The Milky Way looms behind a lone observer. // Credit: Jim Edlin
This past week, some 409 amateur astronomers gathered at a remote camp in the Panhandle of Oklahoma near the tiny village of Kenton for the 30th Okie-Tex Star Party. I was privileged to be invited as the keynote speaker on Saturday night, and spent Thursday through Sunday at the event, traveling from Milwaukee to Dallas to Amarillo and then on up to Kenton. The experience was great, the people wonderful, and the enthusiasm for amateur astronomy unbridled.
I’m sharing some great images shot by Jim Edlin of the Idaho Falls Astronomy Society, showing the recent aurorae visible at the site, wide-field views of the Milky Way, and various club members having a great time observing. These images will show you how dark the skies are at Okie-Tex.
Congrats to Jim for such magnificent pictures!
For all the photos of the Okie-Tex Star Party, visit our Trips & Tours page.