Two clear nights at the Herzberg star party (HTT)
Friday, September 23 to Sunday, September 25, 2011
My first trip to the HTT (Herzberg) star party in eastern Germany, located some 90km south of Berlin, with 470 participants.
A remarkably dark site (V ~ 7.0 near the zenith - I steadily recognized two 6.8 and 6.9 stars close to M31 with averted vision),
you normally don't expect such a sky in Germany outside the Alps. It's a sparsely populated rural area, on sandy soil with pine trees,
flat with a wide horizon. Good accomodations, a relaxed attitude in the camp, and some intensive observing, both nights till
around 4:00: Great fun, and a reconnaissance with Erhard and his 42", it's his home site.
The camp seen from the South
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Open spaces with sandy soil and pine trees
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Martin Brueckner (taking along his 18-inch) and I (with my 16-inch) represented our Munich club on that star party in the German East.
Munich corner Ecke with Ben and Martin ...
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... and from another perspective
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The 42-inch of Erhard Hänssgen
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Erhard is also a singer
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Evening queue at the big Dobson
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Kai Kretschmar and his 28-inch (f/3.1) ...
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Ben at his 16" (Image: Martin Brueckner)
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Martin at his 18" (Image: Martin Brueckner)
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There were also many visitors without astronomical background among the 470 participants, and so I was occupied doing
guided shows for at least two hours. But that's real pleasure given the good sky qualitity, and you get lots of excited feedback.
Nightly queue at Kai's 28-inch (Image: Martin Brueckner)
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