The Maine State Star Party will be held August 28-29th at Cobscock Bay State Park in Edmunds Maine.  We are celebrating our 10th year of the event.  Our focus tis year will be on the sun and moon; with solar and regular thelescope viewing.  We are honored this year t have a great line-up of excellent speakers.  We will have an updated version of our famous Ästronomy Jeporady" game with prizes being awarded.   We may not have dark skies this year because of the full moon, during the event but the stars will shine bright with our fun events and line-up of great speakers. 
Friday August 28 (can arrive anytime after 1 p.m.) Set up camping gear, telescope

Friday evening observing if clear Saturday

August 29 Solar observing throughout the day (weather permitting) with Marc Fisher, Maine’s own solar astronomer will have his complete solar set up

12:00 p.m Noon. Astronomy Jeopardy (REVISED) (winner will get prize donated by Downeast Amateur Astronomers)

2:00 p.m. (Guest Speaker) PhD candidate Lauren Woolsey from the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics: “When astronomers talk about the mysteries of the universe, it is common to think about some distant galaxy or the nature of dark energy. However, there are still many fundamental mysteries about the nearest star to Earth: the Sun! The long days of summer present a great time to talk about these unanswered questions about the Sun. We'll also see how this star compares to others in the galaxy, discuss the connection between the Sun and the Earth, and look at magnificently detailed observations of the Sun's surface and atmosphere”.

4:00 pm (Guest Speaker) John Stetson, Maine astronomer and teacher will talk on the Transit of Venus 2012, outreach at the L.C. Bates Museum, measuring the speed of solar flares, observing flares that result in CMEs and auroral activity in Maine, etc.

7:00 p.m. (Guest Speaker) Marc Fisher, Maine’s own solar astronomer will talk on his automated observatory he operates from his back yard!!!

8:00 p.m. (Guest Speaker) Paul Butler, Maine astronomer will talk on Astrophotography with emphasis on Moon and Planet shots using CCD’s. as well as using Barlow lenses, Neutral Density Filters, Moon light filters, Tracking and Drive Frequency, Focusing Tools and Editing the Pictures of the Moon and Planets

Saturday evening observing! (Weather permitting)


Mark the date of August 28/29 on your calendar for the MAINE STATE STAR PARTY 2015. I hope you all can attend this year. Some things to mention: 1. Once again the camping is free for campers who stay on the star party site. Anyone who comes to the park for the event but chooses to get his or her own campsite in the park would have to pay for the site.

2. Our event this year is celebrating our star the Sun and our Moon, which will be full during the event.

3. The star party site is usually for tents but anyone with a camper can find room to park it there. Let me know if this is you and I can make sure I let the park know who will be coming in with a camper and is planning to stay on the site.

4. There is a water fountain on the star party site location and latrines near by. A small grocery store is about 4 miles to the west. Each individual/group brings your own food. The closest restaurant is about 15 miles east or 20 miles west.

5. Cobscook Bay State Park is about 90 miles downeast on Rt 1 from Bangor. You could also travel down Rt 9 and turn right to Machias in Wesley and then head east on Rt 1 for another 20 miles.

For more information
Charlie Sawyer Downeast Amateur Astronomers www.downeastaa.com 207-214-1846

Joe Rosebush
joemrev@yahoo.com
207-454-2826