A Member Society of
The Southwest Region of the Astronomical League
Bringing Amateur Astronomy
to the World
The Texas Star Party 2003
April 27 - May 4, 2003
TSP 2003 Observing Field
Texas Star Party 2003
by Ed Flaspoehler, AAAA
The 25th Annual Texas Star Party was again hosted on the magnificent Prude
Ranch, a 3500 acre mile-high guest ranch located six miles northwest of Fort
Davis, Texas, in the shadow of McDonald University. Attendance this year was
only 523, the smallest attendance on record, according to TSP organizer Dave
Clark. The low attendance is blamed on the current economy and the fact that
many technical people do not have jobs, since actual registration was much
higher. TSP week this year was April 27 / May
4, 2003.
The Southwest Region of the Astronomical League holds its annual business meeting during TSP, and it is encouraging to hear that SWRAL will be increasing its interest in its member societies and their activities outside of TSP each year. To find out more about the Texas Star Party, visit their web page at
http://www.texasstarparty.org/
The Great Texas Giveaway is a popular feature
after the guest speaker programs on Friday and Saturday nights. As
usual, Mike Planchon and Bob Summerfield entertained the crowd as the
door prizes were distributed.
Edward Preston of Friendswood, TX, became the
newest AAAA member by winning the AstroMax
Binocular Kit which AAAA donated to TSP as a door prize.
John Wagoner, TSP Observing Coordinator,
distributed more than 500 pins for his various observing programs
during TSP 2003. People love those pins - and those observing programs.
TSP 2003: Photo Gallery
Digital Photos bt AAAA President Ed
Flaspoehler
Click on images for enlarged view
Prude Ranch Entrance
On the Ranch
Chow Hall
Kathy Machin
makes a point
Gil Machin:
All Set Up and Ready to Go
Rob Esson and
Mike Planchon
On the Upper Field
Protected from the Dust
Mike and Anna Planchon
visit with John Wagoner
Swap Meet:
The Mad Scramble
Swap Meet:
No! I saw that First!
Swap Meet:
Marilyn Makes a Sale
Bob, Lisa and Mike
TAS Members Elaine and Norm Benson with Mark Hampton
Waiting for the Speaker
Bill Harris: Globular
Clusters and Super Galaxies
Pamela Gay:
RR Lyrae Stars
David Levy:
13,000 Observing Sessions
"It's clear! Let's Get Out of Here!" "Hey! Stop Pushing!"
Hard at Work: Steve O'Meara and David Levy Sign Books
The Texas Star Party is the Annual Convention of the
Southwest Region of the Astronomical League,
sponsored by SWRAL and hosted by TSP, Inc.
Click HERE
to Read Our Report on TSP 2003
Click HERE
to Read Our Report on TSP 2002
Click HERE
to Read Our Report on TSP 2001
Click HERE
for TSP 2003 Observing Programs
Click HERE
for TSP 2001 Observing Programs
Click HERE
for TSP 2000 Observing Programs
Click HERE
for TSP 1999 Observing Programs
The Southwest Region of the Astronomical League
is
made up of 28 member societies of the Astronomical League in the
states of Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.
Join the AAAA's
SWRAL Newsgroup
Hosted by Yahoo Groups and the American
Association of Amateur Astronomers
The purpose of the SWRAL Yahoo! Newsgroup, hosted by the American
Association of Amateur Astronomers, is to create a forum where
members of SWRAL clubs can share ideas and experiences, and just get
to know each other. If you belong to one of the member societies of the Southwest Region of the Astronomical League,
or just want to know more about what is going on in this part of the
Astronomical League, please
join us as we share ideas about our region and what we can do to
encourage more communication between clubs.
AAAA
A Member Society of The Southwest Region
of the
Astronomical League
Bringing Amateur Astronomy to the World
The American Association of Amateur Astronomers is a member
society of the Astronomical League. Based in Plano, TX, and with a worldwide membership, including
15% of its members in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, AAAA
is proud to be one of the ten largest clubs in the Astronomical League, and the
second largest club in the Southwest Region.
