Post by bsimon615 on Dec 2, 2020 10:53:52 GMT -6
Okay, the perennial question - Should we hold a Spring Scrimmage. Specifically I am talking about 2021.
There are several obstacles and several questions that need to be answered and/or considered in determining whether or not we have the horsepower to hold a Spring Scrimmage in 2021.
Here are the obstacles as I see them -
1) Our possible dates (4/8 to 4/11, or 5/6 to 5/9) conflict/compete with other events. In April we would be in date conflict with the Mid South Star Gaze at French Camp Academy in Mississippi (note - on their website this is still tentative and I assume that is so due to COVID). In May we would be in date conflict with the Texas Star Party. Note to that new Moon in both April and May falls on the 11th. (I originally thought that the waning Moon would be an issue for TSP on the early dates, but not really. The first night of observing does not see the Moon rising until almost 3 am on the 3rd, and it rises approximately 40 minutes later each night.)
2) These other events will pull some people away from attendance at the Spring Scrimmage both due to the date conflict and also because they would likely only be able to do one event at this time of year, so if they do Mid South in April they would likely not be able to do Spring Scrimmage if held in May, and if they do TSP in May they probably could not also do Spring Scrimmage in April if held then.
3) In respect to historical temperature ranges looking at data for Hattiesburg, MS for 2017 thru 2020. The average low temperature for the April dates is 54 degrees and the average high was 73 degrees, and for May the average low was just about the same at 54.5 degrees and the average high was 81 degrees. 8 degrees higher but quite tolerable.
4) I tend to prefer the May dates, but the end date, 5/9, is Mother's Day. That likely creates a conflict for some, including me, but we could shift the 3 night Spring Scrimmage to a Wednesday start (May 5th) and a Saturday end (May 8th). Some of course could stay Saturday night, thus getting 4 nights under the stars.
So my questions include -
1) How many are strongly considering attending, and if so, what do you favor - the April dates or the May dates?
2) Note, we had 55 registrants for the Deep South Star Gaze, and 9 for last year's Spring Scrimmage. Does having a COVID vaccination on board (you) play into your decision to attend?
Please respond with your thoughts. I do have the possibility in front of me for heading out west for some nights under the stars in west Texas. Depending upon interest or lack of interest in doing a Spring Scrimmage it may or may not happen. (Of course someone else can do all of the work if I ultimately decide to head west.)
Barry Simon
There are several obstacles and several questions that need to be answered and/or considered in determining whether or not we have the horsepower to hold a Spring Scrimmage in 2021.
Here are the obstacles as I see them -
1) Our possible dates (4/8 to 4/11, or 5/6 to 5/9) conflict/compete with other events. In April we would be in date conflict with the Mid South Star Gaze at French Camp Academy in Mississippi (note - on their website this is still tentative and I assume that is so due to COVID). In May we would be in date conflict with the Texas Star Party. Note to that new Moon in both April and May falls on the 11th. (I originally thought that the waning Moon would be an issue for TSP on the early dates, but not really. The first night of observing does not see the Moon rising until almost 3 am on the 3rd, and it rises approximately 40 minutes later each night.)
2) These other events will pull some people away from attendance at the Spring Scrimmage both due to the date conflict and also because they would likely only be able to do one event at this time of year, so if they do Mid South in April they would likely not be able to do Spring Scrimmage if held in May, and if they do TSP in May they probably could not also do Spring Scrimmage in April if held then.
3) In respect to historical temperature ranges looking at data for Hattiesburg, MS for 2017 thru 2020. The average low temperature for the April dates is 54 degrees and the average high was 73 degrees, and for May the average low was just about the same at 54.5 degrees and the average high was 81 degrees. 8 degrees higher but quite tolerable.
4) I tend to prefer the May dates, but the end date, 5/9, is Mother's Day. That likely creates a conflict for some, including me, but we could shift the 3 night Spring Scrimmage to a Wednesday start (May 5th) and a Saturday end (May 8th). Some of course could stay Saturday night, thus getting 4 nights under the stars.
So my questions include -
1) How many are strongly considering attending, and if so, what do you favor - the April dates or the May dates?
2) Note, we had 55 registrants for the Deep South Star Gaze, and 9 for last year's Spring Scrimmage. Does having a COVID vaccination on board (you) play into your decision to attend?
Please respond with your thoughts. I do have the possibility in front of me for heading out west for some nights under the stars in west Texas. Depending upon interest or lack of interest in doing a Spring Scrimmage it may or may not happen. (Of course someone else can do all of the work if I ultimately decide to head west.)
Barry Simon