Winter Star Party
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Winter Star Party
The Winter Star Party, aka WSP, is an annual convention of amateur astronomers where the primary activity is nighttime astronomical observation. This February event is run at Camp Wesumkee located on Scout Key in the Lower Florida Keys. It is hosted by the Southern Cross Astronomical Society of Miami, Florida. Most attendees camp on site. BBC Sky at Night magazine rated WSP as one of the top 10 star parties in the world. WSP was first established in 1984 by Tippy D'Auria. See also * List of astronomical societies A list of notable groups devoted to promoting astronomy research and education. Africa * African Astronomical Society South Africa *Astronomical Society of Southern Africa Asia China * Chinese Astronomical Society India * Akash Mitra Mandal *A ... References External links *Official Website: https://www.scas.org/winter-star-party/ * Amateur astronomy organizations Star parties Florida culture Science events in the United States Annual events in Florida ...
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Scout Key
Scout Key is an island in the lower Florida Keys. It was previously known as West Summerland Key until 2010. U.S. 1 (the Overseas Highway) crosses the key at approximately mile markers 34–35, between Spanish Harbor Key and Big Pine Key. Etymology The Key was renamed to reflect the two adjoining scout camps on it, Boy Scout Camp Sawyer and Girl Scout Camp Wesumkee. The name change also removed some confusion about its location – despite its name, the formerly-named West Summerland Key is actually about 10 miles ''east'' of Summerland Key. Geography Originally, there were three keys at this location. They were connected by fills at the time the Overseas Railroad was built. The keys were West Summerland Key (westernmost), Middle Summerland Key (center), and no name is known for the easternmost key. West Summerland retained its name, but the other two are known simply as the Spanish Harbor Keys; named for the anchorage located between this key and Big Pine Key. ...
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Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral cay archipelago located off the southern coast of Florida, forming the southernmost part of the continental United States. They begin at the southeastern coast of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry Tortugas. The islands lie along the Florida Straits, dividing the Atlantic Ocean to the east from the Gulf of Mexico to the northwest, and defining one edge of Florida Bay. At the nearest point, the southern part of Key West is just from Cuba. The Florida Keys are between about 24.3 and 25.5 degrees North latitude. More than 95 percent of the land area lies in Monroe County, but a small portion extends northeast into Miami-Dade County, such as Totten Key. The total land area is . As of the 2010 census the population was 73,090 with an average density of , although much of the population is concent ...
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Camp Wesumkee
Scouting in Florida is composed of Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and Girl Scouts USA (GSUSA) local councils in Florida. Scouting in Florida has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live. Early history (1910-1950) In 1914, the BSA gave local councils the power to ban African Americans from Scouting. Until 1974, some southern councils of the Boy Scouts of America were still racially segregated. Recent history (1950-1990) Boy Scouts of America in Florida today There are nine BSA local councils in Florida. In addition, the Florida National High Adventure Sea Base of the BSA is located in Islamorada, Florida. Alabama-Florida Council Alabama-Florida Council serves Scouts in Alabama and Florida, with the council office located in Dothan, Alabama. OA Lodge: Cowikee Lodge #224 Central Florida Council Central Florida Council serves Scouts in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Brevard, Volusia ...
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Southern Cross Astronomical Society
The Southern Cross Astronomical Society, founded in 1922, is one of the oldest amateur astronomy societies in the Western Hemisphere. It is located in the Physics Department of Florida International University in Miami, Florida. See also * List of astronomical societies A list of notable groups devoted to promoting astronomy research and education. Africa * African Astronomical Society South Africa *Astronomical Society of Southern Africa Asia China * Chinese Astronomical Society India * Akash Mitra Mandal *A ... External linksSouthern Cross Astronomical Society official website Scientific societies based in the United States 1922 establishments in Florida Florida International University {{sci-org-stub ...
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Miami, Florida
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida, United States. With a population of 442,241 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of municipalities in Florida, second-most populous city in Florida and the eleventh-most populous city in the Southeastern United States. The Miami metropolitan area is the ninth largest in the U.S. with a population of 6.138 million in 2020. The city has the List of tallest buildings in the United States#Cities with the most skyscrapers, third-largest skyline in the U.S. with over List of tallest buildings in Miami, 300 high-rises, 58 of which exceed . Miami is a major center and leader in finance, commerce, culture, arts, and international trade. Miami's metropolitan area is by far the largest urban econ ...
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Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to the south by the Straits of Florida and Cuba; it is the only state that borders both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Spanning , Florida ranks 22nd in area among the 50 states, and with a population of over 21 million, it is the third-most populous. The state capital is Tallahassee, and the most populous city is Jacksonville. The Miami metropolitan area, with a population of almost 6.2 million, is the most populous urban area in Florida and the ninth-most populous in the United States; other urban conurbations with over one million people are Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Jacksonville. Various Native American groups have inhabited Florida for at least 14,000 years. In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León became the first k ...
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BBC Sky At Night
''BBC Sky at Night magazine'' is a British monthly magazine about astronomy aimed at amateur astronomers and published by Immediate Media Company. Its title is taken from the television programme produced by the BBC, ''The Sky at Night''. The magazine, in comparison with the TV series, includes more technical and scientific information. Until 2015, it also included a bonus CD-ROM with software programs, latest astronomical photographs, written materials and 'classic' episodes of ''The Sky at Night'' from the BBC archives (from 2015, the monthly content was moved online). History ''BBC Sky at Night'' was launched in 2005. The first issue, which featured Patrick Moore on the cover and included a copy of Moore's Moon map as a free gift, sold out and back issues are no longer available. Copies of Issue 1 have since sold for over £100 on eBay. In April 2007, the magazine celebrated the 50th anniversary of ''The Sky at Night ''The Sky at Night'' is a monthly documentary tel ...
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Star Party
A star party is a gathering of amateur astronomers the purpose of observing objects and events in the sky. Local star parties may be one-night affairs, but larger events can last a week or longer and attract hundreds or even thousands of participants. Many astronomy clubs have monthly star parties during the warmer months. Large regional star parties are held annually and are an important part of the hobby of amateur astronomy. A naturally dark site away from light pollution is typical. Participants bring telescopes and binoculars of all types and sizes and spend the nights observing astronomical objects such as planets, comets, stars, and deep-sky objects together. Astrophotography and CCD imaging are also very popular. At larger star parties, lectures, swap meets, exhibitions of home-built telescopes, contests, tours, raffles, and other similar activities are common. Commercial vendors selling a variety of astronomical equipment may also be present. As with other hobbyist ga ...
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Tippy D'Auria
Matthew "Tippy" D'Auria (1935–2018) was the founder of the Winter Star Party held each year in the Florida Keys sponsored by the Southern Cross Astronomical Society. D'Auria was an astrophotographer who used both cold camera photography and video for his work and taught Creative Photography and Darkroom Techniques for 5 years at the Miami-Dade College in Miami, Florida. He maintained affiliations with The Local Group of Deep Sky Observers, the Institute for Planetary Research Observatories (IPRO), Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (A.L.P.O.), and the Astronomical League The Astronomical League is an umbrella organization of amateur astronomy societies. Currently their membership consists of over 280 organizations across the United States, along with a number of Members-at-Large, Patrons, and Supporting members. .... An active astronomer since 1980, D'Auria was of a member of the Southern Cross Astronomical Society and served as a member of the Societies Boar ...
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List Of Astronomical Societies
A list of notable groups devoted to promoting astronomy research and education. Africa * African Astronomical Society South Africa *Astronomical Society of Southern Africa Asia China * Chinese Astronomical Society India * Akash Mitra Mandal *Astronomical Society of India *Bangalore Astronomical Society (BAS) *Confederation of Indian Amateur Astronomers * IUCAA * Jyotirvidya Parisanstha *Khagol Mandal * Khagol Vishwa Europe * European Astronomical Society * European Association for Astronomy Education France *Société astronomique de France * Société Française d'Astronomie et d'Astrophysique (SF2A) Germany * Astronomische Gesellschaft Greece *Hellenic Astronomical Society Ireland * Irish Astronomical Society * Irish Federation of Astronomical Societies Italy * Unione Astrofili Italiani Norway *Norwegian Astronomical Society Poland *Polish Astronomical Society Serbia *Astronomical Society Ruđer Bošković Turkey *Spaceturk United Kingdom *Airdrie Astronomical A ...
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Amateur Astronomy Organizations
An amateur () is generally considered a person who pursues an avocation independent from their source of income. Amateurs and their pursuits are also described as popular, informal, self-taught, user-generated, DIY, and hobbyist. History Historically, the amateur was considered to be the ideal balance between pure intent, open mind, and the interest or passion for a subject. That ideology spanned many different fields of interest. It may have its roots in the ancient Greek philosophy of amateur athletes competing in the Olympics. The ancient Greek citizens spent most of their time in other pursuits, but competed according to their natural talents and abilities. The "gentleman amateur" was a phenomenon among the gentry of Great Britain from the 17th century until the 20th century. With the start of the Age of Reason, with people thinking more about how the world works around them, (see science in the Age of Enlightenment), things like the cabinets of curiosities, and the w ...
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Star Parties
A star party is a gathering of amateur astronomers the purpose of observing objects and events in the sky. Local star parties may be one-night affairs, but larger events can last a week or longer and attract hundreds or even thousands of participants. Many astronomy clubs have monthly star parties during the warmer months. Large regional star parties are held annually and are an important part of the hobby of amateur astronomy. A naturally dark site away from light pollution is typical. Participants bring telescopes and binoculars of all types and sizes and spend the nights observing astronomical objects such as planets, comets, stars, and deep-sky objects together. Astrophotography and CCD imaging are also very popular. At larger star parties, lectures, swap meets, exhibitions of home-built telescopes, contests, tours, raffles, and other similar activities are common. Commercial vendors selling a variety of astronomical equipment may also be present. As with other hobbyist ga ...
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