The 5th OTAA SCENIC VISTA STARGAZE - May 15, 2010

PURPOSE:

The first organizational meeting of the Ohio Turnpike Astronomers Association was on January 25, 1956, in Akron OH. Representatives from the Akron, Mahoning, Black River, Elyria and Youngstown clubs were present. A series of annual summer meetings was established, each hosted by a member club, in turn. Once the turnpike came on line in the 70‘s, the organization was re-badged as the OTAA. The annual summer “OTAA Meetings” were a great success. It’s hoped these conventions will continue, serving to strengthen the tenuous nature of the OTAA as it stands today. The MVAS introduced the OTAA Scenic Vista Stargaze in 2006. Held at Scenic Vista Park just west of Lisbon, OH. It is hoped that this can serve to strengthen the OTAA as an organization. We hope many OTAA club members will participate. This is an excellent opportunity for member clubs to meet and discuss OTAA goals and announce upcoming events.

If you arrive after dark please use parking lights only (if possible). NOTE: If the weather is totally cloudy in the Lisbon area, no event will take place. With partial clouds or clearing skies, the public event will still be on. OTAA members are of course welcome to still give it a try under these conditions. Check the Internet or other weather forecasting resources covering Columbiana County, OH to help you to decide if you’ll make the trip.

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

12:00 PM
Rocket, model plane flying and solar observing are planned for the afternoon. You may arrive early and set-up scopes. Camping overnight is permitted (no camp fires please). There are no RV electric or sanitary connections availailable. A Port-a-John is on site. There are NO fees, door prizes, pot-luck dinners, and no lectures. Just observing.

6:00 PM
Informal meeting of OTAA members convenes in the pavilion. OTAA representatives may then pass along information that may be of interest to other OTAA clubs. Let’s get the convention season off to a good start.

9:00 PM
Sunset is around 8:30 PM. A public star party will begin once it gets dark enough. Planetary views will get us through twilite. In past years, public observers rarely excede 25 and usually leave by 12AM. The pavilion is available for observing breaks, all night long. The MVAS coffee pot will be hard at work too. Please be rested for a safe drive home. A few hours’ nap in your vehicle is very appropriate. Someone from MVAS will be there, into the early morning for company.

Sunday, May 16 at 12:00 PM
End of Stargaze

For those wishing to set their car GPS units or goto telescope mounts, here are the coordinates of the observing field:

Latitude: N40.7367° (N40° 44' 12.1")

Longitude: W80.8188° (W80° 49' 07.7")