Astronomical Society of New Haven CSP 26 Special Announcement We are pleased and lucky to have the opportunity to celebrate our 26th anniversary of the Connecticut Star Party (CSP) back in the dark skies of Northwestern Connecticut.This year we will be holding CSP-26 at the Edmund D. Strang Scout Reservation in Goshen, CT on the weekend of September 30 - 02, 2016 Camp Strang offers three different observing locations to choose from, all with beautiful dark skies. Each field has its own character, and it's up to you to choose where you want to set up. "Brownsea Field" has a good-sized flat area to set up on near the showers, and plenty of room around the field to pitch a tent. "Dining Hall Field" does not have power available and is located between the Dining Hall and the "Training Facility" bunkhouse near the main entrance. "Camporee Field" is the largest of all the fields. It is also the highest elevation and has the best all around views of the horizon in all directions. Camporee is also the most remote and "rustic" of the three, outdoor latrines are available on the Camporee field. There is no power available on Camporee so we recommend that you read an article by Jerry Lodriguss on "Power in the Field" . You can visit his page click here Everything is a little spread out at the camp. The walk from the Brownsea field to the Dinning Hall being approximately a 1/2 mile.Camporee is approximately a quarter mile from Brownsea Field, but accessible directly from West Side Road. We will have a warming tent near the path to Brownsea. The tent will have snacks, coffee, heat, chairs and tables Your support of Connecticut Star Party has allowed us to spread the word about the wonders and beauty of astronomy to hundreds of people through our public outreach program.ASNH has observed here in the past, and based on common consensus most believe the skies are at least a mag darker than our other locations.It's very difficult to find a good spot in our state, and we truly believe this is a good one! ASNH and the CSP Team are very grateful for your support and understanding, and we hope you'll give this great new location a try. The ASNH Board of Directors | |
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Frequently asked questions about the new CSP location? Q: Will there be electrical service to the fields? A: There will be no power to any field for observing. We had previously announced that there would be power at the Brownsea field. While there is power at the Shower house on this field, it will only be available during the day. The sodium lights are on the same circuit as the power outlets and will be shut off during observing periods. There is no 220 service for us to pull power for a panel. NOTE: There is an alternative to AC in the filed. We recommend that you read an article by Jerry Lodriguss on "Power in the Field". Please visit his page click here Q: Are protable generators allowed? A: No they are not allowed at this event. Q: Where will Registration be located? A: Registration will be in the Dining Hall instead of at the entrance. Find your spot and then register.. Q: Are there restrooms or portable facilities relatively close to where people will be camping? A: Each observing location has adequate latrine or restroom facilities near by. Q: For attendees with limited mobility, where would the best place to camp be? A: There are two main fields for observing, and all are pretty widely spaced. Staff will be on hand to determine the best field choices for your needs. Q: How do I choose where I want to set up my scope? A: Setup sites are available on a first come first served basis. If you want to be near the showers, Brownsea is best choice. If you don't mind camping and hiking, Camporee would be a good choice. Q: Are cars allowed on the fields? A: Yes. Each field has adjacent spots for general overnight parking. Anyone who is planning on leaving or entering after dusk will be required to use specified Day Parking areas. Instructions will be supplied for parking on each field. Larger vehicles and RVs will have specific areas defined for them depending on their size. Check with the CSP staff for larger vehicles. Q: Is there driving allowed between the fields? A: No. For safety concerns there will not be any driving between fields by attendees. Q: Is their cell phone service at the site? A: Yes, Major service providers have adequate service in most areas. Q: Is there WiFi service at the site? A: No. Q: Are the fields level? A: All fields have slight grades and level location. We will have the level locations marked off where you can set up your equipment. Q: What if we need to leave after dark? A: Not a problem. However you will need to make arrangements to park in the designated Day Parking areas. Q: Observing site changes? A: There will be no observing in the field next to the dining hall. This field is sloped and is next to the parking lot, where cars will be moving after dark. Q: Anything to consider not being on the meal plan? A: As with any wilderness camping area, there is wildlife. Keep your food locked up and secured when not in use. Q: What about hiking the area? A: There are abundant trails and wooded areas. Once you are outside the designated observing areas you are responsible for your safety and your return to the CSP camp area. Being on a Boy Scout reservation the standard rule is to use the buddy system. We recommend always travelling with at least one other person at all times especially if you venture outside of the CSP camp observing areas. Q: Where are the garbage can locations? A: Trash dumpsters are located at the main camp entrance and garbage cans are at the showers at Brownsea, both bunkhouses and the latrine at the Camporee field. Q: What to expect when you arrive A: There are a few things: - Gate opens at 3pm on Friday afternoon, and registration close at 9pm. - Observing time on Friday night starts at 9pm. - Registration on Satureday is all day and closes at 8pm. - There are designated Day Parking locations for anyone not remaining after observing starts. - There are "Private Family Bunk" rooms. Only 2 rooms available on a first come first served basis. |
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Some Views of Camp Strang
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Directions:
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Catering service supply by
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Camp Rules
Remember this is a Star Party to which all the members of families - including young children - are invited.
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Our Speakers for this year are:
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Gaianne Jenkins
This workshop has goodies! Participants get a perpetual lunar Calendar in the form of a circular slide rule that gives the phase of the Moon for any Gregorian date within two centuries of the present date, to an accuracy of +/- one day. This is done by choosing a month, year, and day and setting the movable circles to give the lunar phase. The presentation will consist of how the Calendar works, why the Calendar works—including the underlying ancient astronomy of celestial harmonies and planetary cycles—and some thoughts toward squeezing out extra precision. | Robert Zinn Robert (Bob) Zinn is Professor of Astronomy at Yale University. His passion for astronomy was born when he was an amateur astronomer and built his own 6 inch telescope as a teenager. He later became a professional, earning his Ph. D. (Yale) in 1974 and joining the Yale faculty in 1979. He studies the formation and evolution of the Milky Way and other Local Group galaxies. | Stella Kafka Dr. Stella Kafka, is the Director of the AAVSO (American Association of Variable Star Observers). Before her tenure at the AAVSO, Dr Kafka held positions at CTIO, Spitzer Science center/Caltech, Carnegie Institution of Washington/DTM and AIP Publishing. The AAVSO is an international non-profit organization of variable star observers whose mission is to enable anyone, anywhere, to participate in scientific discovery through variable star astronomy. |
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Activites for the weekend
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CSP Past Experiences
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To Register online please
Click Here
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