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Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc. |  Member Astronomical League |
 Member International Dark-Sky Association |
| Star
Party Calendar 2009 |
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| 29°39' N, 82°21'
W Altitude: 50 Meters (more or less) |
Updated Nov. 12, 2009 | ||
| (Click logo for home page) | Founded: September 1987 |
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NOTE: Star parties are sometimes cancelled due to poor weather. Cancellation notices are posted to the AAC-L at 3 P.M. the day of the star party. If you are unable to check your email, call the star party coordinator after 3 P.M. Also, please refresh yourself with appropriate "Star Party Etiquette." |
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 Public Events AAC Semi-Private |
Star
Party Details & Web Sites |
Date (2009) |
Location
& Comments Click Links for Directions/Maps |
Start/End
Time Sunset Times & Hours of Darkness |
Moon
Phase Moon Phase Calendars |
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AAC Jan LOG Star Party |
Jan. 7 |
SPECIAL LUNAR OBSERVING GROUP (LOG) SESSION Observe The 11.5 Day Old Waxing Gibbous Moon (Illum. 86%) (Lunar Colongitude: 50.2 degrees at 7:00 p.m. ET) Click here for details of this, and future, LOG Sessions. |
Sunset approx 5:45 PM EDT |  FQ Jan. 4 |
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 Florida
Park Service Friends of Paynes Prairie
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Stargazing at Hickory Ranch |
Jan. 17 | Hickory
Ranch at Paynes Praire
Public: $5 donation appreciated—Kids free. RSVP if planning to attend so we know how much cocoa to stir up! (E-mail info@prairiefriends.org & indicate no. in group) AAC Members: Arrive 5:00 – 5:45 pm EST to set up (No entry fee for volunteer AAC members) Don't confuse this Jan. public star party with our April Hickory Ranch Star Party for AAC Members |
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM EST Sunset approx 5:50 PM EST |
 LQ Jan. 18 |
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AAC January Star Party |
Jan. 24 | Newberry
Sports Complex 24820 NW 16th Ave Newberry, FL 32669 Directions from Newberry From State Road 26 (W. Newberry Rd.) & US 27/41 Junction Go 1.6 mi. North on US 27/41 (Main St. in Newberry) Google Map Lat. N 29° 40.1'; Long. W 82° 36.4' The Recreation Sports Complex - Newberry, FL Gates open at 5:00 PM for setup. Canceled due to weather. May be rescheduled, watch for updates. |
Sunset approx 5:55 PM EST |  NM Jan. 26 |
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AAC February Star Party |
Feb. 21 | Gary Cook's Residence | Sunset approx 6:20 PM EST |  NM Feb. 25 |
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Starry-Starry Night at The Villages |
Feb. 28 | The
Villages, Ocala) Public Viewing 7-10PM (Club members arrive early to set up) Not Cancelled Though Skies Have Broken Clouds Received word that The Villages Star Party has not been cancelled though their skies have broken clouds and prospects look poor. Since their own members do not have far to travel, they have decided to give it a try. However, they will leave it up to AAC members to decide individually whether or not to participate realizing it is a long drive for us. |
Sunset approx 6:25 PM EST |  NM Feb. 25 |
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AAC March Star Party |
Mar. 21 | Loftus Family Farm | Sunset approx 7:40 PM EDT | LQ Mar. 18 |
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AAC March Star Party [Rain Date] |
Mar. 28 | Loftus
Family Farm [Rain Date] |
Sunset approx 7:45 PM EDT |  NM Mar. 26 |
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AAC Apr LOG Star Party |
April 2 |
SPECIAL LUNAR OBSERVING GROUP (LOG) SESSION Observe The First Quarter Moon (Lunar Colongitude: 4.8 degrees at 8:00 PM EDT) Click here for details of this, and future, LOG Sessions. |
Sunset approx 7:50 PM EDT | FQ Apr. 2 |
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AAC April Star Party |
Apr. 25 | Hickory Ranch at Paines Praire | Sunset approx 8:00 PM EDT |  NM Apr. 25 |
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Astronomy Day at SFC | May 2 | Astronomy
Day at Santa Fe College Kika Silva Pla Planetarium Santa Fe College 3000 NW 83 St. Gainesville, FL A multi faceted event celebrating all things astronomical. Need directions to the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, on the campus of Santa Fe College? Click here! |
Sunset approx 8:05 PM EDT | FQ May 1 |
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AAC May Star Party |
May 23 |
Chiefland/Duval Canceled due to weather. |
Sunset approx 8:15 PM EDT |  NM May 24 |
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AAC June Star Party |
June 20 | Hurricane
Harbor
(Bob Jacobs) Viewing was very poor. We will be using the Rain Date for another try! |
Sunset approx 8:30 PM EDT |  NM June 22 |
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AAC June Star Party [Rain Date] |
June 27 | Hurricane
Harbor
(Bob Jacobs) [Rain Date] |
Sunset approx 8:30 PM EDT |  FQ June 29 |
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| AAC July Star Party |
July 18 | No July
Star Party |
LQ Jul. 15 |
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AAC August Star Party |
Aug. 22 | Loftus
Family Farm Canceled due to weather. Rescheduled! See the info below. |
Sunset approx 8:20 PM EDT | NM Aug. 20 |
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AAC August Star Party [Rain Date] |
Aug. 29 | Loftus
Family Farm Don Loftus has invited us to to his Farm for a "Rain Date" Star Party! The moon phase is waxing gibbous with 70% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated. Therefore the emphasis will be on the moon. |
Sunset approx 7:55 PM EDT |  FQ Aug. 27 |
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AAC September Star Party |
Sept. 19 | Stargate Observatory | Sunset approx 7:25 PM EDT |  NM Sept. 18 |
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Starry Night An IYA 2009 Event |
Sept. 25 | Starry
Night at Florida Museum of Natural History Our Areas Biggest Celebration of the IYA2009 It's Going to be Out of this World! Free for All Ages • Door Prizes and Giveaways! Time 5 to 10 p.m. EDT Location Powell Hall, FLMNH Lots of indoor/outdoor presentations & activities Talks by Astronaut Build a Telescope incl. Galileoscope giveaways for children (age 10 and up) Telescope viewing with AAC scopes from late afternoon (view Sun) to late evening (Moon, Jupiter & more) Space aged arts and crafts. Picnic under the stars. Portable planetarium. 3-D Astro Wall Space art exhibit by Tim Malles 
Starry Night Posters to Download (pdf)8.5x11 Poster • 11x17 Poster Starry Night FLMNH Web Site (This event replaces usual Fri. public nights at UF's Teaching Observ.) Sponsors: University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, UF Department of Astronomy, Florida Space Grant Consortium, Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc., GE Foundation, Santa Fe College, SwampSat and Gainesville Chamber Orchestra Moon 7.3d, 49% illumination |
Sunset approx 7:22 PM EDT |  FQ Sept. 26 |
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AAC October Star Party |
Oct. 16 & 17 |
Gold
Head Branch State Park Lots of details here! |
Sunset approx 7:00 PM EDT |  NM Oct. 18 |
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Star Gazing at Dudley Farm Historic State Park | Oct. 24 |
Dudley Farm Historic State Park A Public Star Party at Historic Dudley Farm and A Celebration of Galilean Nights (A new IYA 2009 Cornerstone Project) also A Fund Raising Event for Friends of Dudley Farm Fees $5.00 donation per adult (includes park admission fee) Free entry for children For more information, call 352-472-1142 Parking Please park before dark: 5:30–7:00 p.m. ET Star Gazing 7:30–10:00 p.m. ET The Friends of Dudley Farm is sponsoring this night-time event at the Visitor Center for the benefit of Dudley Farm. Light refreshments will be served. Parking and all activities will be at the Visitor Center. The Farmstead area closes at 4:00 p.m. ET. Location 18730 W. Newberry Rd., Newberry, Florida Goggle Map Amateur and professional astronomers will point their telescopes to the wonders Galileo observed 400 years ago, especially Jupiter and the Moon, which will be well-positioned for observing during the event. Galilean Nights will be spread over three nights with the last night coinciding with our Dudley Farm event. Galilean nights encourages as many people as possible to look through a telescope at our planetary neighbours. Moon 6.9d, 41% illumination |
Sunset approx 6:50 PM EDT | FQ Oct. 25 |
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AAC November Star Party |
Nov. 14 | Loftus Family Farm Moon 27.9d, 3% illumination (waning crescent) |
Sunset approx 5:34 PM EST | NM Nov. 16 |
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Starry-Starry Night at The Villages |
Nov. 21 | The
Villages, Ocala Public Viewing 7-10 p.m. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO BRING TELESCOPES! (Club members arrive early to set up) Moon 5.3d, 25% illumination |
Sunset approx 5:32 PM EST | FQ Nov. 24 |
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AAC
Holiday Party |
Dec. 12 | AAC
Holiday Party Celebrating AAC's 22st Birthday! « Potluck Dinner, Music, Games & More » Location: Home of Mark & Cindy Barnett, 3111 NW 18th Place, Gainesville, Florida, (352) 373-2244 More info and maps here |
6:00 pm EST Sunset approx 5:30 PM EST |
 LQ Dec. 8 |
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