Mid-Michigan Photography Club Astrophotography Field Trip
Saturday August 11, 2018
Plan to arrive no later than 9:30 p.m.
Fox Park Observatory
3979 E. Gresham Hwy, Potterville, Michigan 48876
Please RSVP on the MMPC Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/221653251838329/ or by email to mmpclansing@gmail.com.
This field trip is a follow-up to the August MMPC meeting where Joe Holley and Rich Wyllis discussed astrophotography. As for light pollution, Fox Observatory is typical of Southern observing sites where you can see City Light domes on the horizon but the Milky Way is very visible as we are far enough away from the big cities to view it. If you are not going to spend the night you will need to park in the lot below the observatory near the beach. The cost is $15 for 1 night. They have plenty of room for tents and RV’s.
The 8th Annual Fox Park Observatory Star Party is being held at Fox Memorial Park near Potterville, Michigan, SW of Lansing. All but $5 of every registration fee goes directly into the Observatory’s fund that is used for upgrading, maintaining and operating this fantastic public observatory. The star party is our annual fundraiser to help offset costs of operating the observatory. It’s a gathering of amateurs from around the area for a weekend of imaging and observing. It’s an overnight, 3 night event. You’re more than welcome to join us on the 11th but just keep in mind this event is a little different than the normal public night.
Power for any and all astronomical equipment is available at no charge. There is a nice beach, walking trails, decent restrooms (sorry, no showers other than the outdoor beach shower), playgrounds and plenty of room for tents and RV’s. If you don’t like to camp, there are hotels available within 5-15 miles in Lansing and Charlotte.
While Fox Park doesn’t offer the pristine skies of northern Michigan, the skies are still more than dark enough for serious observing and imaging. Limiting Magnitude at Zenith is approx 5.5 to 5.7. The location is close to Interstate’s 69 and 96 so it is easily accessible for all the major cities of southern Michigan and beyond. The main purpose of the event is to give all of us obsessed astrophotographers and observers a long weekend to hang out and observe/image our night skies while at the same time helping a great facility continue to introduce our great hobby of amateur astronomy to hundreds of new people every year. Bring your camping gear and equipment or take a peek through the observatory’s numerous telescopes.
There is absolutely no white lights allowed after dark as this is an amateur observing event and typical star party rules are enforced. All of the volunteers should be there that day observing and/or Imaging so there will be more than adequate assistance if you have any questions.