Updated April 5, 2009

This will be the first year at Astro-Acres for this event. NIAG (the New Indiana Astronomical Group) is a group of amateur astronomers seeking to revive the traditions of NIAGfest that was held at Camp Crossley near North Webster, Indiana for many years. The new NIAGfest will also be a GREATCON, a convention of the Great Lakes Region of the Astronomical League. All of the activities traditional to NIAGfest are being revived in the new event, including astrophoto and telescope making competitions and speakers on the topics of amateur astronomy accomplishments and opportunities to contribute to the science of astronomy.

NIAGfest's dates at the end of April were always dictated more by availability of Camp Crossley facilities than other considerations, such as moon phase or weather. In fact, it snowed on us during the second to last NIAGfest! The 2009 dates are the first good dark of the moon weekend in 2009 that we can count on not being snowed on. It is also coincidently Memorial Day weekend, affording us the opportunity to have a four day / three night format. Camping attendees of the old NIAGfest will be very favorably impressed by both the observing circumstances at AstroAcres and the ready availability of water, electrical power, and internet access.

There are also a very limited number of small observatories available for use at AstroAcres during NIAGfest. These are 10' x 10' buildings with an 8' diameter dome, and a center pier. These buildings can be used for lodging, each will hold several people, or as personal observatories during NIAGfest. The cost of reserving one of these for the weekend is $100.00, and the pier can be fitted with an adapter for your telescope mount if you contact us ahead of time.

Registration has begun.

  To be added to the email list for more information about this event, please click here.

* About our wallpaper image - This shot was taken at Epoch 2007, by Jon Betancourt.  The image closely resembles the sky as seen by naked eye at ASTRO-ACRES.

NIAGfest/GREATCON

May 22-25, 2009

ASTRO-ACRES

Beaver City, Indiana

For more information, call 219-741-2686, or email us at the link above

For more information, call 219-741-2686, or email us at the link above

For more information, call 219-741-2686, or email us at the link above