Hiking, Deep-Sky Telescopes, Stargazing & Dinner at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center

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Hiking, Deep-Sky Telescopes, Stargazing & Dinner at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center

The Basics:

Event Type:

Adventure

Event Location:

Near Covington, GA: ~45 Min E of Atlanta via I-20

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, Sep 19 2009 2:00 pm >> N/A (Carpool Departure: 1:00 pm *log in for location*)

Registration Opens:

Wed, Sep 2 2009 2:00 pm

Registration Cut Off:

Fri, Sep 18 2009 10:00 pm

Event Duration:

8 to 9 Hours

Difficulty Rating:

D2: Easy to Moderate

Trip Leader(s):

Charlie Cottingham
Emily Kelcourse

Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.

Member Cost:

None

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 21 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

7 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

OVERVIEW: On this unique AOC outing we'll enjoy about two hours of easy to moderate afternoon Hiking, then join the Trip Leader's friends from the Charlie Elliott Chapter of the Atlanta Astronomy Club for an exciting late afternoon and evening program that includes:

1) Observing Solar Sunspots and Prominences through a special filtered Telescope,
2) An indoor Potluck Dinner & Astronomy Program (~5:00-6:30 PM) at the Charlie Elliott Visitor Center, and
3) A Deep-Sky Observing Session with Telescopes on the Wildlife Center's observing field.

We intend not to cancel this event unless the weather is terrible. If it happens to be cloudy or a bit rainy we can still enjoy some hiking, wildlife museum, potluck dinner and indoor astronomy program, plus of course the fun of being together in such a beautiful place.

Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (CEWC) is a pristine 6400-acre GA DNR nature preserve about a 45-minute drive east of Atlanta (15 miles SE of Covington near I-20). Not only is it an excellent destination for hikers, with 10 miles of well marked forested trails that loop around its lovely lakes and granite outcrops—but its dark skies make it a favorite place also for stargazers. The preserve's light pollution index is exceptionally low considering its proximity to Metro Atlanta.

Each month, usually on the Saturday evening closest to New Moon, amateur astronomers from the Atlanta Astronomy Club (AAC) meet at the Charlie Elliott Visitor Center, then set up their telescopes in the nearby grassy observing field and aim them skyward, weather permitting. Members of the general public are invited to join them at these free sessions to learn more about astronomy and observe such heavenly wonders as the moons of Jupiter, the Great Orion Nebula and the 2-million-light-years-distant Andromeda Galaxy. Tips on basic stargazing, meteor viewing and "star-hopping" tours of the universe are also offered for those who are interested in observing constellations, planets, deep-sky objects, etc. with their own telescope and binoculars, or with an equally miraculous stargazing instrument—the naked eye.

WHEN & WHERE? If you prefer carpooling from Atlanta to the Wildlife Center and back (~45 min. each way) join Charlie optionally at 1:00 PM in the WSB Radio Tower shopping center parking lot in NE Atlanta near the I-285 LaVista Road exit—see detailed directions below. Our entire AOC group will rendezvous at 2:00 just inside the entrance of the Charlie Elliott Visitor Center & Museum—see detailed directions and address, also below. After introductions and a brief walk through the museum we'll begin our hike at about 2:30 and join our Astronomy Club hosts beginning at about 4:30. Individuals and carpool parties are free to stay as late as you like at the Saturday night telescope session, which will begin, weather permitting, at about 7:30. A suggested appropriate departure time for returning home might be about 10:00 PM but some of the more serious astronomers may continue observing as late as dawn Sunday morning—so feel free to stay up late with them and return home "when the rooster crows" if you prefer!

POTLUCK DINNER ~5:00 PM : The Astronomy Club's indoor September program will be kicked off with a delicious "Potluck Dinner," laid out buffet-style in the nice Visitor Center. As with most "potlucks," it is customary for each person who participates to bring a small item of our choice to share: e.g. a covered dish, fruit plate, salad, dessert, small box of chicken, etc.—in a small iced-down cooler if appropriate and with perhaps a plastic serving spoon or fork. Our AAC hosts will provide plates, napkins, dinnerware, cups, soft drinks, etc. but if you have a favorite non-alcoholic beverage on hand that you'd like to to share along with your food item, feel free to do so.

FOR MORE on CHARLIE ELLIOTT WILDLIFE CENTER go to:
http://www.GeorgiaWildlife.org/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=315
and
FOR MORE on the CHARLIE ELLIOTT CHAPTER of the ATLANTA ASTRONOMY CLUB go to:
http://CEAstronomy.org/blog/home

Required Items to Bring:

• For our Hike, wear comfortable well-broken-in Athletic Shoes or Hiking Boots with a coarse tread and Lightweight Clothing appropriate for the weather, including Rain Gear if showers are forecast.

• For the Hike, hydrate in advance and carry in your pack a filled Water Bottle or two (or other favorite soft beverages)-or if you have one, your filled "Camelbak" hydration system.

• For the Potluck Dinner, please bring a small item of your choice to share, per the above discussion.

• IMPORTANT: AT THE DARK-SKY OBSERVING SESSION NO WHITE LIGHT IS PERMITTED. Only SMALL RED LED HEAD-LAMPS/FLASHLIGHTS are used so as not to impair observers' night vision. Please bring such a small red LED light if you have one—otherwise the trip leader will have a couple of red lamps to share.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

If you have Trekking Poles or a Hiking Stick, consider bringing them for the hike.

• If you have a pair of Binoculars and/or a small Telescope, consider bringing them for the Observing Session.

• Consider bringing your Camera. The Wildlife Center is very photogenic!

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

FROM THE EAST-SIDE I-20/ I-285 INTERCHANGE (~12 miles E of downtown Atlanta) it's about 42 miles to Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center:

1) Take I-20 E toward Augusta for about 31 miles and exit to your Right at Exit #98, "GA-11".

2) Turn Right onto GA-11 (toward Monticello) and go straight ahead about 9.5 miles to its junction with Marben Farm Road. (En route you'll pass through the town of Mansfield. Look for the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center directional sign at the Marben Farm Rd junction.)

3) Turn Left onto Marben Farm Road and go 1.0 mile to Elliott Trail.

4) Turn Right onto Elliott Trail and go 0.5 mile to the Visitor Center parking lot. Rendezvous with the rest of our AOC group at about 2:00 PM just inside the large Visitor Center building.

FOR CUSTOM DIRECTIONS to the CHARLIE ELLIOTT VISITOR CENTER from your specific point of departure and a map of its vicinity go to Google.com/maps and input as your destination: 543 Elliott Trail, Mansfield, GA 30055.
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Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

90Mile(s)

Carpool Departure Time:

1:00 pm

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $36.00 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:

* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:

No Charge—Free event with Free parking!

Cancellation/Partial Attendance: Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note:
In fairness to those who may be wait-listed, if and when you find that you cannot attend this event for whatever reason, please go ASAP to the bottom of this online article and "Delete your Registration." Thanks!