Fwd: Saturn is star attraction during 14th annual Prineville Reservoir Star Party

[Discover Paragliding!]

Prineville Reservoir Star Party is June 1st.  (Read below.) Could be an interesting add to a trip out to Pine for a weekend.

Looked interesting enough to share. Hope someone makes it! :-)

Brad

See you up there,

Brad and Maren
Your 'Couple' of Instructors
www.DiscoverParagliding.com
503-861-2772 (W) 503-440-0733 (c)

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Saturn is star attraction during 14th annual Prineville Reservoir Star Party
Date:	Tue, 21 May 2013 14:12:05 -0700
From:	in...@flashalert.net
Reply-To:	con...@flashalert.net
To:	in...@discoverparagliding.com

News Release from: Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept.
SATURN IS STAR ATTRACTION DURING 14TH ANNUAL PRINEVILLE RESERVOIR STAR PARTY
Posted: May 21st, 2013 2:11 PM

Prineville OR - Viewings of Saturn will be the highlight of the annual Star Party at Prineville Reservoir State Park on Saturday, June 1. The planet will be sharing the night sky with colorful star clusters, nebulae (interstellar clouds of dust and gases), and distant galaxies. All will be observable from the park's day use area, where stargazers can gather by a permanent observatory housing "Big Doug," a 16-inch telescope.

The Oregon Observatory at Sunriver and OPRD are co-organizers of the event, which invites "partygoers" to peer through Big Doug and other telescopes provided by professional and amateur astronomers beginning at 10 p.m. A 30-minute orientation---"A Guided Tour of the Night Sky"---will precede the viewing.

"Central Oregon skies are usually clear and generally free of light pollution, which allows for unforgettable views of night sky objects," said Paul Patton, the interpretive coordinator for eastern Oregon with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). "Prineville Reservoir in particular is an incredible location for stargazing. The annual star party is a great summer activity for families to enjoy."

The star party will begin at noon with a variety of astronomy-related exhibits and activities for all ages in the day-use area, including a solar car demonstration by the Central Oregon High School Solar Car Team at 1 p.m. Afternoon presentations will include "So You Want to Go to Mars" (2 p.m.), "Galileo's Telescope" (3 p.m.), and "Planning Your Next Vacation--in Space!" (4 p.m.). Safe solar viewing opportunities will be offered throughout the day.

Evening activities and presentations leading up to the main stargazing event will include children's activities focused on rocketry, impact crater formation, and solar energy; an introductory talk on the planet Saturn; and "Exoplanet Report; A Look at Worlds Beyond the Solar System," a special presentation at 7 p.m. by renowned space artist and photographer John Foster focusing on the search for habitable planets outside of our solar system. 

For visitors staying all night, Prineville Reservoir State Park offers nearly 100 campsites--both RV and tent sites--and five deluxe cabins in its main campground. All are reservable online at www.oregonstateparks.org or by phone at 1-800-452-5687. Another 30 electrical hookup sites in the park's Jasper Point campground are available first-come, first-served. Tent and RV sites as well as day-use parking will be free on June 1, which is State Parks Day in Oregon.

Prineville Reservoir State Park is located 16 miles southeast of Prineville on Southeast Juniper Canyon Road. More information and directions are available from www.oregonstateparks.org.
 
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