AstroDad
Contributor
http://www.floridastateparks.org/alafiariver/default.cfm
Come visit me and a few buddies this weekend at Alafia River State Park. We'll have the scopes out looking for Comet Swan and a few other fall favorites. The park is on HWY39S 4.0 miles south of the intersection of Lithia and HWY 39S (Pinecrest Elementary School is at that intersection). If you plan to arrive after dark, call my cell phone first for the gate combo and further instructions. I'm on site #25. I'm heading out this morning, but will get email once per day around noon. PM me for my cell phone if you need/want it. If you call or show up at the park, tell them you're with the St. Pete Astronomy Club and they'll point you in the right direction. The park phone number is at the bottom of the above link....
Lastly, Saturday night is the peek of the Orionid meteor shower. You want to be up around 1am to see the peek activity. Go to a dark location (e.g. Alafia), wait about 20 mins to let your eyes adapt to the dark, and just look up (sort of to the S, but you'll see where they come from). You don't need or want any scopes or binos - just your eyes and maybe a blanket to lay on. A lounge chair is nice if your back can't take laying on the ground.
Come visit me and a few buddies this weekend at Alafia River State Park. We'll have the scopes out looking for Comet Swan and a few other fall favorites. The park is on HWY39S 4.0 miles south of the intersection of Lithia and HWY 39S (Pinecrest Elementary School is at that intersection). If you plan to arrive after dark, call my cell phone first for the gate combo and further instructions. I'm on site #25. I'm heading out this morning, but will get email once per day around noon. PM me for my cell phone if you need/want it. If you call or show up at the park, tell them you're with the St. Pete Astronomy Club and they'll point you in the right direction. The park phone number is at the bottom of the above link....
Lastly, Saturday night is the peek of the Orionid meteor shower. You want to be up around 1am to see the peek activity. Go to a dark location (e.g. Alafia), wait about 20 mins to let your eyes adapt to the dark, and just look up (sort of to the S, but you'll see where they come from). You don't need or want any scopes or binos - just your eyes and maybe a blanket to lay on. A lounge chair is nice if your back can't take laying on the ground.
