The Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society of Nashville, Tennessee is proud to announce the 2004 Tennessee Star Party. Now in its fifth year, TNSP has quickly become one of the largest and most popular amateur astronomy events in the Southeast. Proceeds from the Tennessee Star Parties are used for community outreach activities, including astronomy-related educational programs for children and adults.
Camp Nakanawa (pronounced nuh-CON-uh-wuh), located 1,950 feet above sea level on the Cumberland Plateau, is a near-ideal location for the TNSP. With convenient proximity to Interstate 40, this remote produces quite dark skies with a very prominent Milky Way. Camp Nakanawa has twelve hundred acres of wooded and open land plus a large clear water lake. Activities such as canoeing, paddle boating, fishing, biking, hiking, and tennis are all included with your registration fee.
Entering beautiful Camp Nakanawa
Professional astronomers, scientists and advanced amateurs will speak on a wide range of topics. See the full TNSP schedule here!
Night time telescope observing is paramount at a star party. The telescope field at TNSP provides low horizons and minimum light pollution above 20°. With 200 acres of clear observing space, you are welcome to up extra telescopes, electronic equipment, and even your vehicles and camping gear right at your observing site. If you can't bring a telescope, feel free to walk from scope to scope. If you ask politely, everyone will be proud to give you a chance to look. Even if you bring your own scope, be sure to take the "Tour of Scopes" at least once.
Strict red light rules will be observed from dusk to dawn, and red cellophane will be available to cover flashlights. No electricity is provided on the observing field, so be sure to bring your batteries and power packs. Electric outlets will be provided in a shelter near the observing field for recharging, and some battery chargers will be available for common battery types. We will have porta-potties on the telescope field for your convenience.
The food is great, but be sure to save room . .
. for the all-you-can-eat skies at TNSP'04!
There are many lodging options available. You may camp next to your telescope, on the telescope field, by the lake, or at any other appropriate site. Cabins are also provided at the camp, and there are excellent motels within a short drive of Nakanawa. Please let us know in advance if your group, club, or large number of friends would like to share cabins or a camp site, and we will make special provisions for you. Separate cabin lodging will be provided for single male and female guests.
Please let us know if you have any special needs and we will be glad to help in any way we can. Note you must supply your own bedding. The cabins have electricity only for low amperage use, such as electric shavers, battery chargers, lights, etc. The large bath houses and restroom facilities are clean and convenient to both the cabin and camping areas.
Meals are freshly prepared, hot/cold, and delicious. We have professional cooks to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner. These meals are served in a comfortable, roomy dining hall with plenty of seating. We have a convenient and inexpensive meal plan to serve your needs. Snacks will be available at our snack bar. For those of you choosing to eat offsite, Cookeville is only 15 miles away and has many restaurants to choose from.
In the course of the weekend's seminars, classes, workshops and other activities, there will also be drawings for door prizes. All registered attendees are eligible.
The Camp Nakanawa website provides a map and directions from Nashville, Knoxville, Atlanta or Birmingham.
For door-to-door directions (courtesy of Yahoo! Maps), just enter your starting location below and hit the button:
The Tennessee Star Party is a priceless experience for any amateur astronomer, but it's surprisingly inexpensive to attend.
| Age | TNSP'04 Registration | Camping per person per night | Cabins per person per night |
| Adult (18+) | $20 | $5 | $10 |
| Teen (13-17) | $15 | $5 | $10 |
| Child (6-12) | $7 | $2 | $5 |
| Child (0-5) | free | free | free |
| TNSP'04 Registration Form (PDF) | |||
If you want to share our professionally-prepared meals, you must get a meal plan. You can select any or all meals from Friday dinner; Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner; and Sunday breakfast. Each meal is $7 per person; choose a combination that fits your plans and budget.
To register, just download the registration form (Adobe Reader required), print it, complete it and mail it in with your check. Be sure to send in your application SOON — you won't want to miss TNSP'04!!
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