All amateur astronomers in Utah are invited to participate in the Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival the nights of June 25-28. On Wednesday we will have a special star party in Panguitch, Utah about 20 miles from Bryce with six-time shuttle astronaut Story Musgrave as the keynote speaker. See below info from Kevin Poe, the ranger in charge of the event. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights' star parties will be held at Bryce Canyon. Free camping and admission to Bryce Canyon for all days and nights of the event is offered to all volunteers who bring a scope and participate in the events. We have availability for 30 people Wednesday night and 45 people each of the other nights. So far we have 12 volunteers for Wednesday, 22 for Thursday and 29 for both Friday and Saturday. We desperately need more people for Wednesday night. If you can participate please email me at djcolton@piol.com and I will put you on the entrance station list and free camping list (if desired). I will also email you a volunteer form to send to Kevin.
From Kevin Poe:
Spread the news far and wide through SLAS that we have Story Musgrave (6 time shuttle astronaut and "mother earth defender") for the 8th Annual Astronomy Festival's Keynote Speaker! First night of the festival Wednesday June 25 we will have Story and the telescopes (I'm hoping many from SLAS can find a way to make it down here that early in the week) in Panguitch so that we can take advantage of the 1500 seat capacity of the town's Indoor Rodeo Arena. The neighboring town park has a great place to set up 25-30 scopes (I'll email pictures next week) and I'm pretty sure I can get the town to institute a voluntary "black out" for that night. Nevertheless it won't be as dark as Bryce (and the moon rises at 00:35) but this has the potential to be a most excellent outreach opportunity. Perhaps this event will serve as a launching point for future efforts to institute a county-wide lighting ordinance and to an encourage our local power company, Garkane, to phase out their "free" unshielded light fixtures that plague Southern Utah -- we've finally got an "ally" on their board of directors. To that end I'm endeavoring the make this the biggest media event since the Olympic Torch came through - inviting Congressman Jim Matheson, our Regional Chief of Interpretation, Phil Zichtermann, perhaps the director of the entire NPS, Mary Bomar, all the major television stations, etc. Needless to say we would forever be in SLAS's debt if we could count on a strong showing from your always excellent club members for that Wednesday night! Of course SLAS would be recognized as our guests of honor second only to Story Musgrave! Kevin Poe (435) 834-4412 Interpretive Park Ranger Bryce Canyon National Park