There’s a Star Party south of Austin this weekend, featuring some beautiful, famous and very, very old stars.

Friday, July 28, 2000

There’s a Star Party south of Austin this weekend, featuring some beautiful, famous and very, very old stars. Forget Hollywood, however, because most of these stars count their years of existence in the billions.

This will be the ninth year amateur astronomists will gather near the Solafide Observatory five miles south of Austin. Stargazers from Minnesota and beyond will gather once again for a weekend of camping and talking about their favorite hobby at the observatory in a cornfield just outside of Austin.

Donated to the city by Dr. Eric Rachut in 1991, the observatory contains a 10-inch refractor telescope that points up to the night sky through the opening in the roof. For the Star Party, however, that telescope gets a lot of company. Volunteer observatory caretaker and event organizer Keith Snyder is expecting close to 20 telescopes and their owners for the once-a-year gathering. Anyone who brings a telescope can camp at the observatory for a $5 fee. Members of the public also are welcome to stop and check out the telescopes during the day or the stars any clear night from tonight through Saturday.

"You can stay as late as you want," Snyder said. "If it’s clear we’ll be looking at things until dawn. If it’s not clear, we’re usually up talking anyway."

J.C. Hormel Nature Center Director Larry Dolphin, who also oversees the observatory, said the group – weather permitting – will likely look at different galaxies as well as planets in the solar system.

If the weather’s bad, the Star Party won’t be the last chance for area stargazers to check out the celestial bodies, at least with the observatory telescope. Volunteers open up the observatory two Saturdays a month, the next scheduled dates are Aug. 5 and 26.

Solafide Observatory is located five miles south of Austin. Take Fourth Street SE south to County Road 29S to 42nd Avenue SE. Go west on 42nd Avenue SE. The small metal and cement building on the north side of the road is quite visible during the day because of its domed roof. There also are signs directing drivers to the observatory posted on the main road.

For information, call the nature center at 437-7519.