CAO Star-B-Q

Members are invited to the Summer Star-B-Q at the Carr Astronomical Observatory.

Want to spend a day out of the city in the fresh air of the country, hiking a portion of the Bruce Trail, flying kites, launching rockets and spending time with old friends and making new ones?

Then you will want to join us at the E.C. Carr Astronomical Observatory on Saturday, July 26th, 2014, a New Moon weekend, from 2 p.m. - 8 p.m. for our Star- B-Q! If the weather cooperates, we will do some solar and evening observing too, so bring your binoculars and telescopes if you have them.
 
The CAO, as it is fondly referred to, is located on top of Blue Mountain near Collingwood, a two-hour drive from Toronto, very near Ravenna, a little ways from Thornbury. The property boasts the Geoff Brown Observatory, or GBO, which houses the Centre's robotic C14 telescope, among other telescopes, the Tony Horvatin Observatory, or THO, where you can set up your own telescope and an Observing Pad to observe along side of fellow astronomers. If you would like to stay the night after observing, you can choose to camp or stay in the fully equipped house. This event is open to RASC-TC members, their families and significant others only. First Light participants! We especially hope you'll visit the CAO!

2014 Schedule

During the day, please visit the:

• My Own Dome Lot (MODL) sites (there’s one left!)
• Geoff Brown Observatory (GBO)
• Tony Horvatin Observatory (THO)
• Fred L. Troyer library
• 700 metre long solar system planet walk
• Bruce Trail and Margaret Paull side trail

1:30 PM - Meet and greet, Sign guest book, get name tag and door prize ticket
2:00 PM - Interpretive hike, 1.5 hour walk along Margaret Paull Side Trail
2:00 PM - Kite flying, ongoing*, south lawn
4:00 PM - Rocket launches*, Pad 39a (south of Observing Pad)
4:45 PM - Door prize draws, South lawn
5:00 PM - Group photo   
5:30 PM - Pot luck BBQ dinner, South lawn
8:00 PM - Bonfire ignition**, North lawn
8:54 PM - Sunset
9:00 PM - Observing begins**, Observing Pad & Geoff Brown Observatory
11:02 PM - Astronomical twilight ends   
6:50 AM - Moon rise   

* The kite flying & rocket launches are wind-dependent.
** The evening observing & bonfire are weather-dependent.

The Star-B-Q will be a pot luck event with members invited to bring a salad, food dish or dessert to share as well as their choice of food to BBQ on our giant, charcoal BBQ. The Toronto centre will provide munchies, water and pop.

To register for the event whether you are staying over or just coming up for the day, please use the CAO booking form so we can accommodate everyone and keep track of numbers.  All CAO user fees are waived for this weekend and it is a rain or shine event.  Directions (map and written directions) available on-line for members.

Once registered to attend, you will want to bring your food for the huge BBQ, a chair, sunscreen, hat, bug spray, and warmer clothing for the evening as it gets cool on top of the mountain. If you stay over, you will need your bedding, pillow, towel and personal items as well as your breakfast. Coffee is provided.

This is a great opportunity for members who haven't had the chance to visit our own excellent dark sky facility to find out for themselves what a fabulous asset we have in The CAO! We look forward to welcoming you there!

Grace Horvatin
On behalf of the CAO Committee

Who can attend: members, their family, their partner
Fee: free
Reservation required. Use the CAO Bookings form.
Location: Carr Astronomical Observatory (CAO)