2010 WSP Evaluation Form

Entrance by prior registration ONLY! Tickets are NOT available for sale at the gate.

Visit the WSP News Alerts Web Page for the latest news about the upcoming 27th Annual WSP

Get set for The Winter Star Party!  The 27th Annual Winter Star Party is scheduled for February 28 - March 6, 2011 on West Summerland Key (a.k.a. "Spanish Harbor Key") in the Florida Keys. Astrophotographers and amateur astronomers often bring their families from across the U.S. and around the globe to make it a truly international event. Southern winter skies are a real treat for our Canadian and northern friends!

This special 6 day long "Stellar Star Party" includes vendors promoting their latest products for amateur astronomy, nationally recognized guest speakers, a popular "Kids Kamp", mirror-grinding lessons, the ever popular door prize giveaway on Friday afternoon and much more! Registration / information kits will be mailed out in early September 2010. November 15, 2010 is the deadline for WSP registration (postmarked). A $15 "late registration fee" will be charged per application after that date. Tickets are on a first-come first-served basis.

Tickets can be transferred to someone else if your plans change (please notify the WSP Registrars if a ticket is transferred).

Click Here to See a Time Lapse "Movie" of the 2009 WSP!

The Berm Panoramic (Click on image above to download a 200KB high resolution copy) Photography by Arthur Mullis with a Nikon D300 DSLR Post Processed with Panoramic Factory V5.2

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The ANNUAL WINTER STAR PARTY

Established in 1984, the Annual WINTER STAR PARTY is held in the Florida Keys, and hosted by the Southern Cross Astronomical Society (SCAS), Inc., of Miami, Florida.

During a new moon week each February, approximately 650 amateur astronomers from around the world travel to the warm subtropics of the Florida Keys to enjoy nightly observing in 360º of clear steady night skies, exchange information and advice on the hobby, meet SCAS members and distinguished guest speakers, shop for astronomical equipment from the finest vendors in the country, participate in photo contests & workshops, go sightseeing in the "Conch Republic", and record the awesome beauty sparkling in the southern night skies.

TO REGISTER: Please contact the Winter Star Party Registrars at heinrich1@windstream.net or call 386-362-5995 if you have any questions about registration. The 2011 WSP Registration Notification Postcards will be sent out in early September 2010.

TRAVEL: Getting to the WSP is easy. From the Miami International Airport, it's 45 minutes on the Florida Turnpike south, followed by two hours on scenic Highway US-1 down the Florida Keys. Connecting flights to Key West are also available, reducing driving time to under an hour. Marathon Airport offers scheduled airline service to and from Fort Myers, Fl on Continental Airlines (in partnership with Cape Air). Marathon Airport started this new service on Dec 19, 2008.

We advise you NOT to make non-refundable travel plans until you have received confirmation of your registration.

WHERE TO STAY: The Girl Scout Campground has plenty of room for tent camping and a limited amount of room for RVs (see registration form for prices). Chickee bunks are also available. Each chickee sleeps six. The campground has showers and clean bathrooms, but this is not a resort and facilities are rustic.

If you prefer to stay off-site, there are several hotels on neighboring Keys (look for accommodations in Big Pine or Marathon).

Remember, the WSP is held during the peak of tourist season in the Keys, so reserve as soon as possible after you receive confirmation (AKA WSP Ticket) of your attendance. For information on area accommodations and recreational activities, call 1-800-FLA-KEYS or see The Official Florida Keys web site .

RV INFO:There are NO electrical, water, or sewer hookups for RVs. Please plan to be self-contained upon entry to the camp. RV's will be pre-assigned to an "entry group" and should enter the camp on Feb. 28, 2011 no earlier than and no later than the time period in the registration packet received. Once parked, RV's cannot be moved before the end of the event (Sunday morning, March 6th, 2011). Maximum RV capacity is 26 units for Camp Wesumkee.

RV DUMP STATION INFO (Local Area): Dump stations are available at Bahia Honda Beach State Park and Sunshine Key RV Resort on the way back to Marathon. Both locations charge a fee (about $15) to use their dump stations.

PACKAGE DELIVERY TO THE WSP: Please be advised that you will not be able to receive mail or package deliveries at the girl scout camp during the Winter Star Party. However, we have made arrangements with The UPS Store in Marathon to accept deliveries on your behalf along with a special discount for providing the service to you. Just show your WSP badge/ticket at the counter and the store will waive any receiving/hold fees as a courtesy to the WSP.

The UPS Store

5409 Overseas Hwy #500

Marathon, FL 33050

(305) 743-2005

This UPS Store is located in the same shopping center as the "Publix Supermarket", on the left side as you pass through Marathon headed south to the WSP site.

(Vendors: This notice does not apply to vendors shipping product in via freight carrier. Vendors need to coordinate on-site deliveries with the WSP Vendor Coordinator prior to delivery.)

FIRE ANT NOTICE : Each Year, prior to the annual Winter Star Party, the Winter Star Party reimburses the Girl Scouts to hire an Orkin Exterminator to treat the grounds at Camp Wesumkee for fire ants. Even after a professional exterminator has treated the grounds for fire ants, experience has shown us that we can only hope to reduce the ant population. Total elimination of the fire ant population is nearly impossible!

Therefore, we highly recommend that you take precautions and protect yourselves from their stings (they only bite to jab their stinger into you);

1. Wear socks and shoes at all times! It will not prevent the fire ants from biting you, but it will delay their "attack" for a few more seconds.

1. If you must use an insecticide, we only authorize the use of Amdro and/or approved equal ant bait. Sprays, liquids and powders will not be allowed since they can harm your neighbor’s optics and poison the grounds. Fire ant bait is of a low toxicity and much safer for the environment when used as directed on the packaging. Fire Ant bait will only be available in hardware store gardening sections in the southern most states adjoining the gulf. Due to limited supplies in the Florida Keys we suggest you visit The Home Depot or Lowe's on the main land. Please refer to store web site for listings, locations, and directions from either US1 or the Turnpike.

1. The formic acid which the fire ants inject has been seen to slowly dissolve through tent flooring creating tiny holes. We recommend that you sprinkle fire ant bait over the area where you plan to pitch a tent.  For Further protection we recommend placing a tarp between the tent flooring and treated ground surface.

1. Fire ants also have an affinity to electric fields and have been known to find new homes in electrical appliances. We  recommend that you lightly sprinkle your observing area and support any electrical appliance above and off the ground. Please be aware that it will take a couple of days for the bait to start affecting the ant colony, and therefore, over pouring ant bait will not result in a speedier control of the fire ant population.

Parking Before and During the WSP: The waiting line for entry into Camp Wesumkee forms at 6am on Monday, Feb. 8, 2010. Please be aware that Monroe County Ordinance prohibits overnight camping alongside US-1.

If you are not staying at The Winter Star Party campsite, and wish to leave after 7pm (gate closing time for vehicle traffic) each night, you must park your vehicle along US-1 and walk into the camp for nighttime observing. The Southern Cross Astronomical Society and Winter Star Party are concerned for your safety and therefore would like to remind you of the following:

• Please be aware that the posted speed limit on US-1 in front of the campsite is 55 mph.
• Please park on the same side of the road as the camp (south side of the road). This keeps you from having to cross this very busy highway at night! If you are traveling southbound from Marathon, you can turn around at the boat ramp on the right side BEFORE you cross the bridge to Big Pine Key, or you can cross the bridge to Big Pine Key and make the left hand turn into the "Big Pine Key Fish Camp" and then turn around to come back over the bridge to West Summerland Key.
• For your safety and of those around you we request that you park away from the road edge allowing ample room for opening doors and walking along the roadside shoulder.
• More so, we suggest that you walk between the cars and the campsite fence-line whenever possible. This keeps the parked vehicles between you and the traffic on US-1.

Vehicles that are parked on the ‘Berm’ must be parked elsewhere well before sunset. This step is taken in consideration of the neighbors in the ‘Valley of the Dobs’ to allow them their sunset and southern object viewing. We request that everyone with vehicles parked on the ‘Berm’ to remove them by 6:00 pm.

VENDORS: You will be able to buy everything astronomical from T-shirts to telescopes. Be sure to check out the bargains! Check out the list of vendors attending the 2011 WSP by selecting the Vendors Link in the menu bar. You can also see a list of vendors and exhibitors from the 2011 WSP on the same page.

 

SPEAKERS: Once again, an outstanding lineup of speakers will educate and entertain you in the air-conditioned Wheelhouse. A Guest Speaker Schedule will be posted on the schedule of events web page, accessible by selecting the Speakers Link in the menu bar, and at the Wheelhouse and will also be included in your welcome package.

 

ACTIVITIES: A Swap Meet will be held during the 26th Annual Winter Star Party. Bring your "astronomical trash" and take home a treasure! Hands-on activities will be provided for children on a daily basis.

GREEN LASERS ARE PROHIBITED AT ALL SCAS EVENTS! Due to recent national events, it has become necessary for the Southern Cross Astronomical Society of Miami, Florida, to completely ban the use of green laser pointers at SCAS sponsored events. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY (January 2005) any use of such devices (hand-held or attached) at SCAS Star Parties, the Winter Star Party, or any other SCAS public event SHALL BE PROHIBITED. Violation of this restriction will result in the immediate expulsion of the offending party from the SCAS event. Tim Khan, SCAS Vice- President / Director of the Winter Star Party