General - vtastro.org Forum https://vtastro.org/community/general/ vtastro.org Discussion Board en-US Fri, 12 Jun 2026 05:54:30 +0000 wpForo 60 Observing at the Hinesburg Observing Site https://vtastro.org/community/general/observing-at-the-hinesburg-observing-site/ Fri, 24 Apr 2026 01:01:15 +0000 There were 12 people with six scopes and cameras at the HOS on 4/17 2026.  Good views of Venus and the Orion Nebula

See attached image lit by a red LED light.

 

]]> General Eben Gay https://vtastro.org/community/general/observing-at-the-hinesburg-observing-site/ Observing at the Catamount Outdoor Family Center in Williston? https://vtastro.org/community/general/observing-at-the-catamount-outdoor-family-center-in-williston/ Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:31:37 +0000 Since there is a streetlight immediately across the street from my house, I'm looking for a local (Williston) location where I can set up under a reasonably dark sky without breaking any rules. The other night, I checked out the Catamount Outdoor Family Center in Williston, and it seems like a good spot. The parking area (dirt) is not gated, and so is accessible at night. It is also large and flat, allowing several cars to park with plenty of space for telescopes. The sky seemed reasonably dark, for Williston, with good views in most directions.

I'm wondering if anyone else has used this location and if doing so does not violate any rules. I wrote an email to the Family Center contact address asking how they felt about me coming to set up, both as an individual and, potentially, as a location for VAS outreach events. I haven't yet heard back about that.

]]> General Peter Chapin https://vtastro.org/community/general/observing-at-the-catamount-outdoor-family-center-in-williston/