Friday, October 9th at Okie Tex - Community Star Party - 7 PM

Okie-Tex
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Our Community Star Party welcome the local residents of Cimarron County, OK to participate in the Star Party. Local families, ranchers, residents, campers at Black Mesa State Park, schools are invited. Depending upon weather (and local football games), we introduce the participants to:

  • why we come to Camp BIlly Joe to experience the dark skies or the Panhandle (in Okie-Tex Hall) - 7PM
  • what’s in the sky (how to use a planisphere) and identify, constellations, stars, deep sky objects, planets, etc. Help us assist them locate objects in our dark skies (field in front of the Dining Hall). ~8PM
  • Around 9:30 - 10 pm, help accompany small groups of families down the field to see what telescopes are set up and find their way in the dark.

If you will be there and can help bring a scope out to the field in front of the kitchen AND/OR accompany a small group down the field until they know their way around, please let me know and sign below. You do not need to be an expert.

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I write a monthly Astronomy feature for the Cimarron News. I mentioned this in the August 27 edition of the paper.

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Thank you, Bill! Please see the link for the Black Mesa Star Party on Saturday, the 17th, in the posting for that event as it follows OTSP. That gives the residents of Cimarron County two chances to join with us to enjoy the Night Sky. All PR helps as Jody is under the weather. I have delivered flyers for both events to the park manager, the Camp Store, and Jody R. at the Museum.

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What! Jody’s the Iron Lady! She was fine when all of the rest of her crew was sick two years ago!

I hope she gets better fast!

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As always we are hoping for clear skies at Okie-Tex. Traditionally, on the very first night, we have offered a Star Party for the residents of Cimarron County (along with the campers at Black Mesa State Park). We begin with a short presentation on why we come out to Cimarron County and explain about light pollution. This presentation begins at 7 PM in Okie-Tex Hall. It is followed by an observing demonstration outside the Dining Hall (using Night Sky Nework Star Charts for October 2026 evenings and introduce how to locate the stars and constellations as they come out in the twilight. W e have permission to sue green laser pointers. We share constellation legends. Then we send them down the field to explore and learn from the folks who have scopes set up.

I will run the initial presentation and observing event. It is always great if other club members would join us with a few smaller portable scopes to give them a glimpse of what they will see down field. It also helps to have these same club members interspersed at the edges of the crowds so that the beginners can ask you questions. In the past few years, we have had 60-75 local residents come out with their families. If skies are not optimum we may have up to 25 persons show up.

IF you are willing to assist me that night, please comment below. Even if you can escort a small group down the field to view the skies through other scopes set up (including your own), please let me know.

AGENDA:

7:00 PM - Meet in Okie-Tex Hall for short presentation and signing Liability Agreements.

8:00 PM - Move outside to the filed in front of the Dining Hall to use planispheres and simple NSN Star Charts.

9:30 PM - Beging moving groups down the filed to explore.

Thanks to all who have assisted in the past. I hope some new club members will feel free to assist.

Eileen Grzybowski

PS - This flyer is already posted at key locations in Boise City, Cimarron Heritage Center, and local businesses.