Astronomers at the 12th annual Sola Fide star party were stuck with an overcast sky Friday night, so there wasn't much gazing going on for the start of their weekend.

About 10 astronomers made the trip to Austin for the event, less than usual due to the cloud cover.

"It kind of goes with the hobby," Dale Niedfeldt of Owatonna said. "It's one of those things you just have to prepare for."

Some of them watched the weather ahead of time and came down a day early for the clear skies on Thursday.

Keith Snyder, a volunteer at Sola Fide Observatory, said a small group was up until 4 a.m. Thursday night looking through the observatory's telescope, taking photos of stars and videotaping Mars.

Steve Messner from Northfield was one of the people there Thursday night. He goes to two or three star parties a year, and the Sola Fide party is always on that list.

Messner also has a connection with the observatory. He built the encoders for the new 16-inch telescope. The encoders transmit information from the scope back to the computer.

He has also built a personal observatory at his home.

"I told my wife I'd quit smoking if I could build the scope of my dreams," Messner said.

Niedfeldt has been coming to Austin for seven years and has developed friendships with other astronomers through the parties.

"It's kind of the same core group," he said. "The people you see here seem to come back every year."

He said the star parties are especially beneficial to beginners because they can draw on the experience of the other astronomers.

"A lot of it is for getting kids to see some good equipment," Niedfeldt said. "To let them see a few things and spark some interest."

Rachel Campbell is one of those beginners.

A 13-year-old from Austin, Campbell got her telescope for Christmas. She is in her first year as an amateur astronomer.

Campbell was asking people about the locations of planets and trying to get some help with her own telescope.

"I came here to see if maybe they could help me with the view," she said.

Despite the heavy cloud cover, she kept her scope pointed at the sky and jumped for it every time there was a break in the clouds.

In her short time as an astronomer, she has already developed a passion.

"I think when I'm in college, I'm going to take an astronomy class," she said. "I want to go to NASA, I really do. I want to work there."

Pete Maynard from Minneapolis was one of the people helping Campbell.

He works at an observatory in Minneapolis and often gives tours and programs about the stars.

He said he enjoys talking to the kids the most.

"A lot of people who are into astronomy are retirement age or older," he said. "It's nice to see kids getting into it."

Niedfeldt said this is a great year to get involved with astronomy.

There was a lunar eclipse in May, and another one is coming in November. Also Mars will soon be closer to earth than it has been for thousands of years.

"At the end of August it'll be just fabulous," he said. "It'll be the brightest thing in the sky besides the sun and the moon."

Matt Merritt can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at :matt.merritt@austindailyherald.com