Post by Len Philpot on Apr 2, 2018 21:42:53 GMT -6
I have been working on and I have just uploaded to the Files Section an Excel Worksheet which covers the date history for the Deep South Star Gaze (known as the Deep South Regional Star Gaze up thru 2014).
As you can see from this grid, the DSSG began way back in 1983 at Percy Quin State Park where it spent it's first 22 years up thru 2004. For a few years prior to 2004 we were discussing a possible and apparently inevitable move to a new venue due to a shrinking celestial vault (trees were getting taller) and encroaching lights primarily from expansion in McComb, MS. That move became reality in 2005 and there was a lot of discussion and second guessing about the impending move (even though this had seriously been discussed for several years). In any event this all became a mute point because Percy Quin State Park was temporarily closed to visitors in the late summer and the fall of 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina. Primarily because the park was used as a staging area and housing location for emergency workers.
In
We were at our second home, Camp Ruth Lee, from 2005 thru 2008. This Camp Fire Association facility had better skies and a larger observing field than did Percy Quin State Park, but the housing was not as good. Camp Ruth Lee was experiencing there own financial difficulties and it was sold in 2009 . This meant another move.
Basically we moved across the highway, about 1/2 mile west on Hwy 422, to the Feliciana Retreat Center. We have been there since 2009, with 2017 being our 9th year at our current location. We also hold the Deep South Spring Scrimmage there in the spring, a smaller "no-frills" version of the DSSG.
Looking at our star gaze history we have started as early as October 5th, and we have ended as late as November 11th. 20 star gazes have been held entirely within the month of October, 10 have been held entirely in the month of November and 5 have started in October and ended in November. During those 5 we have also celebrated Halloween at the DSSG.
Our first two DSSG's were officially only 1 nights with a Saturday arrival and a Sunday departure. That first one had a registration of 53 of which only 3 or 4 of those attendees are still DSSG regulars. By year 3 in 2005 we expanded to 2 nights with a Friday arrival and a Sunday departure. In 1988 we added another day with a Thursday arrival and Sunday departure. 1999 brought 5 nights and 6 days, but in 2000 we reverted to 4 nights, and then down to 3 nights in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. We currently begin on a Tuesday and end on a Sunday so we are back to 5 nights and 6 days.
What works out best? Any time frame with clear skies, pleasant days and cool but comfortable nights!
(on behalf of) Barry Simon
As you can see from this grid, the DSSG began way back in 1983 at Percy Quin State Park where it spent it's first 22 years up thru 2004. For a few years prior to 2004 we were discussing a possible and apparently inevitable move to a new venue due to a shrinking celestial vault (trees were getting taller) and encroaching lights primarily from expansion in McComb, MS. That move became reality in 2005 and there was a lot of discussion and second guessing about the impending move (even though this had seriously been discussed for several years). In any event this all became a mute point because Percy Quin State Park was temporarily closed to visitors in the late summer and the fall of 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina. Primarily because the park was used as a staging area and housing location for emergency workers.
In
We were at our second home, Camp Ruth Lee, from 2005 thru 2008. This Camp Fire Association facility had better skies and a larger observing field than did Percy Quin State Park, but the housing was not as good. Camp Ruth Lee was experiencing there own financial difficulties and it was sold in 2009 . This meant another move.
Basically we moved across the highway, about 1/2 mile west on Hwy 422, to the Feliciana Retreat Center. We have been there since 2009, with 2017 being our 9th year at our current location. We also hold the Deep South Spring Scrimmage there in the spring, a smaller "no-frills" version of the DSSG.
Looking at our star gaze history we have started as early as October 5th, and we have ended as late as November 11th. 20 star gazes have been held entirely within the month of October, 10 have been held entirely in the month of November and 5 have started in October and ended in November. During those 5 we have also celebrated Halloween at the DSSG.
Our first two DSSG's were officially only 1 nights with a Saturday arrival and a Sunday departure. That first one had a registration of 53 of which only 3 or 4 of those attendees are still DSSG regulars. By year 3 in 2005 we expanded to 2 nights with a Friday arrival and a Sunday departure. In 1988 we added another day with a Thursday arrival and Sunday departure. 1999 brought 5 nights and 6 days, but in 2000 we reverted to 4 nights, and then down to 3 nights in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. We currently begin on a Tuesday and end on a Sunday so we are back to 5 nights and 6 days.
What works out best? Any time frame with clear skies, pleasant days and cool but comfortable nights!
(on behalf of) Barry Simon