Bethel Horizons Star Party (BHSP)

Bethel Horizons Star Party II (BHSP)

Iowa County Astronomers are hosting our 2nd star party at Bethel Horizons in Dodgeville, Wisconsin

UPDATE: The Star Party will be August 17th. The meeting will begin at 7:30, but some members may arrive around 6:00pm to do some work on the Wolkomir scope.

General Information:

Bethel Horizons is a beautiful retreat center located in Southwest Wisconsin featuring some of the darkest skies in the midwest, yet is only minutes from Dodgeville Wisconsin.

We will hold our regular Iowa County Astronomers club meeting at the Prairie Center at 7:30. Oberving will follow at the primary observing site. This site has 4 electrical hookups, Wifi and bathrooms available at the nearby Prairie Center. If you need electricity, bring long extension cords and power strips.

Lodgings are available on-site at Bethel Horizons for $26/night for dormatory style lodging at the Prairie Center.. Camping is available at the observing site for no charge. Payment should be made to Bethel Horizons directly. Contact Eric Volden for more information at ericv.bethelh@charter.net or 608-574-1992.

For more information, contact Greg Erickson

Star Party Rules

Dim red lights only. No white flashlights, headlights, camera flash bulbs, car dome lights or CELLPHONES. Even a brief exposure to white light can wreck your fellow observer's night vision for 30 minutes!
Dress appropriately- we recommend you dress for 20 degrees below the forecast temperature. Astronomical observing is a sedintary activity and you are exposed to the elements- wind and dew.
Green Lasers are permitted, but be very careful to point them well over the heads of your fellow observers. Laser light can 'spill' and if your beam is anywhere near someone, the stray light can impair their night vision.
Car lights- if you are planning on leaving the area before dawn, be sure to park so your headlights are facing away from the observing field and park so you can leave the area without the headlights pointing in the direction of the observing field.
No unshielded laptop screens. Red mode is not good enough. If you have a 'laptop sight-saver' or equivalent, that's fine.
If you want to listen to music, please wear headphones.
In the event you absolutely must use a white light (such as an emergency situation), please warn your fellow observers LOUDLY so they can shield their eyes.
No pets in the observing field
No smoking on site