BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID:-//Meetup Inc//RemoteApi//EN VERSION:2.0 METHOD:PUBLISH CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-ORIGINAL-URL:http://meetup.warrenastro.org/calendar/9740119/ical/100+Hour s+of+Astronomy:+Stargate+Observatory+Open+House/ X-WR-CALNAME:Events - 100 Hours of Astronomy: Stargate Observatory Open Hou se BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:100 Hours of Astronomy: Stargate Observatory Open House DESCRIPTION:Warren Astronomical Society\n\nSpecial event tonight! As part of the IYA2009 Hundred Hours of Astronomy\, we are being given the keys to the educational building near Stargate. We will have astronomy videos and educational material on hand\, and WAS resident Galileo expert Ken Bertin w ill be giving an encore performance of the Galileo presentation that he is giving for the solar event earlier in the day. Bill Thomas\, the park rang er at Wolcott Mill\, is also going to be there also to assist in various th ings like a constellation tour that night and a short talk about the park s ervices they offer.\n\nThe usual spiel:\nIt's our mostly-monthly public ope n house: you get to use our equipment and our volunteers' knowledge to see what's out there in the sky tonight. \n\nWe usually stay as long as the sk ies are clear and there are interested 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 qu estions.\n\nWe only require a few things for your safety and enjoyment:\nAs tronomical twilight will begin around 7 PM\, so please plan to be at the ob servatory earlier. Be careful with headlights on your way in\, especially after sundown. Make sure to turn the dome lights off if possible\, and par k your car facing away from the observing field if you have running lights. \nPlease don't use white light flashlights when others are observing. Othe rs will have flashlights\, but if you'd like to bring your own\, you can ea sily make a red-light flashlight that will help you get around in the dark and is safe for night vision. I make reasonably decent ones with a red mar ker and an index card*\, but you can read other ideas here. \nNo alcoholic beverages are permitted.\n\nOther advice to help you make the most of your evening:\nWeather\, especially in Michigan\, is unpredictable. We are alwa ys (some might say irrationally) hopeful\, but 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\, Marty Kunz\, or Jonathan Kade to check if the open house has been canceled.\nObserving is an outside activi ty\, so dress accordingly - a little warmer than the temperature would indi cate. Even in the summer\, it can get surprisingly chilly at night. Like any other activity\, the key to lasting is layers\, layers\, layers! In th e wintertime and early spring\, plan to wear at least two layers of every g arment: socks\, pants\, and a shirt. Core temperature is important too\, s o pay extra attention to keeping your torso warm - an insulated vest can wo rk wonders. \nIn the winter months\, it pays to have a thermos of a warm b everage. Coffee has its drawbacks\; less-caffeinated drinks like tea and h ot cocoa can be more enjoyable. Die-hard observers who need to keep warm h ave been known to drink hot liquid gelatin - it keeps one very warm\, at th e cost of only a few taste buds. \nWe are currently offering the observato ry 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\, so we can only get the temperature up to around 30 degrees over the outside temperature - not bad if it's 30F outsid e\, rather cold if it's 2F. \nImportantly\, the Camp Rotary grounds have fu ll-service public restrooms\, with warm running water and other modern conv eniences.\n\nIf there's something specific you'd like to see\, we'll do our best to make it happen. We have safe\, 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 avail able. \n\n* Take a cheap drugstore flashlight - preferably not too bright to start with. The omnipresent Eveready $1 plastic flashlight works well. Screw off the plastic cap and pop out the clear plastic "lens" (aka bezel). You can paint the bezel with translucent nail polish\, use a red permanen t marker\, or red cellophane. For better light blocking\, you can trace th e disk on a sheet of white paper or an index card. Cut out the disk of pap er\, line it up with the bezel\, and screw the cap back on.\n\nRay\, MI 48 096 - USA\n\nSaturday\, April 4 at 7:00 PM\n\nPhoto: http://photos3.meetups tatic.com/photos/event/a/6/7/5/event_9762613.jpeg\n\nAttending: 8\n\nDetail s: http://meetup.warrenastro.org/calendar/9740119/ LAST-MODIFIED:20090720T213629Z UID:event_9740119@meetup.com CLASS:PUBLIC CREATED:20090214T122614Z DTSTAMP:20100321T031906Z DTSTART:20090404T230000Z DTEND:20090405T010000Z 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/9740119/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR