Читать книгу Astronomy For Dummies - Maran Stephen P. - Страница 12
Part 1
Getting Started with Astronomy
Chapter 2
Join the Crowd: Skywatching Activities and Resources
Vacationing with the Stars: Star Parties, Eclipse Trips, Dark Sky Parks, and More
ОглавлениеAn astronomy vacation is a treat for the mind and a feast for the eyes. Plus, traveling with the stars is often cheaper than taking a conventional holiday. You don’t have to visit the hottest tourist destinations to keep up with your snooty neighbors. You can have the experience of a lifetime and come back raving about what you saw and did, not just what you ate and spent.
However, you can blow big bucks on one type of astronomy vacation: the eclipse cruise. But if you like ocean cruises, taking one to an eclipse doesn’t cost any more than making a similar voyage that has no celestial rewards. Bargain-basement eclipse tours are available, too. Star parties, telescope motels, and visits to dark sky parks are additional options; I cover all the bases in the following sections. Pack your bags and have the neighbors watch the dog!
Party on! Attending star parties
Star parties are outdoor conventions for amateur astronomers. They set up their telescopes (some homemade and some not) in a field, and people take turns skywatching. (Be prepared to hear plenty of “Oohs” and “Ahs.”) Judges choose the best homemade telescopes and equipment, earning their owners esteem and sometimes even a prize. If rain falls in the evening, partygoers may watch slide shows in a nearby hall or a big tent. Arrangements vary, but often some attendees camp in the field; others rent inexpensive cabins or commute from nearby motels. Star parties may last for a night or two, or sometimes as long as a week. They attract a few hundred to a few thousand (yes, thousand!) telescope makers and amateur astronomers. And the larger star parties have websites with photos of previous events and details on coming attractions. Some resemble the AstroFests I mention later in this section, with exhibitors and distinguished speakers as well as stargazing.
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