Impromptu Star Party Report For November 24, 2025

[Richard Ren]

All,

Just to report the second half of this impromptu star party. The first half of the party was hosted by Jose on November 23.

I arrived at Alpha Ridge Park at 3:35 am yesterday and unlocked the gate (the gate was very well locked so good job Jose!). I closed the gate with the bungee rubber band and left it unlocked.

I was the only member who showed up.

The weather was calm and the sky was clear. The temperature was in the mid 30's.

I was able to capture some images for I3/ATLAS, though the guiding was barely tolerable. I haven't got time to process the photos yet.

By the time I left Alpha Ridge around 6:15 am, apparently someone had widely opened the gate and parked a school bus at the entrance (inside the park). I left the gate as was.

The take home message is that I feel the eastern horizon of Alpha Ridge Park at the playground is as clear as the Carrs Mill park (though it is not available any more). For the clearest western horizon, no place is better than the Howard County Conservancy.

Richard