Comments and anecdotes about the event:
This is a ticket only event sponsored by Friends of Carnegie Library Homestead. See notice for tickets at http://www.homesteadlibrary.org/ . $45 Advance, $50 At Door. Join Friends of Carnegie Library Homestead enjoying a selection of international wines and celebrate 2010 World Space Week, Oct. 4-10, 2010, sharing views through AAAP members' telescopes on the terrace.

World Space Week is an international event to commemorate the beginning of the Space Age with the launch of Sputnik 1 on Oct. 4, 1957.This years theme centers on the cosmos.

Carnegie Library International Wine Tasting with Astronomy on the Terrace celebrating World Space Week (October '57, Sputnik launched us into Space.) was a great success last evening, Friday, October 8. The weather was favorable with clear skies and comfortably cool temperatures. John D. set up his 8" Meade SCT. Mike set up three scopes, a dual alt-az mount with both a refractor and a mak-cass set up simultaneously, as well as an 8" Dob, I rounded it out with 20x80 Zhumell binoculars and a Galileoscope. John had his 7x50's, too. We had the convenience to park our vehicles at our observing site. There was a bench and I brought a folding table. The shrubbery top around the library foundation was sheared level affording a surface to display posters. From the location, which John had inspected for us in the dark on his way home last Saturday's Mingo Public Star Party we had an excellent view of the primary target of the night, Jupiter. We also had a good view of Cassiopea and Capella. From time to time Mike aimed at the double cluster, as there were many requests to see the comet. The crowd that viewed through our gear was well over a hundred coming in a steady stream and waves with many making return visits throughout the lovely fall evening. There were so many thank-you's for showing the objects, sharing our equipment and for giving them reason to be outside. They arrived wine glasses in hand in the best of spirits, and were to the last quite charming. This was an educated crowd many of whom regaled us in historical information about the library and the area. As is often the case, a number of gentlemen shared stories of the skies seen in times on Navy ships in the South Pacific. A few spoke of the starry skies seen from cruise ships, and one spoke of a Galapagos cruise where they turned out the ship's lights to reveal dazzling stars. Many of the visitors had heard about Comet Hartley and hoped we would be able to show it to them, but we instead showed them around where it would be. Again, thanks to John 's instructive images and assistance of others on this Yahoo Group. I never heard "Cassiopea" roll off the lips of so many guests, nor to have so many direct attention pointing to Cass as they did asking about the comet. Perhaps we have the media to thanks for this. The binoculars were good for showing Jupiter and four and later three moons. Big binoculars also inspire visitors to get tell us they are going to get their own binoculars out when they go home. We also trained the binoculars at other parts of the sky to show stars not visible naked eye in the glow of street lights. Guests were curious to see changes in the Galilean Moons over the course of the evening as well as SCT's left right reversal of the image. John's 8 inch afforded Jupiter's details even in the street lights. Guests marveled at the banded surface as well as to see a shadow transit. Mike's dual was aimed to reveal Jupiter, as well as Uranus, the double cluster, etc. His 8" Dob served as well. Mike generously has offered to be contacted by some of these guests for further information and help with telescopes. The lines were never too long because of array of equipment, and the weather was so pleasant the guests were leisurely and thoroughly grateful and expressive of their thanks. 200 advance tickets sold at $45 per person, with additional tickets at the door for $50. The event successfully raised funds for the library's continuing remodeling. Anna Marie organizer of the Wine Tasting from Friends of the Library was positively thrilled with the success of the event and of what a great part of the evening AAAP's viewing provided. She asked in advance for us to return next year. She wants to next year in advance make some reduction in lighting. There were two lights we would like to see less of, one pack light on the library itself and the street light across the street. There were two waist high post lights, which John covered for us. If you are interested to know how this came about, in addition to always looking to spark local observing pools to give our members opportunities to gather closer to their homes, I was looking for a star party or event we could dedicate World Space Week. Talking with Anna Marie she liked the idea and thought the telescopes on the terrace would pair well with the wine tasting. So AAAP came to contribute its members and their telescopes to this fund raiser for Friends of Carnegie Library. Anna Marie the organizer loves the stars and likes to star gaze in the mountains. Afterwards Anna Marie shared that she really wanted us to set up a bowl for donations. It might be something for us to consider, even if we do not want to collect donations for AAAP, it would be a way AAAP could donate to the library. Were we to do something like that, it might be reasonable to dedicate returns towards library astronomy media. Until next year, we can draw on club experience in this area and consider possibilities. Another bonus from the evening was to extend knowledge of AAAP to a new audience. John and Mike who went to the greatest effort to set up equipment were rewarded by the appreciation and interest of folks just learning about our club. I do not recall anyone knowing about our club or Mingo. Some knew of the observatory on the north side or had heard of one in North Park. They were interested to know we AAAP had monthly meetings/astronomy lectures at Carnegie Science Center. Guests were eager to take star party brochures listing the remaining 2010 October Wagman and Mingo Public Star Parties as well as the 2011 season's. We left feeling good that the time was well spent, although we were sorry to miss the monthly meeting. It was enjoyable for us and the guests and good for the advancement of astronomy and scientific literacy and for this important fund raiser for a valued historical building and center of community literacy.