StarFest 2016 slated for this Saturday at Hopewell Furnace
Search the night sky and learn about exploring the heavens at StarFest 2016
An evening of space education and exploration will be hosted by Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site and the Chesmont Astronomical Society on Saturday, Aug. 6 (weather permitting).
This will be the fifth year Hopewell Furnace and Chesmont have partnered to present this event to the public. Presentations, lectures and observing the heavens through the telescopes of the society will be offered for the public to learn and enjoy. All activities will take place near the park’s visitor center. Admission and parking are free.
“We look forward to teaming with Chesmont Astronomical Society to have a rare evening program at our park,” said Hopewell Furnace NHS Site Manager, David Blackburn.
Activities will begin at 5:30 p.m. when the park will be opened for telescope set up and solar observations.
Between 6 and 7 p.m. special educational activities for children will be conducted. At 7 p.m. an introduction regarding the evening’s events and local “dark sky” initiatives will be made, followed by presentation of “Star Hopping” or the technique of finding dim objects in the sky by using brighter objects. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars to practice this technique themselves.
At 8:20 p.m., Mark Menzel, NASA Mission Systems Engineer at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, will give the keynote address on his involvement with the James Webb Space Telescope, successor to the Hubble Telescope currently in space.
Immediately after the conclusion of the lecture, nighttime observing will begin and continue until 11 p.m.
There will be door prizes given away by Chesmont throughout the course of the evening and a grand prize awarded at approximately 9:15 p.m.
Light food will be available for purchase on site.
Visitors are encouraged to bring portable chairs or blankets to sit on as well as a flashlight to find their way safely to their vehicles. Also encouraged are drinks to keep hydrated throughout the evening, insect repellent and proper shoes and clothing for outdoor evening activities.
Rain, cloudy or overcast skies can cause last minute postponement of the event. The immediate “rain date” is Sunday, Aug. 7, same times for activities. If that postponement date is also unsuitable, Aug. 27 and 28, respectively, are additional rain dates. It is suggested that prospective attendees consult local weather forecasts for information regarding expected weather conditions for the evening. Postponement of the event will be announced by the Chesmont Astronomical Society (chesmontastro.org) and Hopewell Furnace NHS on the website and Facebook site.
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site preserves and interprets an early American industrial landscape and community. Showcasing an iron plantation and its surrounding countryside, the park’s facilities are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily during our summer season (June to Oct. 10) including Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Columbus Day. It is open Wednesday through Sunday (excluding federal holidays that fall on those days) at other times of the year. It is closed other Federal Holidays. Hopewell Furnace is located five miles south of Birdsboro, off of Route 345. Admission to the park is free. For more information stop by the park’s visitor center, call 610-582-8773, visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/hofu, or contact us by e-mail at hofu_ superintendent@nps.gov. Visitors with specific needs may contact the park for assistance before their visit.