IN A NUTSHELL: Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (CEWC) is a gorgeous 6400-acre GA DNR nature preserve about an hour's drive east of Atlanta. On this unique AOC outing we'll enjoy a couple of hours of easy to moderate afternoon hiking, then join the Trip Leader's friends from the Atlanta Astronomy Club (AAC) for an exciting late afternoon and evening program that includes an indoor astronomy program and nice "potluck group dinner," then weather permitting we'll enjoy an exciting observing session with the AAC members' telescopes on the Wildlife Center's spacious dark-sky observing field.
There's a bright NEW object in the sky! - "Comet Pan-STARRS" - visible during mid-March low in the western sky just after sunset. We expect to have clear views of the comet and its amazing "tail" with the astronomers' telescopes and perhaps even with our own naked eyes - also spectacular views of Jupiter and its moons, a beautiful crescent moon and other amazing cosmic objects. If it turns out to be overcast or showery we'll still plan to enjoy the hike and indoor festivities, but may have to postpone the evening outdoor observing session.
A popular destination for hikers, "Charlie Elliott" boasts more than 10 miles of well marked forested trails that loop around its lovely lakes and granite outcrops. Its dark skies, unpolluted by nearby glaring lights, make it also a favorite place for stargazers and astronomy buffs.
Each month amateur astronomers from the "Charlie Elliott Chapter" of the Atlanta Astronomy Club (AAC) hold a 90-minute meeting and program at the Charlie Elliott Visitor Center, then (a few minutes before sunset) set up their telescopes in the nearby low-light-pollution observing field and aim them skyward, weather permitting. "CE" astronomers encourage non-members to attend these free sessions to learn more about astronomy and to share telescopic views of heavenly wonders, both in our own Milky Way galaxy and far beyond it. Tips on basic "skygazing" and "star-hopping" tours of the universe are offered for those who are interested in observing planets, comets, deep-sky objects, eclipses, etc. on their own. Telescope and binoculars are great tools for this, but an equally miraculous stargazing instrument, the naked eye! - is often the best choice for viewing constellations, bright stars, meteor showers and other awesome sky phenomena!
WHEN & WHERE? If you prefer, drive directly to CEWC, or optionally carpool (meeting me at 12:30 PM in NE Atlanta, ~1-hour drive each way to CEWC). Carpoolers and direct-drivers will rendezvous at the CEWC Visitor Center at 1:45 PM. See detailed directions below for both driving options, and click on the RED LOCATION ICON atop this article for a zoomable map or satellite view of the CEWC Visitor Center vicinity.
 AFTERNOON PLAN: After introductions at the Visitor Center entrance and a brief walk through the museum we'll begin our Hike at about 2:00—then at 4:45 PM we'll join our hosts for their Indoor Astronomy Program and quarterly Potluck Dinner in the museum's spacious conference room. Please bring a small food item of your choice to contribute. The program will include a lively discussion of "What's Up in the Night Sky?" this month that's worthy of observing.
OUTDOOR OBSERVING SESSION: At about 7:15 PM (weather permitting) we'll reconvene with our astronomer friends on CEWC's "Dove Field," which has a good western horizon for viewing the comet, and is about a 7-mile caravan drive from the Visitor Ctr. (The usual observing field is the "Jon Wood Astronomy Field" just off the Visitor Ctr road.)
Weather permitting, we'll enjoy a leisurely and friendly observing session with them and their wide variety of types and sizes of telescopes. We're each encouraged to stroll around, chat with the astronomers and take a look at whatever heavenly objects they may be focused on. Individuals and carpool parties are free to stay as late as you like at this Saturday night telescopic (+ naked eye) session.
About 9:45 PM is a suggested appropriate departure time, but feel free to leave at any time. Some of the Club's more serious astronomers may continue observing as late as dawn Sunday morning—so if you prefer, stay up late with them and return home "after the rooster crows!"
FOR MORE on the CHARLIE ELLIOTT WILDLIFE CENTER (including a nice color Trail Map if you click on "Hiking,") go to:
http://www.georgiawildlife.com/node/694
FOR MORE on the CHARLIE ELLIOTT CHAPTER of the ATLANTA ASTRONOMY CLUB go to:
http://ceastronomy.org/blog/home
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Required Items to Bring:
• For our Hike, wear comfortable well-broken-in Athletic Shoes or Hiking Boots with a coarse tread and lightweight Clothing Layers appropriate for the weather, including Rain Gear (for the hike) if showers are forecast. At least one warm Extra Upper Layer and a warm Cap are recommended esp. if temps in the 50s or lower or windy conditions are expected and esp. for the nighttime observing session.
• For the Hike, hydrate in advance and carry in your pack a filled Water Bottle or two (or other favorite soft beverages) - or if you have one, your filled "Camelbak" hydration system.
• Please bring a small Food or Refreshment Item of your choice for the Potluck Dinner - perhaps enough of your item to serve about 5 or 6 people. About 3 days prior to the event Charlie will send out a list of suggested items that may be still needed based on an e-update he expects to receive from the Astronomy Club President.
• IMPORTANT: AT THE OBSERVING SESSION WHITE LIGHT IS NORMALLY NOT PERMITTED. Onlysmall RED LED HEAD-LAMPS/FLASHLIGHTS are used so as not to impair observers' night vision. Please bring such a small red LED light if you have one—otherwise the trip leader will have a couple of red lamps to share. |  | Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
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If you have Trekking Poles or a Hiking Stick, consider bringing them for the hike.
• If you have a pair of Binoculars and/or a small Telescope, you may want to bring them for the Observing Session. Also, some of you may have a "Sky Chart App" on your i-Phone that we may enjoy using in conjunction with our star maps, etc.
• Consider bringing your Camera. The Wildlife Center is very photogenic!
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| Event Directions: | |
DIRECTIONS to CHARLIE ELLIOTT WILDLIFE CENTER from the EAST-SIDE I-20/ I-285 INTERCHANGE: (From this interchange which is 12 mi. E of downtown it's about 42 miles further eastward to the CEWC Visitor Center. For a zoomable map or satellite view of the CEWC parking lot where we'll gather, click on the above RED LOCATION ICON.)
1. From the east-side I-20/I-285 Interchange take I-20 East toward Augusta for about 31 miles and exit to your Right at Exit #98, "GA-11".
2. Turn Right onto GA-11 (toward Monticello) and go straight ahead about 9.5 miles to its junction with Marben Farm Road. (En route you'll pass through the town of Mansfield. When you near the Marben Farm Rd junction look for the "Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center" directional sign on your left.)
3. Turn Left onto Marben Farm Road and go 1.0 mile to Elliott Trail.
4. Turn Right onto Elliott Trail and go 0.5 mile to the Visitor Center parking lot. At 1:45 PM our AOC group will rendezvous with one another just inside the main entrance of the large Visitor Center building.
5. At about 4:45 PM (after our museum visit and hike) we'll car-caravan to the CE Astronomy Club Meeting at the CONFERENCE CENTER (at the end of Marben Farms Road about 200 yards beyond the Visitor Center). After that potluck dinner and program we'll car-caravan to the nearby observing field for the comet/star-gazing & telescopic observing session (weather permitting).
HERE'S a suggested GPS DESTINATION ADDRESS for those of you who use GPS Navigation or GOOGLE.com/maps (Feel free to use in conjunction with the above directions):
ADDRESS: Elliott Trail, Shady Dale, GA 31085
LAT/LON COORDINATES: 33.4628,-83.7338 | |
Cancellation/Partial Attendance: Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note:
In fairness to those who may be wait-listed, if and when you find that you cannot attend this event for whatever reason, please go ASAP to the bottom of this online article and "Delete your Registration," and if it's within 2 or 3 days of the event please also email the Trip Leader to that effect so others can be invited from the wait list. Thanks!
For hiking/astronomy events at Charlie Elliott we normally go ahead with them rain or shine. In the event of cloudiness we can still enjoy hiking, the wildlife museum and the indoor astronomy program, plus of course the fun of being together in such a beautiful place.
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