Stargazing with Telescopes + Free Camping, Hiking & Cookout at Deerlick Astronomy Village!

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Stargazing with Telescopes + Free Camping, Hiking & Cookout at Deerlick Astronomy Village!

The Basics:

Event Type:

Adventure

Event Location:

95 mi E of Atlanta via I-20

Adventure: Stargazing with Telescopes + Free Camping, Hiking & Cookout at Deerlick Astronomy Village!

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, May 28 2011 3:00 pm >> Sun, May 29 2011 3:00 pm (Carpool Departure: 1:00 pm *log in for location*)

Registration Opens:

Thu, May 12 2011 10:00 pm

Registration Cut Off:

Fri, May 27 2011 10:00 pm

Event Duration:

Sat midday thru Sun midafternoon

Difficulty Rating:

D1: Easy

Pace:

Leisurely

Trip Leader(s):

Charlie Cottingham

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:

25 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

OVERVIEW:
As an avid stargazer and amateur astronomer I've enjoyed for many years helping organize and host occasional night-sky observing events for folks who are interested in stargazing and learning more about the cosmos. Last May a group of 21 of us from the AOC greatly enjoyed taking part in the Memorial Day weekend free "open house" event that is hosted annually by my friends and fellow astronomy enthusiasts at Deerlick Astronomy Village.
  We're delighted to be invited back for this year's big "potluck dinner & cookout" plus free camping and observing at this beautiful dark-sky site just 90 minutes east of Atlanta via I-20. This exciting Memorial Day weekend gathering is highly suitable for anyone who enjoys stargazing and wants to learn more about the night sky and the universe.
The big event includes free Saturday night "carside camping" with hot showers & flush toilets, free stargazing & telescopic observing (weather permitting), and free hiking trails. Our astronomer friends will host at their nice pavilion a big 5:00 PM Saturday cookout & "potluck" dinner party, with free grilled burgers & brats, plus slaw & potato salad—perhaps 100 total DAV members and guests, including our AOC "subgroup," taking part in the festivities.

AOC EVENT PLAN:
DRIVING & ARRIVAL OPTIONS: Our optional carpooling group will meet at 1:00 PM Saturday under the WSB Radio Tower at "Northlake Tower Festival" shopping center in NE Atlanta and drive over together—see details below. Camping on the night of Saturday May 28 will be Free for all DAV guests including our AOC "subgroup." If you prefer, drive independently and  plan to arrive at "DAV" whenever you like over the Memorial Day weekend.  For any AOCers who wish to camp at DAV also on Friday night or Sunday night the fee is a mere $5 per person per night, payable when you arrive in their "drop box" at the "Break Building." (Please let me, Charlie, know if you intend to camp extra nights so I can notify our hosts).

MAY 28-29 CARSIDE CAMPING & HIKING:  Our AOC optional carpool group expects to arrive at the DAV pavilion at about 3:00 PM Saturday. We'll rendezvous with other AOC participants there and set up camp near our parked vehicles and the pavilion—pick your own tent site on the large grassy observing field or in the shade of the field's surrounding forest. Free onsite facilities for the "open house" event include nice bathrooms (with hot showers & lavatories and flush toilets), the huge roofed pavilion with its picnic tables, electric outlets, & barbecue grill, and an air-conditioned "break building" complete with microwave, refrigerator and DSL Internet access.
At Deerlick there's lots of green space and a nature trail network for hiking, including an authentic 1800's Conestoga covered wagon trail! Several old log cabins at Deerlick actually pre-date the Civil War. We'll definitely organize at least one easy-to-moderate hiking adventure for our AOC group.  A good time for our first group hike might be just after the Sun afternoon cookout. For those who are interested, we'll likely offer a group hike at lovely Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (near Mansfield, GA) en route home Sunday.
For some nice photos of the trails and other DAV facilities visit:
    http://www.deerlickgroup.com/Gallery.php

5:00 PM SATURDAY COOKOUT & POTLUCK DINNER: Our friendly DAV hosts are organizing this delicious cookout and "potluck dinner," laid out buffet-style at their huge roofed dining pavilion. They'll provide burgers and brats for everyone-also plates, napkins, dinnerware, cups, etc. It's customary of course for each person who participates in a "potluck" to bring a small side item of your choice to share (that would serve perhaps 5 to 6 people): e.g. a plate of nice munchies or hors d'oeuvres, a fruit plate, salad, dessert, etc. Please email me (Charlie) by May 24 indicating the type of potluck item you plan to bring so I can send a summary to our Deerlick hosts. If you bring a covered dish there's a microwave available on-site in case you need to reheat it a bit. If you have favorite non-alcoholic beverages that you'd like to bring to consume yourself or share, feel free to do so in an iced-down personal cooler.

SATURDAY OBSERVING SESSION (~8:00 PM-Midnight): Assuming the weather cooperates, some of our astronomer friends will set up their telescopes on the observing field and after dark they'll offer everyone incredible views of various deep-sky objects, stars, planets, exotic craters and features of the moon, etc. I'll be glad to offer our AOC subgroup a "beginner skywatching clinic," identifying the most prominent spring stars, planets and constellations and how to find your way around the night sky using the Big Dipper, North Star, etc. as pointers. Don't forget the etiquette (also discussed below) of AVOIDING using any WHITE LIGHT or VEHICLE LIGHTS while on or near the observing field at night, so as not to impair observers' night vision!
On the evening of Sat May 28 the sun will set at about 8:35 PM and the waning crescent moon won't rise until about 3:30 AM, so there will be dark skies virtually all night suitable for "deep-sky" telescopic observing, weather permitting. Sun AM the sun will rise at about 6:25.

8:00-9:30 AM SUNDAY AOC POTLUCK BREAKFAST: Feel free to join me and other AOCers for Sunday morning coffee and breakfast. I'll provide the hot coffee, sweeteners & creamers (plus cups, plates, plasticware, napkins) and we'll cook up and serve a hearty breakfast "potluck" style using ingredients and shared items that we individually choose to bring. I'll provide my 2-burner Coleman stove and propane, plus a few pots and pans, and a couple of pounds of bacon. Bring whatever you like for this. Examples: Half gallon of juice, dozen eggs, half dozen bagels, doughnuts or oatmeal packets, pint of yogurt, propane stove with fuel, etc.

"PRE-TRIP AOC E-FORUM:" For all AOCers who sign up, the Trip Leader will facilitate (in the week prior to the trip) "Reply-All" email discussions for any of you campers who may prefer carpooling together from mutually convenient places and (and times) in and around metro Atlanta in lieu of the suggested Sun 1:00 PM "general carpool" spot at Northlake Tower Festival . These "Reply-Alls" may also come in handy for discussing specific items of gear, food, etc. that each of us can bring to share with others—also useful for requesting loaner camping gear that you may wish to borrow.

MORE ON DEERLICK:
Many astronomy buffs have bought property at this beautiful 96-acre dark-sky "village," built second homes therem and set up personal telescopic observatories—some of these scopes can be robotically operated from hundreds of miles away. The well-appointed ten-acre observing field has become the site of choice for the Atlanta Astronomy Club's annual "Peach State Star Gaze," a world-class 5-day annual gathering in mid-October of amateur and professional astronomers from all corners of the globe. For more on Deerlick, their Memorial Day Weekend "Open House," and the Atlanta Astronomy Club, visit:

http://www.deerlickgroup.com

http://www.deerlickgroup.com/Images/clip_image001.jpg

http://www.atlantaastronomy.org

Required Items to Bring:

For Camping: Tent, Sleeping Bag, Sleeping Pad, Pillow, Toiletry Kit w/Towel & Washcloth, Cooler with Food, Drinks, & plenty of Ice, Camp Chair and/or Hammock, Small Headlamp or Flashlight, Camp Stove if you have one (plus fuel & striker).

For Hiking: Comfortable well-broken-in Athletic Shoes or Hiking Boots and Lightweight Clothing appropriate for the weather, including light Rain Gear if showers are in the forecast. Hydrate before hiking and carry in a Daypack a filled Water Bottle or two (or other favorite soft beverages) or if you have one, a filled "Camelbak" or similar hydration system.

For Sat 5:00 PM "Open House Cookout & Potluck Dinner": A small side item of your choice to share, plus any favorite beverages, per the above discussion.

For Sun AOC "Potluck Breakfast": I'll provide a Stove, Percolator, Hot Coffee for the group, Bacon, Cups, Plates, etc. (per above discussion). Bring whatever is convenient (including camp stoves, etc. if you have) if you'd like to join in the food & fun. Please "Reply-All" to trip leader's final email suggesting any specific items you'd like to bring to share.

For Dark-Sky Saturday Night Observing Session: IMPORTANT! NO WHITE LIGHT is permitted after dark anywhere on or near the Observing Field. SMALL RED LED HEAD-LAMPS or FLASHLIGHTS are used so as not to impair observers' night vision. Please bring such a red LED light if you have one. (They're available as a switchable option on Wal-Mart white headlamps for $15 or less).

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 hikes.

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

• Don't forget your Camera. We should have lots of great photo-ops, but BE ABSOLUTELY SURE YOUR FLASH IS OFF if you take any photos during the observing session!

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

FROM I-20/ I-285 INTERCHANGE on ATLANTA'S EAST SIDE it's about 95 miles to DEERLICK ASTRONOMY VILLAGE ("DAV") near the community of Sharon, GA—about 80 min via I-20 East, then 10 min via connecting roads, as detailed below. NOTE: It's a good idea to use these directions in conjunction with Deerlick's excellent Vicinity Map at this link:

http://www.deerlickgroup.com/PDF/DeerlickMap1.pdf

1. From the I-20/ I-285 Interchange on Atlanta's East Side take I-20 East for about 86 miles and get off to your right at Exit #154 ("US-278").

2. Turn Left (NW) onto US-278 West and go about 1.8 miles to the first road on your right after the "Taliaferro" county line sign.

3. Turn Right (NE) onto this road (which is in fact GA-269 but is normally not so marked) and go 3.5 miles to the 4-way stop in the small town of Sharon. (En route beware of RR tracks at about the 2-mile mark—there is no signal).

4. Turn Right (East) onto Main Street (a.k.a Raytown Rd, a.k.a CR-79, a.k.a Lumburg Sharon Rd) and go 2.5 miles to another 4 way stop.

5. Turn Right (South) onto Double Wells Road and go 0.3 mile to Aaron Grier Road on your right—there is no sign, just a dirt road.

6. Turn Right (West) onto Aaron Grier Road and go about 0.5 mile to the DAV entrance, "Star Gate 1" ("SG1").

7. At the wooden sign "Members Field", take a Right onto Grier's Field, and proceed to the big DAV Pavilion at the north end of the field.

8. Our AOC "subgroup" will gather there at the Pavilion at about 3:00 PM Saturday to check in with our DAV hosts, introduce one another, discuss our planned activities, optional adventures, group meal plans, and suitable spots for our tents.

DEERLICK ADDRESS & COORDINATES for GPS Navigation or for Google.com/maps:

Aaron Grier Road, Crawfordville, GA 30631
33.56165564421794,-82.76366829872131

Caution! Software may be inaccurate for small final approach roads, so use Directions #4 thru #8 above.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

210Mile(s)

Carpool Departure Time:

1:00 pm

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $84.00 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, camping, observing, hiking, cookout & potluck dinner.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance: Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note:
IF YOU LEARN YOU CAN'T ATTEND...In fairness to our wait-listed AOC members, if you find that you cannot attend this event for whatever reason, please go ASAP to "Events: My Upcoming Events" and delete your registration." Thanks!