HOPEWELL OBSERVATORY

HOPEWELL OPEN HOUSE/STAR PARTYS -- September 15, & October 20, 2001
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

For September 15, 2001

For October 20, 2001

Hopewell Astronomical Observatory, located at the top of Bull Run Mountain near Haymarket, Virginia, will hold a Open House and Star Party on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2001 and SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2001.

The observatory will open about 6 pm, and will remain open until everyone leaves; come whenever you like, and stay as long as you wish.

Permanent equipment at the observatory includes:

If you have a scope too, by all means bring it along; there's a grassy field with plenty of room to set up, and electricity is available (bring an extension cord).

You are welcome to bring a picnic, but be aware that there is no water supply and sanitary facilities are primitive. We will provide coffee, tea, and cocoa. Dress warmly, since it can be significantly chillier than in town, and since the site is a clearing in the woods, sturdy shoes are suggested. The event will be canceled in the event of hopeless cloudiness, although someone will probably be there anyway, unless perhaps if it's actually raining.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact Bob Bolster at 703-960-9126 or 703-478-0051.

Hopewell is a private, independent observatory association.

DIRECTIONS:

  • Take I-66 west about 25 miles to Exit 40 at Haymarket,
  • turn LEFT/SOUTH onto US 15.
  • Go 0.25 mi, turn RIGHT at the light onto VA Rt. 55,
  • then after 0.7 mi turn RIGHT onto Antioch Rd., Rt. 681.
  • FOLLOW Antioch Rd. until it ends (3.2 mi),
  • then turn LEFT onto Waterfall Rd. (601), which becomes Hopewell Rd.
  • After 1.0 mi, turn RIGHT onto Bull Run Mtn. Rd., Rt. 629.
  • In 0.9 mi, ENTER at the orange pipe gate on the right;
  • THERE IS a stone gate on the left, opposite the entrance.
  • FOLLOW the narrow road up the ridge to the microwave relay station,
  • PROCEED AROUND to the right of the station, and
  • CONTINUE through the white gate behind it to the observatory.
  • PARK AMONG the TREES near the observatory, or by the microwave station.
  • The trip TAKES about 45 minutes from the Beltway, or about 75 minutes from the Greenbelt area.

The phone number at the observatory is 703-754-2317.