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Plans Change for Lick Creek Park Star Party

By Ginger Wentrcek

The Brazos Valley Astronomy Club participated in the Lick Creek Nature Center's Star Party on Friday, February 22, from 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. The original plan was to set up telescopes and let the attendees stargaze at the nighttime sky.

Mother Nature Steps In

However, Mother Nature stepped in and all of our plans changed at the last minute. Light rain fell most of the day and into the evening hours, preventing club members from setting up telescopes for stargazing. However, a covered area between the office and indoor classroom was made available to the BVAC.

Telescope displays were set up, free NASA material was given away, a slideshow of Randy Light's images was shown, paper planispheres were provided, and BVAC members were busy the entire evening answering questions and discussing astronomy related topics. It was wonderful to see so many families attend the event on such a cold, rainy evening. A Lick Creek Park representative estimated approximately 100 people attended the event.

In addition to the BVAC display, the Houston Museum of Natural Science set up a 9 ft. inflatable planetarium and offered mini educational sessions. There was also a great selection of snacks and hot chocolate, perfect for the cool temperatures.

The following members participated in the event:
Jim Lamar, Stephanie Hanover, Tom Campbell, Warren Bracewell, and Ginger Wentrcek

Images of children are included with permission of parents.

Tom answers visitor's questions.

Warren displays new Celestron telescope.

Jim sets up slideshow.

NASA materials were provided to the public.

BVAC members volunteer for the evening.

It was a cold, wet evening.

There was plenty of free NASA material.

Warren explains how a telescope works.

A father and daughter look at Earth/sky model.

Moon scene looks authentic in inflatable planetarium.

An observatory is featured in the inflatable planetarium.

A rocket is ready to blast into space inside the planetarium.