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Post by bsimon615 on Jul 4, 2018 9:05:43 GMT -6
Interested DSSG attendees, PAS members and members of other clubs as well as any other interested amateur astronomers will be able to evaluate the new site for the Deep South Star Gaze on the weekend of August 10th/11th. Note - this is "new moon" weekend and also coincides with the Perseid Meteor Shower.
The objective of this trip will be for more people to see the White Horse Christian Retreat Center, located near Sandy Hook, MS. This location is about 12 miles south of Columbia, MS. For me, White Horse is a shorter drive (91 miles) than the Feliciana Retreat Center (115 miles). In addition to observing under darker skies with lower horizons we want to better assess the site in respect to electrical outlets and what light shielding needs to be done if any. (The main building, where we will eat, can be seen from where most will be set up to observe. We may need to block some windows with tarps. Not sure about that just yet. Lights can be completely turned off, but if we have a snack bar at night, we may need to shield those lights.)
Cost will be $35.00 per night, not including meals. Please let me know if you plan to attend, and if you want meals.
Thanks!
Barry Simon
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Post by Len Philpot on Jul 4, 2018 15:27:29 GMT -6
So this is the DSTR for the DSSG? Or is it the DSDR (Deep South Dress Rehearsal)? We need a snappy acronym...  Will the bunkhouse(s) be available or are we camping? Definitely interested, but tent camping in August could be an ordeal... Thanks. |
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Post by bsimon615 on Jul 5, 2018 12:27:51 GMT -6
$35.00 will buy you a spot in a bunkhouse (which is air-conditioned). They also have heat when necessary, but that is not an issue in August.
There will be a fee for those that want to tent camp or stay in an rv or camper. That price will be no more than $35.00 and probably less. Yet to be negotiated but probably pricing similar to what we had at FRC.
Barry Simon
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Post by Len Philpot on Jul 5, 2018 14:45:11 GMT -6
Put me down for a bunk Friday and Saturday nights. I'm also interested in meals - Will they be B-L-D, from Friday evening through Sunday morning?
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Post by bsimon615 on Jul 18, 2018 7:15:45 GMT -6
I need a head count to give to Carol at White Horse Retreat for the weekend of August 10th (Friday) and the 11th (Saturday). This is "new moon" weekend and also the weekend for the Perseid Meteor Shower.
Here is who I have so far -
Barry Simon----------------------------both nights with meals
Ron Marcella---------------------------both nights with meals
Jerry LaBauve--------------------------both nights with meals
John Martinez--------------------------both nights with meals
Len Philpot-----------------------------both nights with meals
C. Berthaut----------------------------both nights, maybe
Kent Birkle-----------------------------Friday only
Tim Mann-------------------------------both nights with meals
Gabe Dickens---------------------------both nights and meals, probable
Walter Sarrat---------------------------Friday night with supper
Kirk Aymond----------------------------Friday, but not overnite, wants supper
Corrections? Anyone else?
Let me know.
Barry Simon
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Post by bsimon615 on Jul 21, 2018 11:35:57 GMT -6
Time to fish or cut bait. Who is in? I am going to make a call on Monday and lock in some numbers with White Horse. We are now less than 3 weeks away.
Barry Simon
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Post by bsimon615 on Aug 1, 2018 22:23:08 GMT -6
I wrote another post as a follow up on Monday afternoon to all of this and then a delivery truck ran over the Cox Cable pedestal two doors down from me and not only did I loose my post before I could post it, but I lost cable tv, internet and telephone service for 2 days! What a bummer!
Anyway, here is the short version - two more people added to the list above - Richard Erbe and Steve Harrison for a total of 13. Cost will be $35 per night for a bunk. Bring your own bedding and bathroom supplies (towel, wash cloth, soap). Not sure yet about meals, we may be on our own but there are food options near by. We will have meals at White Horse in the fall, and we may next week, but we do have options. More about this in a few days.
No real need to bring a canopy for near your scope. The main building is close and it does have a porch. Pay when you arrive. Cash or check will work. More about arrival time in a few days, but basically no one is planning on getting there before noon on Friday the 10th.
Address: 315 Hurricane Creek Rd, Sandy Hook, MS
If anyone needs specific directions, let me know.
Barry Simon
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Post by bsimon615 on Aug 8, 2018 18:05:12 GMT -6
Ok, here is some final information before our journey to White Horse on Friday -
I talked to Carol today and she is expecting us about 2 pm to 2:30 pm on Friday. (Later is ok too.) She will be able to prepare some snacks for us on Friday (and Saturday) evenings. Snacks as in pull pork sandwiches, tacos, candy, chips, soft drinks, etc. There will be a charge but it will be very reasonable. My suggestion is that whoever is interested, we meet at the Country Diner located at 1504 Hwy 35, Sandy Hook, MS for lunch at about 1 pm. This is just about 100 to 200 yards north of the turn off on to Hurricane Creek Road. The Country Diner is about 4 miles from White Horse. I will post an image of the Country Diner as well as another meal option we will have, the SmokeHouse, located at 411 New Hope Road, Sandy Hook, MS.
While the weather is not looking perfect, it looks like we should have some clearing late on Friday evening, and I am more optimistic about Saturday night. I believe we will be able to get some observing in so that anyone coming should be able to see for themselves just how good the sky can be from here - dark and with low horizons.
As said before, bunkhouse rental will be $35.00 per spot. If in a camper or rv, the price is also $35.00 per camper/rv, but there is no additional charge for a second or 3rd person. We have not talked price to set up a tent for overnight as of yet.
The grass has been cut in front of the main building and also within the fenced arena to the southwest of the main building. Carol also let me know that if anyone wants to use the pool, it is open for swimming so bring your bathing suit. Within the main building there is also a television with a DVD player and there are some services - Netflix, Hulu, which can be accessed, so I think we are set there. Also the game room with two pool tables, and air hockey. Don't forget about the Perseid Meteor Shower which should be in full swing after midnight Saturday (so Sunday morning).
I will not be bringing a canopy as I plan to spend some down time sitting on the porch watching the world go by and because it will be just one less thing to take down on Sunday morning. I will bring a folding chair.
For the benefit of those that collect phone numbers, the main phone number at White Horse is 601 444-0007. The phone reception is good and they do have internet. Our host and the owner is Carol Nicaud. She is from New Orleans and has been very helpful and she is excited about being able to host the Deep South Star Gaze this coming November.
Questions? Please ask.
Barry Simon
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Lance
New moon
Posts: 28
Favorite types of observing: Deep Sky, Lunar, Public outreach, Astro-imaging
Telescope(s): Celestron NexStar 6SE / SkyWatcher 8 Inch Newtonian
Club Affiliation: Shreveport-Bossier Astronomical Society
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Post by Lance on Aug 10, 2018 10:59:26 GMT -6
Hey Barry,
Is it possible for you to take some daytime pics of the property and the accommodations and post them here. I will not be attending DSSG this year as I have chosen to attend the Okie-Tex Star Party this year, but I will probably be there next year.
Thanks,
Lance
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Post by Gina on Aug 12, 2018 14:33:57 GMT -6
Hello DSSG members,
I am an amateur stargazing enthusiast and was researching where to watch the Persiads near the New Orleans area. I spent considerable time exploring the Light Pollution map and Clear Sky Chart which eventually led me to this great group page. A "star party" sounds like a blast and I was hoping you all were open to having guests join in for the fun (even if just one night) for the event in the Fall. My boyfriend and I are videographers who like to create timelapses, so we would like to know the best spots to bring our camera gear. We watched the Perseids last year at Fort Jackson, which was lovely but we want to find an even darker location for future stargazing attempts.
Thank you for any input or advice you can provide!
As far as tonight, we are going to film the Perseids near Feliciana.
Peace, Love, and Stargazing -
Gina
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Post by bsimon615 on Aug 13, 2018 16:04:50 GMT -6
Gina - hope you were able to see or photograph some Perseids. Unfortunately the local media in promoting any meteor shower tends to forget (or not even know) that there are several variables which tend to make such a pursuit a success or failure -
1) You need to be under dark, and hopefully moonless skies many miles away from any city or town. Light pollution will virtually erase the ability to see many objects in the night sky including the faintest meteors.
2) Meteor Showers, such as the Perseids get their name from the constellation from which they appear to radiate. The Perseids appear to come from Perseus. With most showers the radiant point does not rise until after midnight so most meteors are not seen from them, although some are seen before then and during any shower we can see what we call "Randomid" Meteors in that they can appear to come from virtually any random direction.
Meteor showers are best seen with no optical aid, just your eyes and best photographed with a wide angle lens pointed in the direction of the radiant point with the shutter wide open or nearly so with exposures running from at least a minute or two and sometimes longer. This is something you cannot do under city lights.
At White Horse this past weekend we saw a number of really nice meteors, some that broke up in flight. We saw more on Friday night/Saturday morning then on Saturday night/Sunday morning.
During the upcoming DSSG (11/6 to 11/11) we will just miss the peak of the S. Taurid shower and the N. Taurid shower. We could see a few but we are just as likely to see some "Randomid" meteors under the dark skies we will have.
Lance - just posted some photos today. More to come, keep watching the site.
Barry Simon
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