European Star Parties

Yep, that's why I didn't bother including it, although it is open to debate I guess.

Michael.

Oh, well, I would have thought that if it has lectures and such, it is a Star Party. The word has a double meaning I guess, when you think the Irish Astrofest's of the 90's.

Seanie.

If there is no observing planned, then it isnt a starparty.
It would be a convention/conferance/seminar....

Ya. Your right there Seanie.
I guess in Ireland 'Star Party' means
'sitting around inside talking about them'
as opposed to better climes where it means
'standing around outside observing them'
:laugh:

Dave_Lillis wrote:

If there is no observing planned, then it isnt a starparty.
It would be a convention/conferance/seminar....

Another fair point. Although you would expect that IF stargazing was not on the agenda for amateurs getting together, someone would start a session (an astronomical one) when darkness falls...

I dunno about that Seanie.
I've been to the London Astrofest and I can
tell you unless Sir Patrick himself
was running an observing session in Hyde Park
with a 30'' Dob pointed at the Moon then I'd be in the pub!



Let's face it....
there are a few different camps in this hobby
and not everyone is into visual observing.
A lot of the SAC club members have absolutly zero interest in
it and prefer the cosmology / social aspect to the hobby.
That's grand.
Whatever your into.

I've a fairly rounded interest in all areas of this hobby
but I suppose I lean more twoards the photography side of it
in the sense of trying to capture the 'buzz' of it.
(eg - remember how excited you were when you first saw the
rings of Saturn or the Belts of Jupiter?)
That kind of feeling is hard to re create in an image
but that's what I like to do.

Thats not to say that any other area in this hobby
is less significant or more important.
We all do our bit.
From the lads that discover asteroids to the people
that do public out reach we all play a part and
we all are a link in the chain.

BUT!!!

For me ...
Star Party
means...
being outside under the stars with a group of
like minded people observing / imaging / etc...
and afterwards the recounting and pontificating in
the pub or wherever..