experts and scholars.
- Comfortable modern “bunkhouse” lodging. Each room has 4 single bunks with its own bathroom and shower. Single occupancy available.
- Morning Coffee, Brunch, Dinner and Midnight snacks provided by LLCC. Meals are purchased à la carte with pre-registration.
- Daytime activities include presentations, swap meet, canoeing and exploring Aitkin County.
- Door prize drawing Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
the Long Lake Conservation Center at 1-800-450-5522
Schedule of Events: (Subject to change)
Wednesday August 27, 2014 |
4:00 pm: Check in
5:00 pm: Dinner
6:45 pm: Meet & Greet, Scope Setup
7:30 pm: Keyholder Training
Rest of Evening: Observe (no white light)
12:00 am: Midnight Snack
Thursday August 28, 2014
Morning: Canoeing, Hiking, Bird watching, Relaxing.
11:30 am: Brunch
1:00 pm: Lecture: “The Traveling Astronomer” by: Brandon Hamil
2:00 pm: Break – Coffee, lemonade, and cookies @ lecture hall
2:00 pm: Swap Meet at Lecture Hall
3:30 pm: Observing – Solar observing on field. Get out your filters and share views.
5:30 pm: Dinner
6:30 pm: Featured Speaker: TBD
Turn in your observing logs for Observing Pin
Rest of Evening: Observe (no white light)
12:00 am: Midnight Snack
Friday August 29, 2014
Morning: Canoeing, Hiking, Bird watching, Relaxing.
11:30 am: Brunch
1:00 pm: Lecture: MER: Ten Years Later – The Journeys of Spirit and Opportunity, by Dave Falkner
2:00 pm: Break – Coffee, lemonade, and cookies @ lecture hall
2:30 pm: Lecture: “Astrophotography Basics” by Ken Hugill
3:30 pm: Break – Coffee, lemonade, and cookies @ lecture hall
4:00 pm: Group Event: Show us your ATM – Walk the field and look at other equipment as a group
5:30 pm: Dinner
6:30 pm: Featured Speaker: Professor Roberta Humphreys, MN Institute of Astrophysics – Topic: Control Data Corporation and 100 Million Stars‐‐‐a bit of Minnesota astronomical history.
Turn in your observing logs for Observing Pin
Rest of Evening: Observe (no white light)
12:00 am: Midnight Snack
Saturday August 30, 2014
Morning: Canoeing, Hiking, Bird watching, Relaxing.
11:30 am: Brunch
1:00 pm: Lecture: “My flat scope” by Dick Jacobson
2:00 pm: Break – Coffee, lemonade, and cookies @ lecture hall
2:30 pm: Workshop: Image Processing (bring you PC and raw images)
3:30 pm: Break – Coffee, lemonade, and cookies @ lecture hall
3:30 pm: Swap Meet – Round two in back of lecture hall.
3:30 pm: Open Floor – Show us your astro Images
5:30 pm: Dinner
6:30 pm: Featured Speaker: Professor Kris Davidson, MN Institute of Astrophysics MN Institute of Astrophysics. Topic: Eta Carina and the Supernova Imposters.
Door prize give-away after talk (Must be present to win)
Turn in your observing logs for Observing Pin
Rest of Evening: Observe (no white light)
12:00 am: Midnight Snack
Sunday August 31, 2014
Morning: Canoeing, Hiking, Bird watching, Relaxing.
11:00 am: Turn in your observing logs for Observing Pin (Observatory)
12:00 pm: Meet in Palisade for Brunch
** Extra night of observing **
1:30 pm: Movies in Lecture Hall
5:30 pm: Dinner on your own
Rest of Evening: Observe (no white light)
12:00 am: Midnight Snack (Whatever is left)
Monday September 1, 2014 (No Food Avaliabe on Monday)
Morning: Canoeing, Hiking, Bird watching, Relaxing.
11:00 am: Turn in your observing logs for Observing Pin (Observatory)
12:00 pm: Meet in Palisade for Brunch
1:00 pm: Checkout (sweep your room, pick up garbage)
For additional information on visiting LLCC, including map and directions,
visit the MAS LLCC webpage HERE
the Long Lake Conservation Center at 1-800-450-5522
LLCC Home Page (more information about the LLCC) http://www.llcc.org
