I just learned about one of this season’s earliest star parties, and I thought I’d share it here. The 5th annual Bootleg Astronomers Star Party will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, June 3, and continue through noon, Sunday, June 5. The event takes place at Green River Conservation Area, Harmon, Illinois.
People who have attended claim the site has some of the darkest skies in Illinois. Upon your arrival, star party organizers will provide you with an informational packet full of goodies, including your ticket for the “fabulous door prize giveaway.”
The site, which is a wilderness area, can host tent or RV camping, and it has water and sanitary facilities. Electricity to charge your batteries or packs also is available. The hosts will provide several battery chargers for your use. And perhaps most importantly, free coffee, hot chocolate, and tea will be available both nights.
For those less inclined to camping, motels are available in nearby Princeton off Interstate 80. The region is a big birding, hunting, and fishing area, so daytime excursions for those not sleep-deprived are possible.
Registration costs $25 per person regardless of the number of nights you observe if you register by May 28. The price after that date is $40. Please visit the star party website at http://bootlegastronomy.com, where you’ll find the official registration form and pictures from previous events. Bring some extra cash for T-shirts because organizers claim this year’s design will be a visual treat.
Finally, get ready for lots of pirate jokes. You want examples? Just in the e-mail to me, I found, “Welcome aboard, mateys” and “No one walks the plank at this party.” And don’t forget (I know I never will) the event’s motto: “Bootleg Astronomers — Pillaging the universe one star at a time.”
Sounds like fun!