BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID:-//Meetup Inc//RemoteApi//EN VERSION:2.0 METHOD:PUBLISH CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-ORIGINAL-URL:http://meetup.warrenastro.org/calendar/10694679/ical/Special +Event:+"Galilean+Nights"+-+Stargate+Observatory+Open+House/ X-WR-CALNAME:Events - Special Event: "Galilean Nights" - Stargate Observato ry Open House BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Special Event: "Galilean Nights" - Stargate Observatory Open House DESCRIPTION:Warren Astronomical Society\n\nA special event for this open ho use. As part of the international Year of Astronomy\, we are participating in their Galilean Nights program. We will be focusing on Jupiter and its four large moons on the anniversary of Galileo's observations of them. Bes ides observing\, we will feature other special events - more on this later. \n--\nIt's our mostly-monthly public open house: you get to use our equipme nt and our volunteers' knowledge to see what's out there in the sky tonight . \n\nWe usually stay as long as the skies are clear and there are interes ted observers - usually around midnight\, but on nice nights even later. \ n\nYou don't have to stay the whole time - though we ask that you aim your headlights away from the observing field in case you have to leave early. Feel free to email us if you have any questions.\n\nWe only require a few t hings for your safety and enjoyment:\nAstronomical twilight will begin arou nd 7 PM\, so please plan to be at the observatory earlier. Be careful with headlights on your way in\, especially after sundown. Make sure to turn t he dome lights off if possible\, and park your car facing away from the obs erving field if you have running lights.\nPlease don't use white light flas hlights when others are observing. Others will have flashlights\, but if y ou'd like to bring your own\, you can easily make a red-light flashlight th at will help you get around in the dark and is safe for night vision. I ma ke reasonably decent ones with a red marker and an index card*\, but you ca n read other ideas here. \nNo alcoholic beverages are permitted.\n\nOther a dvice to help you make the most of your evening:\nWeather\, especially in M ichigan\, is unpredictable. We are always (some might say irrationally) ho peful\, but if there's a solid chance of an extended downpour we are not li kely to do any observing! If you're not sure about the weather\, call Bob Berta\, Marty Kunz\, or Jonathan Kade to check if the open house has been c anceled.\nObserving is an outside activity\, so dress accordingly - a littl e warmer than the temperature would indicate. Even in the summer\, it can get surprisingly chilly at night. Like any other activity\, the key to las ting is layers\, layers\, layers! In the wintertime and early spring\, pla n to wear at least two layers of every garment: socks\, pants\, and a shirt . Core temperature is important too\, so pay extra attention to keeping yo ur torso warm - an insulated vest can work wonders. \nIn the winter months \, it pays to have a thermos of a warm beverage. Coffee has its drawbacks\ ; less-caffeinated drinks like tea and hot cocoa can be more enjoyable. Di e-hard observers who need to keep warm have been known to drink hot liquid gelatin - it keeps one very warm\, at the cost of only a few taste buds. \ nWe are currently offering the observatory as a warm room\, so if it's too chilly outside you can warm up for a bit inside. We use a member's propane heater when is is available and normal ceramic space heaters otherwise\, s o we can only get the temperature up to around 30 degrees over the outside temperature - not bad if it's 30F outside\, rather cold if it's 2F. \nImpor tantly\, the Camp Rotary grounds have full-service public restrooms\, with warm running water and other modern conveniences.\n\nIf there's something s pecific you'd like to see\, we'll do our best to make it happen. We have s afe\, filtered solar telescopes to look at the sun in amazing detail before it gets dark\; if you're interested in seeing our local star\, let us know and we'll try to make a telescope available. \n\n* Take a cheap drugstore flashlight - preferably not too bright to start with. The omnipresent Eve ready $1 plastic flashlight works well. Screw off the plastic cap and pop o ut the clear plastic "lens" (aka bezel). You can paint the bezel with tran slucent nail polish\, use a red permanent marker\, or red cellophane. For better light blocking\, you can trace the disk on a sheet of white paper or an index card. Cut out the disk of paper\, line it up with the bezel\, an d screw the cap back on.\n\nRay\, MI 48096 - USA\n\nSaturday\, October 24 at 7:00 PM\n\nPhoto: http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/6/7/5/e vent_9762613.jpeg\n\nAttending: 16\n\nDetails: http://meetup.warrenastro.or g/calendar/10694679/ LAST-MODIFIED:20091027T230547Z UID:event_10694679@meetup.com CLASS:PUBLIC CREATED:20090620T143827Z DTSTAMP:20100322T005825Z DTSTART:20091024T230000Z DTEND:20091025T010000Z GEO:42.51;-83.06 LOCATION:Stargate Observatory @ Camp Rotary in Wolcott Mill Metropark - 205 05 29 Mile Rd\, (1.8 miles east of Romeo Plank Rd) - Ray\, MI 48096 - USA URL:http://meetup.warrenastro.org/calendar/10694679/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR