Activities at TSP

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Meetings

The TSP schedule is arranged with the astronomer in mind, with nothing scheduled in the mornings. We have programs to be held in the Meeting Hall (gymnasium, across from the TSP Office) with amateur paper-sessions on many afternoons and special guest speakers in the evenings.

Here is a tentative schedule and list of our Evening Guest Speakers.

Help us by volunteering to present a talk at one of our afternoon paper sessions. ( Call For Papers)

TSP Observing Programs

Join us and record your observations at TSP, Observe the objects on one or more of our lists, and you will earn a special TSP Observing Pin! Pick up observing lists at TSP Registration Table.

The 2009 Observing Programs are not ready for publication. Please come back later!

Swap Meet

Amateurs who want to join in some good old-fashioned horse-trading will want to take part in the Swap Meet on Friday afternoon. It will be located in front of the Vendor's Display Building. Bring your own card table, blanket, or tailgate!

Astronomy Art Competition

Bring your best sketches, drawings, paintings, or mixed media to be judged by your TSP peers. Turn in your entries at the Registration table (and fill-in entry-form) EARLY in the week. Awards will be given to the most outstanding artwork on Saturday night.

Astrophoto Contest

Like ATMs, astrophotographers will appreciate this opportunity to show off their creations. Bring your favorite photographs for critique by some qualified "shutter-bugs". Awards will be given to the outstanding astrophotos on display in the following categories:

• Solar System: the moon, sun, planets, comets, etc.
• Deep Sky: galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, etc.
• Wide Field: covering several degrees of sky or more, the main subject being a constellation or other group of stars, a section of the Milky Way, or other widely-spaced objects.
• Peoples Choice Award: determined by popular vote of your fellow TSP attendees!

Home-brew Scopes and Gadgets Showing

Amateur telescope and accessory makers from all over the nation will have all week to evaluate and show their instruments and trade ideas. Those who turn in an ATM registration Form at the TSP Registration desk will have an opportunity to have their idea photographed and shown Saturday afternoon during the afternoon seminars.

The preferred ATM display location is the Central observing field.

Amateur Radio Operations at TSP

Amateur astronomers who are also Amateur radio operators, are invited to "guest operate" the special event station W5TSP (Whiskey Five Texas Star Party), at the Texas Star Party.

TSP communications/Ham-radio operations are in the building adjacent to the antenna tower, east of the North field.

Visit our NEW TSP Hams webpage.

Weather Satellite Pictures

We will obtain weather satellite pictures/loops of cloud movements for the area as well as the latest forecasts. Weather information is obtained at the TSP Radio Building (look for antenna tower).

Pictures are available during daytime hours on the weather display adjacent to the Ranch Office. A white kiosk with weather pictures will be located on the North observing field.

Internet Access

TSP has invested heavily in providing wireless internet access from many locations throughout the Ranch, including our observing fields. For more information, including our ban on user-provided wireless routers, visit our TSP Internet page.

Commercial Displays

The Vendor Display Building provides a comfortable location for product exhibits by both manufacturers and vendors. It is located in the building located at the far north end of the Prude Ranch, north of the North Observing field. It will be open from 10:00-12 Noon and 1:30 to 5 PM starting Monday and through Saturday.

Vendors can obtain table space by contacting TSP Vendor Coordinator, Jayne Lambert at 281/304-6400 (or grandmatogo@comcast.net). A fee of $75.00 per table/space is charged, with a one-table maximum per exhibiting firm, except by special arrangement. Table space is very limited and is usually booked up in advance.

As a courtesy to observers and astrophotographers, there is absolutely no commercial selling/display of wares on observing fields without approval of TSP staff. All vendors must set up in or outside the Vendor Display Building through reserved space. Violation of this ban (without TSP approval) is subject to immediate expulsion from Prude Ranch.

Great Texas Giveaway I and II

The Great Texas Giveaway is held in two parts. On Friday night after the lecture, some door prizes will be given, including one or more of the Grand Prizes. On Saturday night, the remaining prizes and Grand Prizes will be given away. The winners of regular door prizes on either night will be eligible also for Grand Prizes. Non-winners on Friday night will be eligible for prizes on Saturday night. You must be present to win.

TSP thanks the generousity of various astronomy businesses that donate door-prizes for the Giveaway.

Bus Tours to McDonald Observatory

The W.J. McDonald Observatory, owned and operated by The University of Texas, is on the summit of 6,800 foot Mt. Locke in the heart of the Davis Mountains. The Observatory has telescopes for optical, infrared, and radio wavelengths. The telescopes include 432, 107, 82, 36, and 30 inch instruments.

Bus tours to the Observatory will be held at various times during the week. Tentative cost for the bus is $5/person plus a $7/person special tour fee; total of $12/person.

Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency no longer provides a list of sanctioned Extracurricular Activities, since the Texas Legislature has seen fit to place this area directly with the local school districts. Therefore, if you would like to attend TSP with your child and have an excused-absence, then you will need to persuade your local school officials to obtain their permission.

TSP was on the TEA list for many years, until the list was discontinued. TSP is a non-profit event, operated as an education activity for astronomy. We have scheduled daily paper-sessions and evening talks presented by amateur and professional astronomers. There is much practice and learning of astronomy and related subjects in the observing fields each night. TSP provides a unique opportunity to observe the nighttime skies without local lights diminishing dark-adaptation, and in dark skies away from city light-pollution.

View some helpful letters and endorsements, to assist your school district officials for evaluation of this extracurricular activity.