Annual Algonquin Adventure

I hope it's not inappropriate to plug events like this here (I guess I'll find out).

For anyone who's interested in finding out what astronomers do when they get together for a camping weekend known as a "star party" now's your chance to find out.

If you're in driving distance of Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario you might like to drop in at the 12th Annual Agonquin Adventure at Mew Lake (right on Hwy 60). This is a very laid back star party. There are no organized activities (except the group photo on Saturday) and no fees except whatever the park charges you to visit/camp.

It's not a fund-raising event and nobody's pushing any particular agenda. Just a bunch of people who like to look up in wonder and get together once in a while to philosophize, propound and pontificate.

I think this was the best Algonquin Adventure I've been to. The weather was great every day and we had excellent viewing conditions 4 nights out of 4 (gotta be a record). There were 132 official attendees and there must have been 300 or 400 "civilians" on Fri & Sat nights. We had 50 scopes on the beach and most of us had steady queues all evening.

Saturday was International Talk Like a Pirate Day so we celebrated with multiple toasts to William "Barnacle Bill" Herschel.



You could hear cries of "Aarrgh!" all through the night. What a crazy bunch. Lotsa fun and great celestial viewing. Did anybody from here make it?