I will be going to the 30th annual Okie-Tex Star Party near Kenton, Oklahoma, and delivering a talk Saturday, October 5, “Comets: Visitors from Deep Space.”
The Okie-Tex takes place in a remote area of the Oklahoma Panhandle that features magnificently dark skies. Hosted by the Oklahoma City Astronomy Club, this year’s event runs from September 28 through October 6 at Camp Billy Joe, just a few miles east of Kenton.
Several of my old friends from days past at Okie-Tex and the Texas Star Party are involved with running the event, including Mike Dennis and David Higgins, names familiar to some Astronomy readers and many fans of Deep Sky magazine.
The star party’s biggest draw will no doubt be serious observing with a variety of large-aperture scopes on hand and a crowd that knows how to go after obscure, strange, and unusual deep-sky objects. Talks will take place during the day, vendors will be set up with equipment, and food and lodging will be available — the latter either by bunkhouse or camping.
If you want to observe star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies (and a brightening comet!) from a truly dark sky site, I highly recommend this star party.
For more information on the Okie-Tex, visit: www.okie-tex.com.
I hope to see you there!