Member’s In-Reach: “Star Party Preparation and Etiquette” with Joe Gafford

Star Party Preparation and Etiquette” with Joe Gafford

Synopsis:

This talk will cover the types and seasons of star parties, briefly covering four main star parties in each season. It will cover essential preparation for RV, popups, and dry tent camping. The Rocky Mountain Star Stare will be the featured star party, with some discussion of others. Lastly, we’ll have a star party site etiquette and safety section.

Presenter: Joe Gafford

Bio: Joe was born in Southern California in 1952 and spent his first 8 years in SoCal. Moved to Denver in 1960 and graduated from Denver South in 1971. He joined the US Navy in 1971 and was in Attack Squadron VA-34 (A-6 Intruders) attached to the USS John F Kennedy (CV-67) as an Aviation Fire Control Technician (Radar tracking) until honorarily discharged in 1975. Joe used his naval electronics training to lunch a career repairing consumer and business electronics. He has been a member of the DAS since 1991, a board member since 1993, and an amateur astronomer since John Glenn went into orbit in 1962. Joe started astrophotography in 1968 with star trail imaging and moved into guided imaging in 1983. He attends as many as five-star parties yearly, beginning with the 1991 Texas Star Party. Joe retired in 2001 to continue attending star parties.