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Starfest for the First Timeby Phil McCausland, London Centre (pjam@julian.uwo.ca)When I moved to Ontario last winter, one of my firstthoughts was that it would now be possible for meto go to Starfest, as I had wanted to do for severalyears. I hoped I would not be scheduled for geological fieldworkat the same time. As it happened, I returned from Manitobathe week just before Starfest, so was able to attend after all.With me were my girlfriend Rachel Jones and her parents Peterand Helen, who had made a timely visit from Nova Scotia. Wearrived at dusk on Thursday evening, after driving from Londonthrough brooding skies and occasional sprinkles. We wereanxious to set up the tent, and Rachel’s parents were anxiousto check into the B&B just outside the campground before theirroom was given away. Fortunately, it did not rain, and our tentwent up quickly.I knew very little about Starfest except for the fact that itwas an annual gathering of astronomy enthusiasts. Two yearsago St. John’s Centre member Garry Dymond came back fromhis first Starfest raving about the ’scopes, the people, and theatmosphere totally devoted to astronomy that pervaded theevent. He was right. I was immediately impressed, even on thatfirst cloudy night, by the friendly communal atmosphere atStarfest. You could talk to anyone present, all of whom werethere for a similar reason — to enjoy astronomy and the companyof their colleagues. The most obvious indicator of the amiableatmosphere was the widespread red lighting. While red lightingwas in evidence almost as if it was required by law, it turnedout to be a community response rather than the result of anonerous decree. Streetlights were not in evidence (hooray!) andthe permanent camp facilities were operating in all-red mode.Normally a building such as the two-storey Recreation Centreilluminated internally by red lights would look eerie and bloodchilling, much like Hallowe’en, but in the context of Starfest itwas downright cozy, an inviting centrepiece to the community.The campground as viewed from a distance, with some of the vendors’tents in the foreground.The “Red Light Cafe” as seen in the blazing Saturday afternoon sunlight.Nearly everyone present is in the shade. It was about then that PeterCeravolo flew overhead.Having a Red Light Café is a great idea. I think cafés are greatanyway, but this one was a lot of fun and was located in justthe right place. It was also open until 2 a.m. How did they knowmy normal waking hours so well? Rachel and I enjoyed discoveringit and other parts of the campground, wandering about underthe clouds until well after midnight.Friday morning arrived partly sunny and hot. During theday all four of us attended the beginner-level talks. Steve Dodson’s“Getting Started in Astronomy” was fairly comprehensive, andit was good to have the opportunity to try out assembled versionsof his build-it-and-the-stars-will-come Dobsonian kits. GlennLeDrew endured the heat of the upper level meeting room inthe Recreation Hall to present “Getting Started inAstrophotography.” It was already warm in the room when hedescribed some of the basic terms of astrophotography, andthen it was necessary for him (reluctantly) to shut all of theblackened sliding doors and to turn on the projector to illustratehis talk. It became seriously hot in that room! Rachel and Iducked out for a few minutes to appreciate the deliciouslycooler outdoor comfort of the 28˚ sunny afternoon. We returnedagain to the hot and humid interior of the room in time to catchthe rest of Glenn’s talk, as well as many good questions. I amjust developing an interest in astrophotography (no punintended!), and truly appreciated the opportunity to pick upso much basic information at one time. For instance, I neverknew that there were three colour layers in standard colourfilm, each with differing rates of diminishing sensitivity (whichis why Fuji slide film turns out dominantly green in astronomicalexposures). Something I regret not attending was the BarnDoor Tracker building bee, which followed shortly after Glenn’s290JRASC December/décembre 1998