The Chicago Astronomical Society
"America's oldest astronomical society; founded 1862"
PRESENTS
Registration Contests 2001 Winners Speakers & Workshops
You are cordially invited to Astrofest 2002. Astrofest will be held at the 130 acre Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See 4-H camp near Kankakee Illinois. Astrofest is a nationally recognized convention for observers and amateur telescope makers. The camp has a large field for observing and camping, a limited number of cabins, and a 250 seat Dining Hall. We offer a magnificent flea market, a great selection of commercial vendors, and catered meals served in the camp Dining Hall. For an expanded version of this brochure, see our web-site. Astrofest coordinates are: 41o13' -87o58'.
Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See has many natural hazards you should be aware of. Rocky cliffs, sudden drop-offs, and steep trails are located in the areas where Rock Creek travels through the camp property. Fatal falls are possible! Poison ivy is also very common. The director of the camp requires attendees to wear shoes at all times.
We have a new “First Scope” essay contest for ages 12 through 17. Two individuals in this age group will win their “first scope”. See the contest section for details.
We have made some changes to our door prize policy. It is our intention to make the prizes more appropriate for the winners. There will be separate door prize drawings for children (ages 6 through 12), young adults (ages 13 through 17), and adults (ages 18 and older). The children’s and young adults door prize drawing will be held on Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. and 11.00 a.m. respectively. The adult door prize drawing will be held at the usual time on Saturday evening after dinner. There will be separate door prize ticket boxes for each age category located in the Lodge.
We have added a “Grand Door Prize” category. This year’s grand prize will be a Meade 6" LXD 55 Schmidt-Newtonian telescope with Autostar. Only adults 18 years of age or older will be eligible to win the grand prize.
To attend Astrofest, please complete the enclosed registration form and return it, as soon as possible, with the proper payment amount. To avoid problems or delays in processing your registration; Please refer to the instructions printed on the back of the registration form. Print clearly and double check everything.
There are two possible ways to register for Astrofest; mail-in registration and on-site registration. We strongly recommend that you use the mail-in option to save money. To obtain the mail-in registration prices, the envelope containing the registration form and check for the proper amount, must be postmarked on or before 8-3-02. Registrations will be voided and returned if the payment submitted is insufficient (another reason to mail things in as early as possible) or if the envelope is postmarked after 8-3-02. Refunds will be processed for the following sold out items ONLY; meals, cabin bunks, and electrical power. After your registration form has been processed, a confirmation card will be mailed to you. Please keep this card and bring it with you to Astrofest. You will be asked for your confirmation card at the entrance in order to get your registration packet. If you miss the mail in registration deadline, and still wish to attend Astrofest, you must register on-site and pay the higher prices.
Three-Day Registration - You may attend Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning, September 12-15. Those choosing this option will be allowed on the site starting at noon Thursday.
Two-Day Registration - You may attend Friday morning through Sunday morning, September 13-15. Those choosing this option will be allowed on the site starting at 8 a.m. Friday.
One-Day Registration - You may attend Saturday morning through Sunday morning, September 14-15. Those choosing this option will be allowed on the site starting at 8 a.m. Saturday. If you wish to visit Astrofest during the daytime only, then choose this option. Sorry, but the one-day registration is available for Saturday morning through Sunday morning only!
This option is not recommended! For a variety of reasons, some people choose to register on-site. You may register on-site at the tent near the entrance. It will cost adults (13 years and up) $100 each and children 6-12 years of age $85.00 each, regardless of the number of days attending. The cost of meals, cabin bunks, and electrical power, (if any are available) is additional and not included in the registration fee! Sorry, but this is the policy for everyone who does not meet the mail-in registration deadline. This option also comes with a risk; if the site is at capacity, people will be turned away. Absolutely no exceptions will be made.
If you have questions, we prefer that you e-mail us via our web site at www.chicagoastro.org. This will ensure that communication problems are kept to a minimum. If you don’t have e-mail service, contact us at our voice mail number (773) 725-5618 and press 3.
A separate area will be available for those requiring a 120v electrical power source for telescopes and observing equipment only (no RVs). Spaces are limited to the first 18 purchasers. The fee is $5.00 for the length of the star party. To reserve a space, see the registration form. Positions on the field are on a “first-come, first-served basis”. This area is located just northwest of the Dining Hall. The area measures approximately 190 feet on the north-south axis and 90 feet on the east-west axis and is surrounded by trees on all sides. It is necessary to keep white lights on in the kitchen. Every effort is made to block stray white light with black plastic.
Long power cords will be ran out to this observing area, allowing users to locate their telescopes in good viewing spots. At the end of these cords will be power strips to plug your equipment into. There are ground fault interrupters for each cord. Each user will be limited to 15 amps. Since the power strips provided by us are for multiple users, we advise individuals to please bring additional power strips and extension cords.
All Astrofest registrants are encouraged to participate in the astrophoto contest by voting for their favorite images. A ballot will be in your registration packet. Entries will be on display in the Lodge from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday. A list of last years contest winners has been posted on the Astrofest web-site at “www.chicagoastro.org”.
Telescopes and Accessories - Astrofest has a long and proud history of exhibiting some of the best amateur telescope ideas each year. We are looking forward to another great year of telescope ideas, so please consider entering this contest. Entry forms will be available in the Lodge or at the souvenir table on the Dining Hall porch.
a. Your entry must be setup by 1p.m. Saturday. Have the entry form prominently attached to your entry so the judges can easily see it as they walk the field.b. Only homemade telescopes, mounts, and accessories may be entered. Old instruments that have been restored, commercially produced or otherwise, may also be entered.
c. Judges will remove the entry form when they judge your entry.
Optical Quality - Optical quality will be tested by means of an artificial star. A small steel ball will be placed at a suitable distance from your telescope, and illuminated with a small light. By this method, optical quality can be assessed without regard to sky conditions. Judging will begin at dusk on Friday. Entry forms will be available in the Lodge or at the souvenir table on the Dining Hall porch.a. Only telescopes without commercially produced optics may be entered for judging.
b. Telescopes with commercially produced optics may be entered for testing only, but will not be eligible for judging.
Astrophotos - Entry forms will be available in the Lodge.a. Completed entry forms, with your photos, will be accepted in the Lodge from 9 to 11a.m. on Saturday. Please complete a label.
b. There are two categories - Deep Sky and Solar System.
c. Prints only, no slides.
d. One entry per category. No multiple variety-object displays (for example; a collage of the moon, sun, and planets).
e. Collages are permitted only if they are of one celestial astronomical object.
f. Judging will be by paper ballot, cast by Astrofest attendees (most popular vote).
Children’s Art - Winners will be selected from each of the three age groups eligible to participate: (1) - ages 4 through 6, (2) - ages 7 through 10, and (3) - ages 11 through 13. Contestants must draw an astronomical scene such as an imaginary planetary landscape, a view of a galaxy, a planet, a space station, etc. Crayons and art paper will be provided at a table set up on the Dining Hall porch. On the back of each picture the contestant must print their name, age, city, and state. Entries must be handed in no later than 2 p.m. Saturday. Awards will be given out Saturday, but at a separate time from the door prizes.
First Scope Essay - Contestants will be required to write an essay in their own words (parents can only be cheerleaders). One winner will be selected from each of two age groups eligible to participate: (1) - ages 12 through 14 and (2) - ages 15 through 17. Entries must exhibit a serious interest in astronomy and have never owned a telescope of their own. Prizes will be as follows; ages 12 through 14 - Orion ShortTube 4.5 EQ Reflector and ages 15 through 17 - Orion StarMax 127mm EQ Compact “Mak” Telescope.Use the following questions as guidelines when writing your essay: What experience first got you interested in astronomy and why does your interest continue? What area(s) of astronomy interest(s) you the most? Why do you want a telescope? What type of objects do you plan to observe? The length of your essay is up to you. What matters most to the judges is the interest in astronomy conveyed in the essay. Mail your entry to: Chicago Astronomical Society, Attn; Essay Contest, POB 30287, Chicago, IL, 60630-0287.
a. Entries must be postmarked no later than 8-1-02.
b. The essay must be type written.
c. Your name, address, and age must be provided on the essay.
d. Winners must be present at Astrofest.
Astrofest 2001 Telescope Contest Winners
Paul R. Tombaugh for the historical restoration of Clyde Tombough's 7" Newtonian
Randall McClelland for telescope innovation: devising a complete Newtonian collimator system
Gil Machin for overall craftmanship on a 12.5" classical Cassegrainian
James W. Wolford for overall craftmanship on a mirror cell box with provisions for offset truss assembly on a 15" f/4.5 Newtonian
Edward Nash for craftmanship in making an exquisitely smooth-motion 16" f/4.5 Newtonian
John Pratte for overall craftmanship on a 10" f/6.1 Newtonian with a quick release primary cell
Steve Bell for craftmanship on a 10" f/5 English Yoke Equatorial Newtonian and off-axis guiding station
Father Jim Fahey for innovation on a compact double wheel multi-filter changer and also for a compact, space-saving 76mm f/2.7 refractor travelling companion scope in a slender carrying case
Andrew Ryan for craftmanship on an innovative 6" short-focus Newtonian finder on a 17.5" f/4.5 Newtonian
Friday night workshop: “Star Hopping for Beginners” hosted by Joshua Roth Ph.D., Senior Editor at Sky and Telescope magazine. Bring your small (4" to 6") rich field telescopes and have a good time. If you’re interested in this workshop, please e-mail the webmaster at our web-site “www.chicagoastro.org” for a reservation.
Saturday afternoon speaker at 2 p.m.: Robert Naeye, Editor of Mercury Magazine published by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Robert’s talk “Solving the Universe’s Mysteries Through Extra Dimensions” will explore the possibility of extra spatial dimensions in the universe and their impact on astronomy and cosmology.
Planetarium shows will be given at the Strickler Planetarium located at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais.Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.: Seminar on the “Cutting Edge of Planetary Work by Amateur Astronomers” hosted by Tom Dobbins, contributing author of “Video Astronomy”, part of Sky and Telescope’s Observers Guidebook series and co-author of “Epic Moon”, published by William-Bell Inc.
Friday night at 7 p.m. - “Hubble’s Greatest Hits” presented by Robert Naeye, Editor of Mercury Magazine published by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.
Saturday night at 7 p.m. - “The Accelerating Universe” presented by Joshua Roth Ph.D., Senior Editor at Sky and Telescope magazine.
If you are interested in these shows or seminar, please e-mailed the webmaster at our web-site: “www.chicagoastro.org” for a reservation (specify the program).
Vendors and the Astro-Swap flea market are located in the Vendors area. This area is located along both sides of the traffic lane that extends from the Dining Hall, south to the Main Observing field. If you are going to sell things in the flea market, the items must be homemade, second hand, or factory seconds only! Bring your own table or blanket to display your items. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis ONLY.
Videos will be shown all night in the Dining Hall on Friday and Saturday. Some of the movies shown may contain material that is unsuitable for your children. If this is of concern to you, please take appropriate measures.
We need people to volunteer two hours of their time at Astrofest. Please fill in the appropriate section on the registration form. A staff member will contact you. It's possible you will not be contacted, because we have obtained the required number of volunteers. Regardless of whether you are chosen or not, we appreciate your willingness to help out. Volunteers who put in their two hours will receive a special T-shirt.