BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID:-//Meetup Inc//RemoteApi//EN VERSION:2.0 METHOD:PUBLISH CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-ORIGINAL-URL:http://meetup.warrenastro.org/calendar/10694711/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 open house night. 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 larg e moons on the anniversary of Galileo's observations of them. Besides obse rving\, we will feature other special events - more on this later.\n--\nWe usually stay as long as the skies are clear and there are interested observ ers - 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 things for your safety and enjoyment:\nAstronomical twilight will begin around 7 PM\, so please plan to be at the observatory earlier. Be careful with headlight s on your way in\, especially after sundown. Make sure to turn the dome li ghts off if possible\, and park your car facing away from the observing fie ld if you have running lights.\nPlease don't use white light flashlights wh en others are observing. Others will have flashlights\, but if you'd like to bring your own\, you can easily make a red-light flashlight that will he lp you get around in the dark and is safe for night vision. I make reasona bly decent ones with a red marker and an index card*\, but you can read oth er ideas here. \nNo alcoholic beverages are permitted.\n\nOther advice to h elp you make the most of your evening:\nWeather\, especially in Michigan\, is unpredictable. We are always (some might say irrationally) hopeful\, bu t if there's a solid chance of an extended downpour we are not likely to do any observing! If you're not sure about the weather\, call Bob Berta\, Ma rty Kunz\, or Jonathan Kade to check if the open house has been canceled.\n Observing is an outside activity\, so dress accordingly - a little warmer t han the temperature would indicate. Even in the summer\, it can get surpri singly chilly at night. Like any other activity\, the key to lasting is la yers\, layers\, layers! In the wintertime and early spring\, plan to wear at least two layers of every garment: socks\, pants\, and a shirt. Core te mperature is important too\, so pay extra attention to keeping your torso w arm - 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-caf feinated drinks like tea and hot cocoa can be more enjoyable. Die-hard obs ervers 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 cu rrently offering the observatory as a warm room\, so if it's too chilly out side you can warm up for a bit inside. We use a member's propane heater wh en is is available and normal ceramic space heaters otherwise\, so we can o nly get the temperature up to around 30 degrees over the outside temperatur e - not bad if it's 30F outside\, rather cold if it's 2F. \nImportantly\, t he Camp Rotary grounds have full-service public restrooms\, with warm runni ng water and other modern conveniences.\n\nIf there's something specific yo u'd like to see\, we'll do our best to make it happen. We have safe\, filt ered solar telescopes to look at the sun in amazing detail before it gets d ark\; 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 flashligh t - preferably not too bright to start with. The omnipresent Eveready $1 p lastic flashlight works well. Screw off the plastic cap and pop out the cle ar plastic "lens" (aka bezel). You can paint the bezel with translucent na il polish\, use a red permanent marker\, or red cellophane. For better lig ht 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\, and screw th e cap back on.\n\nRay\, MI 48096 - USA\n\nFriday\, October 23 at 7:00 PM\n \nPhoto: http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/6/7/5/event_9762613 .jpeg\n\nAttending: 15\n\nDetails: http://meetup.warrenastro.org/calendar/1 0694711/ LAST-MODIFIED:20091025T074940Z UID:event_10694711@meetup.com CLASS:PUBLIC CREATED:20090620T144445Z DTSTAMP:20100322T005926Z DTSTART:20091023T230000Z DTEND:20091024T010000Z 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/10694711/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR