20230212 < Main

---+ February 10-12, 2023
*Event Type*: Special Event<br>
[[https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/death-valley-dark-sky-festival.htm][Death Valley Dark Sky Festival]]<br>

We will be assisting with the Death Valley National Park Dark Sky Festival to take place Friday-Sunday Feb 10-12.<br>
Our primary responsibilities will be to staff a booth with live demos and educational information at their Science Expo,<br> 
run an Astro on Tap Friday night, and assist at a star party on Saturday night with our own telescopes. <br>
In addition, Cameron will be giving an hour long lecture on black holes on Saturday and there are a few of us<br>
who will sit on an astrophysicist Q&A on Sunday (I wanted to invite you all, but was limited by space!).<br>

DVNP will provide us with gas money to cover our transportation and a campsite for each of us in the educator<br>
section of the Texas Springs campsite, adjacent to where all program activities will occur at Furnace Creek.<br>
Drive time from Caltech to Furnace Creek is about 4.5-5h depending on the route and time of day. I would plan to leave<br>
sometime on the morning of Friday, Feb 25 to avoid traffic and arrive prior to the Astronomy on Tap event at 7:30PM. <br>
Note that Astronomy on Tap is being held in Stovepipe Wells, which is about 30 minutes drive from where we're camping<br>
and where all the rest of the Dark Sky Festival activities are taking place.<br>

There are 12 of us attending, which should allow for everyone to only work one "day shift" of 2-3h at the<br>
Science Expo in addition to the Star Party. I'd like to have several volunteers for Astronomy on Tap, if possible<br>
who could watch the talks, help with setup, and perhaps operate telescopes during/afterwards.  <br>
The rest of the time would be open for hiking and exploring the park.<br>

The science demos that we will operate at the Science Expo will be (1) "Build a Comet" using dry ice to show what composes a comet; <br>
and (2) parabolic marshmallow igniter where we show how telescopes work to collect light from the Sun and focus it.<br>
We will also bring the good solar telescope (Coronado half-angstrom H-alpha) to show views of the Sun.<br>
I'll show everyone how to operate these demos, but they're super fun.<br>
For the star party, we will bring the Dobsonians (8", 10") as well as my own private eVscope<br>
We can also bring some laser pointers to help point things out.<br>

Everyone needs to have their own camping equipment (or teaming up with a buddy).<br>
Temperatures in Death Valley in February are pleasant during the day but can be cold<br>
and breezy at night (forecast at bottom).  You will want a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, etc.  You can rent<br>
these at the Caltech Y, or REI, or bring your own.  The campsite is about 20 meters away<br>
from where we will park, so you don't need to haul it very far.  There are bathrooms and <br>
running potable water about 2 minutes from the campsite.<br>

*Friday, February 10*

 - Drive to DVNP Texas Spring (~4.5 hours) in morning<br>
 - Set up camp<br>
 - Free time to hike around and explore<br>
 - *Get to Stovepipe Wells for Astronomy on Tap by 7:00PM (not all are required but it will be fun!)<br>
 - *Help people observe with telescopes at/after Astro on Tap<br>
 - Drive back to Texas Spring Educator Campsite (30min) and sleep<br><br>

*Saturday, February 11*

 - Team 1: Do live science demo and operate booth at outdoor Science Fair (10AM-4PM)<br>
 - Team 1a: Shift 10AM-1PM<br>
 - Team 1b: Shift 1PM-4PM<br>
 - Team 2: Have the day off to explore and hike!<br>
 - Dinner with all other educators -- Free food (w/ vegan options) @ Cow Creek Volleyball Court (5PM-630PM)<br>
 - Teams 1+2: Run Starparty with DVNP Rangers and telescopes outdoors (7-10PM)<br>
 - Camp in Texas Spring Educator Campsite<br><br>


*Sunday, February 12*

 - Team 1: Have the day off to explore and hike!<br>
 - Team 2: Do live science demo and operate booth at outdoor Science Fair (10AM-2PM)<br>
 - Team 2a: Shift 10AM-12PM<br>
 - Team 2b: Shift 12PM-2PM<br>
 - Drive back home (~4.5 hours) in evening<br>

*What you need to do:*

 - [[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VXnmAqrMEUJnu4Od08_ABadardyxrRKa1-swOW2ek0M/edit?usp=sharing][Sign up]] for which session you'll work and which car you'll ride in (or if you can drive).<br>
 - Acquire necessary camping gear for next week.  <br>
 - Plan on what you and your crew want to do during your off time in terms of hiking or attending [[ttps://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/death-valley-dark-sky-festival.htm][other Dark Sky Festival activities]].<br>
 - Get ready to have a good time<br>

*Hiking Ideas:*

 - Zabriskie Point--beautiful badlands and sight from Star Wars scene<br>
 - Badwater Basin--lowest point in the Western Hemisphere<br>
 - Mesquite Dunes--expansive sand dunes<br>
 - Golden Canyon--cool canyon hike<br>
 - Artist's Palette--colorful hillsides<br>
 - Dante's View--view over Badwater Basin<br>
 - Sidewinder Canyon--slot canyons so narrow that it's nighttime dark<br>
 - Funeral Slot Canyon--cool slots hiked just out of our own campground<br>

Lots lots more, so ask me for tips.

*Links:*

 - [[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VXnmAqrMEUJnu4Od08_ABadardyxrRKa1-swOW2ek0M/edit?usp=sharing][Sign up page for rides and session you'll work]]<br>
 - [[https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/death-valley-dark-sky-festival.htm][Information and Schedule of Death Valley Dark Sky Festival]]<br>
 - [[https://goo.gl/maps/XWJ1aJQ6JxFDPf3s9][Furnace Creek Visitor's Center]] Where the science expo and most festival events will occur<br>
 - [[https://goo.gl/maps/hcGtzBa1HhuFLMeY9][Educator Campsite at Texas Spring]] Where we'll camp (running potable water and bathrooms are present; 10 min walk to Furnace Creek)<br>
 - [[https://goo.gl/maps/mP9Ld2wjHwwS2iQK7][Badwater Saloon]] Where Astro on Tap is happening Friday night (30 min from campsite)<br>
 - [[https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=36.4571&lon=-116.8661][Weather forecast for Texas Spring Campground]]<br>
 - [[https://goo.gl/maps/X6AK3wFKftNvfvuG6][Stater Bros Grocery Store in Mojave]] Good for getting groceries on the way!
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Topic revision: r3 - 2023-02-09 - OutreachAdmin