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SOUTHERN STAR
April 25-27, 2008
Formal and
Informal Presentations · Equipment
Display
Astro-imaging
Display · Swap
Table
The Charlotte Amateur Astronomers Club (CAAC)
will host the 22nd Annual Southern Star Astronomical
Convention in the Blue Ridge Mountains on April 25-27,
2008 and we are inviting you and your club members
to join us.
This will be an opportunity for southeastern astronomical
societies to share their interests and club activities
with each other and enjoy a variety of speakers and
other events in a secluded mountain setting.
We ask that you copy this information and distribute
it to your club members, department faculty members
and any other interested parties.
-------- The Events
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THE SPEAKERS:
Dr. Jerry T. Bonnell
Talk: Day
Trips in the Universe
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Dr. Gerrit L. Verschuur
The Invisible Universe: The Story
of Radio Astronomy
&
The Cosmic Microwave Background:
All is Not as it Seems
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R. Lee Hawkins
Talk: Electronic Detectors in
Astronomy: A Short History
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Informal Presentations
Attendees
who have short, new presentations (10-15 minutes
on club or individual projects or events) may
present them during the Friday evening session. Those
interested in making a presentation should
indicate this, along with a brief description
of the topic, on the enclosed Registration
form. Please
direct any specific questions to David Friday,
5901 Kintyre Ct. N.W. Concord, NC 28027 Ph
704-784-8564
Equipment Display
Builders of telescopes or other related equipment
are encouraged to enter them in this display. (Home-built
telescopes, improvements made to telescopes,
astronomical equipment, etc.). Gayle Riggsbee,
245 Timber Lane, Matthews, NC 28104, Ph 704-846-3136,
will be pleased to answer any questions you
may have.
Astronomical Imaging Display
Photographers are requested to bring their
favorite astrophotos or CCD images to share
with others.
Swap Table
Attendees are invited to bring their junk (another
mans treasure !) to the swap table.
Alternative
Program
Virginia Meador, science teacher at Camperdown
Academy in Greenville, SC, will conduct an
alternative program of nature walks and nature
study.
You will be introduced to Virginia on Friday
evening when she tells us about her activities. Hiking
boots, warm clothes and rain gear are recommended.
Star
Parties
Weather permitting, a star party will be held
both Friday and Saturday nights either on
the convention grounds or nearby on the Blue
Ridge Parkway. Gayle Riggsbee will
organize the group. Bring your telescope
and hope for clear skies.
Check-in at
Wildacres for all registered attendees begins
at 4:00 PM Eastern Time on April 25th.
Ice
Cream Social
After the astronomy lecture
on Saturday evening, you can join-in an old
fashioned ice cream social. Ice cream, syrup,
whipped cream and even a cherry on top. |
Weather
Be aware that mountain weather is unpredictable
and often cold at this time of the year.
If we have bad weather on Saturday night the
speakers will be available for informal discussions.
The format will be unstructured, allowing you
to further explore topics from the presentations
or to discuss new ones.
Door prizes! YES… Door
prizes!
The Facilities and Location
Wildacres Phone
# 828-756-4573.
The convention will be held at Wildacres Retreat,
near Little Switzerland, NC. This
facility consists of a lodge located on 1,400
acres on the crest of the Blue Ridge and offers
overnight lodging, a well equipped auditorium
(for the lectures), and a dining hall.
It is operated by the Blumenthal Foundation
which makes it available to various educational
organizations.
Wildacres is located about three miles from
the Little Switzerland post office. Nearest
towns are Spruce Pine and Marion, NC.
Access is available from the Blue Ridge Parkway
at Gooch Gap, located between mile-posts 336
and 337. Distance from Charlotte, NC
is about 112 miles.
Directions
To Wildacres from Marion, NC:
· From
Exit 86 on Interstate 40 near Marion, go
north on Highway 226-221. Proceed 13 miles
north toward Spruce Pine NC. Turn left
at the traffic light on to Highway 226. Go
1.1 miles to the intersection of Highway
226 & 226A. Go straight on 226A
for 6.8 miles to the Wildacres sign, and
Wildacres Rd. on the left. Follow
this gravel road 1.1 miles to a paved drive
on the right. This is the entrance
to Wildacres Retreat.
To Marion from:
· Charlotte
NC take I-85 south to Gastonia,
NC Take US 321 north to I-40. Take
I-40 west to NC 221 in Marion.
· Asheville NC take
I-40 east to US-70 east to Marion (scenic alternate: direct on Blue Ridge Parkway
to Gooch Gap).
· Greensboro NC take
I-40 west to US-221 north to Marion.
· Spartanburg SC take
I-85 north to US-221 north to Marion |
Costs, Registration,
and Limits
ALL attendees MUST
be registered and paid prior to the convention.
There are NO additional registrations
at the door.
There will be several options for accommodations
while attending the convention.
- You may lodge and dine at Wildacres for
the entire weekend. All activities,
2 nights lodging, and 5 meals will be provided
for $150 (adults), $75 (ages 6-12), $45 (ages
3-5). Children under 3 may stay free. All
rooms are designed for double occupancy,
and we are limited to about 115 lodgers. If
you are coming alone and have not indicated
a roommate on your registration form, you
may have to share your room. If you are not
familiar with Wildacres retreat, you may
visit it on-line at: http://www.wildacres.org/
- You may attend the convention but lodge
elsewhere, and either dine in the Wildacres
dining room (breakfast $5, lunch $6 and dinner
$8) or make your own arrangements for meals. Registration
for Day Attendees will be $50 per person
(all ages) plus meals. We are limited
to 25 of these participants.
Use the attached
form to register and return it with your check
made payable to:
“Southern Star/CAAC” and
mail to:
Gayle Riggsbee
245 Timber Lane
Matthews, NC 28104
Ph. 704-846-3136
All registrations should be received
by April 1, 2008. Cancellations must
be received by April 15, 2008 for a refund. Registrations
will be accepted on a first-come, first-served
basis.
We sell out every year
so register early!
You will be notified by mail
confirming receipt of your registration or
that all available spaces have been filled
(in which case your check will be returned
to you).
Click
HERE for a hard copy of this information and
your registration form... |
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FACTIOD:
Southern Star 2008 will
be the
22nd annual
convention
hosted by CAAC.
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FACTIOD:
Southern Star sells out
every year! If you are
interested in coming,
Send in your invitation
as soon as possible.
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FACTOID:
Past speakers include
people from JPL, Yerkes
Observatory, Lick
Observatory, Sky &
Telescope and Astronomy
magazines, Smithsonian
Institution, the Antique
Telescope Society and
many professional
astronomers.
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