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AHSP 2023 at EL’s Spruce Knob Mountain Center
Hands-on Radio Astronomy
NOVAC has arranged for access to GBO’s 40-foot educational dish. Participants will leave for Green Bank either with the tour earlier in the day or later in the afternoon. Observations begin in the late evening and continue as long as you’re willing to stay awake. Overnight accommodations are provided in dorm-style facilities at GBO. Space is very limited!
If you’re going on the Behind-the-Scenes Tour, you’ll stay at GBO following the conclusion of the tour. Otherwise, you should plan to be on-site at GBO by 4:15 pm.
No prior radioastronomy experience is required; GBO will provide instruction and support. You may wish to look over the 40-Foot Telescope Observer’s Manual [pdf] before you arrive to get an idea of how the equipment works and what you might want to observe.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Cameras are welcome at GBO, however their use is restricted. In order to prevent radio-frequency interference to observations in progress, the observatory prohibits the use of digital cameras (and electronics-laden film cameras) in some locations close to the telescopes. Bring a simple film camera if you’d like to take pictures up close to the instruments.
Printed directions to GBO from SKMC will be available on site. If you’re arriving from off-site, GBO has a great map with directions to help.
Breakfast for AHSP Attendees that have paid for meals. Here is the Food Menu for checking what’s for breakfast!
Cass Mountain Scenic Railroad
Whitaker Station Run
– Train departs at 11:00 am ; meet on outdoor deck at 9:00 am for carpools.
We are returning to the Cass Scenic Railroad as a daylight activity on Sunday. Cass Railroad tickets are for the 2 hour round trip to Whitaker Station, which recreates part of the logging tradition of the area. Definitely a family activity, for any weather. We will provide snacks for our group. Lunch will be on your own, either at the lunchroom in Cass or somewhere else of you choosing (suggestions to be provided). Those with SKMC Sunday meals who return immediately will have late sandwiches available.
If you haven’t been there before, the Green Bank Telescope Science Center should be open in the afternoon, with public tours on the hour.
Bob Bunge wrote in 2010: “Cass is unique and very much a treasure of mountain history and culture (much like SKMC). It has the largest operating fleet of geared locomotives in the US. One of their locomotives, Western Maryland #6 is the largest Shay type locomotive ever made.
“The trip up the mountain features steep, steep grades; at some points, there are “switch backs” where the train will stop, backup and move forward again since there either isn’t room or the grades would be too steep even for the geared locomotives. The engines work very hard up the mountain, if you are into anything industrial and enjoy sound, the combination of the different noises, the roar of the exhaust, the steam whistle and screech of the wheels is a real treat.”
Volunteer carpools will meet on Sunday morning on the deck after breakfast. Those who wish to be at Cass for the Locomotive Shop Tour should leave SKMC by 8:15 for a 9:30 arrival. The 10:00 Shop Tour leaves from the Visitor center, but be careful to get basck to the train before 11:00! Details of the free tours around the town of Cass can be found on the Cass State Park web site. Those who are going for the train ride only should be prepared to leave SKMC by 9:00 for 10:30 arrival. Leaving in between will give you some time to explore the town around the Cass depot. If you join a carpool, plan ahead for what you will do after the train and what you will do for lunch. You might want to get a box lunch in Cass at The Last Run restaurant (“the best place in town”) before you leave. There should be no problem getting back to SKMC for dinner, programs, and observing.
Lunch for Attendees that paid for meals is set for Friday through Monday. Here is the Food Menu for reference.
Back Ridge Observatory Open House
Saturday & Sunday, 3:00 pm at the observatory, or meet 2:45 pm on the deck.
Host is Joe Morris
Joe will open the observatory he has made available for SKMC’s use, on the ridge northwest of the observing fields.
AHSP Raffle
AHSP will be having its raffle again this year.
- There will be specific items provided by NOVAC; attendees cannot purchase additional tickets (blue) for this item.
- Attendees will receive raffle tickets with registration, and can buy more.
- Regular raffle prizes are provided by sponsors and by NOVAC.
- Tickets (yellow) will be given to children who are attending, and which can be used exclusively to enter for items appropriate to their ages.
- The raffle drawing will be Sunday before dinner.
[Details subject to adjustment.]
In brief:
- Each adult registrant will be given blue tickets, which can be used for the special raffle item, or general items.
- Each child registrant will be given yellow tickets, which can be used for children’s items, or general items.
- Each registrant will be given red tickets, and can buy more red tickets, which can be used to enter for general items.
All events, times and dates are subject to change based on sky conditions and other factors.
Dinner for the attendee that paid for food as part of their registrations. Here is the Food Menu for seeing what is being prepared for each meal.
Informal Visual Observing
Evenings, Friday and Saturday. Meet on the Yellow Observing Field (look for the red marker light).
This will be available every night at dusk to chat with beginners on a variety of observing topics. This informal get-together could cover anything from how to locate and recognize deep sky objects, types of objects to observe, tips on seeing faint objects, etc. Beginners questions will steer the topics discussed. Drop by for a short while or stay until the chat winds up for the evening. This is informal! Appropriate for observers of all experience levels.
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