AMERICAN URBAN STAR FEST
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John Pazmino
Amateur Astronomers Association
2002 October 27
[This article has two parts. First is the abstract of my presentation
on the American Urban Star Fest at the AAVSO convention 24-27 October
2002 in Somerville <A. The second is the announcement issued by
Amateur Astronomers Association for the Fest held on 5 October02002.
Some of the pictures for the AAVSO talk were taken at this Fest.]
AAVSO abstract
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Over the last couple of decades New York City implemented, and
continues to carry out, several schemes of eradicating luminous
graffiti. One result has been the gradual recovery of the natural
night sky. By 1994 the normal clear sky transparency over Manhattan
deepened to fourth magnitude and has been slowly creeping deeper,
until in 2002 it is at magnitude 4 to 4.5.
In the spring of 1995, during some lazing on a Manhattan rooftop
under a sky full of stars, several New York astronomers hatched the
idea of letting the whole people celebrate the renewed starry sky. In
due course they, through the Amateur Astronomers Association, engaged
the New York City Parks Department and the Urban Park Rangers in an
evening of quiet picnicking to enjoy the stars in their natural sky.
Thus the Urban Star Fest was born. The event thrilled about 3,000
visitors in Central Park's Sheep Meadow on Saturday 30 September 1995.
This year's Fest, the eighth in the series, demonstrated the City's
upper skyline of stars on Saturday 5 October 2002 to about 2,200
enthused visitors.
Although the Fest is always noted as cancellable for inclement
weather, so far, it has convened every year, with attendance ranging
from 4,000 down to a mere 1,000, this latter being under the smoke
plume of the World Trade Center in 2001.
Despite this swing in attendance, the American Urban Star Fest is
America's largest regularly scheduled public astronomy event. Of
course, special occasions, like comets or eclipses, can and do attract
far larger interest both in the City and elsewhere.
The presentation shows the setup and program of the American Urban
Star Fest, to illustrate how the general public can actively become
aware of the night sky and see for themselves the results of their
very own efforts at removing light pollution -- and note where
improvement is yet to come.
= = = = =
AAA announcement
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A M E R I C A N U R B A N S T A R F E S T
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Saturday 5 October 2002 - 18:30 TO 23:00 EDT
Sheep Meadow - Central Park - Manhattan
Introduction
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The eighth annual American Urban Star Fest is on Saturday 5
October 2002 from 18:30 thru 23:00 Eastern Daylight Time in the Sheep
Meadow of Central Park on Manhattan. All activity is outdoors; the
Fest is cancelled for thick clouds or rain. It convenes under thin
cloud or haze. If you see the setting Sun, it's go for the stars.
History
-----
The Fest celebrates the comeback of the natural nightsky over New
York City since the mid 1990s. It, then merely the Urban Star Fest,
began in 1995 with the realization that the normal clearsky
transparency over Manhattan deepened to fourth magnitude, on a steady,
altho slow, betterment of the City's nightsky. SInce then the
transparency is still fourth magnitude, but with more and more
frequent nights of 4-1/2 magnitude transparency. All this is a
miraculous progress toward the 'Promise for starry eyes' project among
New York astronomers.
Sponsors
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The American Urban Star Fest is a program of NYC Department of
Parks, NYC Urban Park Rangers, Amateur Astronomers Association. In
addition, there are several contributors of equipment, crew, and
general financial support for Parks projects.
What's going on
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The grassy field of Sheep Meadow is open for an autumn picnic
under the stars, the very real stars in our reviving nightsky. We
provide interpretation, explanation, and telescopic views of the
night's interesting targets. All this is set against a background of
light music, a couple short talks by local astronomers, and
freeflowing banter about the heavens. As night descends over the
island, the dropdead skyline of the City wraps around you.
Where we are
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We're set up in the northwest corner of Sheep Meadow, near Tavern-
on-the-Green. The easiest entry is thru the carpark of that
restaurant. If you enter the Park from any other gate, make your way
to Sheep Meadow and find us in the northwest corner. Parts of the
Meadow may be fenced off for maintenance. Walk around the fence to the
Tavern gate of the Meadow.
Urban Park Rangers are spotted thruout the area to direct you to
the American Urban Star Fest.
What to bring
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Definitely a warm jacket for the autumn chill, even if the day be
mild. A picnic or beach blanket. Starcharts and binoculars. Lawnchair
or pillows. And a basket of eats. We have the telescopes for you to
inspect the night's featured objects.
Nearby services
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Eating spots are around columbus Circle and Lincoln Center. Most
will pack a bag of goodies for you to munch on during the Fest.
Restroom pavilion is on the footpath on the north side of Sheep
Meadow. General policing is provided by the NYC Urban Park Rangers and
NYC Police Department.
How much is it
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The American Urban Star Fest is totally free of charge to all
visitors. The sponsors and contributors cover all the costs.
What to see
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We got no Moon for you this year, she being approaching her new
phase. Early arrivers may spot Venus low in the southwest, if there
are no intervening towers.
Depending on the weather and your interest, we'll demonstrate
double stars, clusters of stars, a galaxy, and -- yes! -- stars with
their OWN planets around them. The Fest closes with a peek at Saturn,
coming up over the trees in the east at 23h.
It happens that for the Fest there is no good passover of the
International Space Station and no strong flashes from the Iridium
satellites.
Getting to the Fest
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The closest subway stations to the Fest are
57th St (Carnegie Hall) - BMT Broadway
59th St (Columbus Circle) - IRT 7th Av and IND 6th & 8th Av
66th Street (Lincoln Center) - IRT 7th Av
72nd St (Dakota) - IND 6th & 8th Av
Buses run in Broadway, 9th Av-Columbus Av, 8th Av-Central Park
West, 59th & 60th St, 66th St, Central Park South, and 57th St.
There is no provision for cars at or near the Fest. The American
Urban Star Fest is unique among major public astronomy events for
having virtually all of its visitors arrive by transit or foot.
Are we for real
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You won't find the American Urban Star Fest in the usual lists of
starparties. We got no true 'dark' skies. No camping or sports. No
sing-alongs or skits. No contests or prizes. No vendors or showcases.
No lectures and workshops. No muscle telescopes. No 'famous'
stargazers or speakers.
Yet we draw the largest attendance of any regularly scheduled
public astronomy event in the country. Of course, special events like
eclipses and major comets do attract crowds exceding those at the
Fest. How many turn out on the evening of American Urban Star Fest? A
few thousand.
Why?
Because we offer the epitome of home astronomy, a star sprinkled
sky over the star sprinkled skyline.
And it's all yours, for free.
Come to the 8th annual American Urban Star Fest.