Star Party Recap
The 8th Annual 4th Grade Acton Star Party was a huge success. It was a two part affair; indoors on Thursday and outdoors on Saturday.
Part One - Clouds and Rainy Skies
Last Thursday, as many as 600 Acton and Boxboro students, siblings, family members, and volunteers braved the elements and came to learn about our wonderful hobby, space, and more. The weather couldn't dampen their enthusiasm and interest. Check out pictures taken by David McCormick
There were plenty of fabulous presentations inside by Sky and Telescope senior editor and Globe columnist Alan MacRobert, and Sky and Telescope Editor in Chief, Bob Naeye.
Also inside, ATMoB members Bernie Kosicki (Galileoscope Lending Project), Bruce Tinkler ("What to do next" table), George Roberts (Star Lab shows), David Siegrist (Mirror Grinding), Derek Lowe and Mike "Galileo" Francis kept the everyone entertained and informed at the same time. Everyone also enjoyed Bob Phinney's space exhibit. And Acton's own Gary Green put on a wonderful multi-media astronomy slide show inside the Cafeteria and Amanda Sullivan from Acton's Villiage Art Workshop introduced hands-on celestial crafts.
Part Two - Clear and Cold Skies
And that wasn't all… we had an observing session at NARA Park in Acton on Saturday night.
The night began with a high and bright pass of the ISS… a spectacular start to a great evening. We had close to 20 telescopes lined up on the walking path in Acton's NARA park and they were pointing in all directions; The Great Orion Nebula, rising Saturn, the open cluster M35, Pleiades, and more. The turnout was great too; approximately 250 people turned out to take in the sites.
Many thanks go out to all the ATMoB astronomers who brought their telescopes including: Neil Fleming, Tom McDonagh, Harry Drake, Derek Lowe, John Maher, David Wilbur, Phil Rounseville, Tom and Carolyn Lumenello, Scott Chizzo, Olivia Chizzo, and John Blomquist.
All the Acton-Boxborough PIP volunteers helped make everything run smoothly; making hot chocolate, directing people towards all the activities, Thank you to Dunkin Donuts for supplying coffee and hot water that kept everyone warm and to all the parents who supplied snacks and baked goods.
Acton-Boxborough PIP also helps fund Galileo, an honarium to ATMoB, Star Party supplies and many refreshments.
The Acton Schools were gracious hosts for the evening activities. The decorations (created by the students) throughout the building and the tireless efforts by all the Acton and Boxborough teachers and the custodial staff were above par. Special recognition goes out to the seemingly tireless Eileen Sullivan, Deborah Bookis (Acton Schools) and John Petersen (Acton PIP) for helping coordinate all the volunteer efforts from the school and parents.
The 4th Grade Star Party is certainly a team effort. Any "thank you" omissions are purely by accident. Let me know and I will correct.
Thank you all.
Clear Skies...
Steven Feinstein
Acton Star Party Coordinator
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