For more current information about 3RF, see their web site at
http://www.3RF.org
From: Tom Heisey
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2004 12:05 PM
Subject: Another phenomenal 3rf image
Jay Ballauer took some photos during the recent 3RF board meeting. The most
impressive image is of IC405 and IC410 complex in Auriga, called the "Flaming
Star".
http://allaboutastro.com/IC405and410.html
Again, he has done impressive work with 3RF equipment. In this case he used the
new SBIG STL-11000 camera, an 11 megapixel research-grade camera.
WOW
Tom Heisey
Tom Heisey sent the following information about the
Three Rivers Foundation in a message dated November 28, 2004
To all:
In response to requests for more information about
the Three Rivers Foundation for the Arts and Sciences (3RF) and the proposed
Comanche Springs observing site in West Texas, I am providing some background
particulars.
3RF is a recently minted 501c3 non-profit whose
mission statement is primarily to promote science interest and literacy among
both the general public and students. Astronomy will be the prime vehicle by
which to do this. In addition, 3RF will involve itself with other endeavors of a
broad educational nature. A secondary goal will be to benefit the regional
economy with a form of Nature Tourism. Larry Smith, well known to many TAS and
FWAS members, is the Executive Director of 3RF because of the wide variety of
skills and interests he brings to the position.
3RF previously had been the vehicle by which
several telescopes were being furnished free of charge to the Star Walk program
at Copper Breaks State Park. 3RF no longer has any affiliation with CBSP or its
programs. It is my understanding that Tom Wideman will continue to organize
programs for the Star Walks next year so I would request that any such inquiries
be addressed to him.
3RF will focus its energies and resources on the
development of an astronomy campus and of a mobile astronomy educational
program. Through the extraordinary generosity of the McAdams Ranch west of
Crowell, Texas, 3RF was recently gifted with fifty acres of dark sky ranch land.
If need for further land can be demonstrated at a future date, the prospect of
being gifted another fifty acres is conceivable. This site has been aptly named
Comanche Springs as there is a nearby spring fed creek that beavers have turned
into a pond with prolific birdlife, there are paleontological diggings nearby,
and the former bison hunting grounds of the Comanches and Kiowa tribes are all
around.
Comanche Springs will be located about 13 miles
WSW of Crowell, Texas. The visitor will go west from Crowell toward Paducah on
Texas highway 70 for about 10 miles and then turn south at a state roadside park
onto FM 654. Some three miles further near where the pavement gives way to an
unpaved private ranch road will be Comanche Springs. The site itself is about
300 yards off the paved road toward the SE in what currently might be described
as meadow with mesquite surrounded by thick mesquite pastures and low buttes to
the north and east. The site has a gentle NE to SW slant. The southern sky
especially overlooks a vast ranchland. We were generously permitted to select
the perimeter of the fifty acres we desired, being not too close to the paved
road but close enough to access the water and electrical utilities that run
along side it.
Phase I at this time is proceeding with the
establishment of a surrounding fence to keep out cattle. Above ground electrical
lines have already been brought to the edge of the site. Water lines should be
going in within the next two weeks. Plans to establish an all weather road
between pavement and site are in the works. Internet connection will be via
satellite. We hope all infrastructure on the site per se will be underground as
much as possible.
Phase II buildings tentatively will be three
structures. One will allow refuge from the elements and at this time probably
will have a large enough conference room for teacher workshops and other
seminars. It probably will have other capabilities as well. Another structure
will probably be some sort of bunkhouse and a third proposed is a free standing
building with showers and toilets attached to a septic system. Early on we may
also determine that separate storage facilities for maintenance equipment and
for telescopes will be needed. The early alternative for portable instruments
would be to use trailers. In addition, a roll-off observatory may be constructed
early for some large Dobsonians.
Phase III probably will be a domed observatory for
a recently purchased and currently stored 15" f/12 achromatic refractor,
possibly another dome for a Ritchey-Chretien, possibly another dome for a
smaller refractor and/or solar telescope, and additional roll-off observatories.
There will also be provision made for portable telescopes to be set up on
concrete pads or grass.
The telescopes and instruments currently in use,
in storage, or on order are varied. These include Obsession Dobsonians up to
30", binocular telescopes with paired 22" mirrors, various hydrogen alpha solar
scopes, StarChairs from Australia, giant Fujinon binoculars, and more.
It is hoped that sooner rather than later that it
will be possible to construct a Visitor's Center that will be multi-functional
for purposes of education for the public, students, and amateur astronomers. In
addition, an outdoor amphitheater of some description is planned.
Early on the site will seek to accommodate amateur
astronomers. Next it will aim to host teacher workshops and seminars for
amateurs. Then it should be able to handle small groups such as student field
trips. As the infrastructure grows, public groups of increasing size will be
welcomed.
Ultimately, Comanche Springs will be able to
accommodate amateur visual, photographic/imaging, and research interests. As
Larry is a former science teacher he and several others are especially keen to
host teacher workshops and student groups. And finally, for the public we aspire
ultimately to be able to "push the envelope" as to what a public star party is.
At this time we anticipate creating various
Comanche Springs camping and accommodation options for amateurs, workshop
groups, and student groups. It is questionable whether or not we would seek to
offer camping options for the public coming for programs. Rather we are in
preliminary talks with the McAdams Ranch for it to set up semi-isolated cabins
with amenities some distance away from Comanche Springs. It's a big ranch. These
proposed cabins would be designed and intended for astronomers who prefer
observing alone and would also be available to birders, equestrians, and urban
dwellers desiring a change of pace. Light issues would be addressed of course.
These remarks constitute a bare bones description
of Comanche Springs and should be viewed as tentative in sequence and timing,
although not in the final goal. Individuals who are interested in following the
progress of this project may contact me at the e-mail address below, Larry at
llsmith47@aol.com, or follow the www.3rf.org website as Tom Heisey of Texas Tech
gets it up and running.
In the last few months 3RF has already sponsored
one Gifted and Talented teachers workshop and has been affiliated with assisting
star parties in Fort Worth, Wichita Falls, and Lubbock. It will gradually
increase its capability to take instruments far afield from Comanche Springs to
various schools in particular.
We are interested in the use of high end CCD
astronomical cameras such as manufactured by SBIG for "real time" image
production at star parties. Jay Ballauer of FWAS is leading this group effort.
Please see www.allaboutastro.com
With the establishment of permanent infrastructure
at Comanche Springs, it is our hope that we ultimately will be able to host a
several day yearly star party for amateurs and have it coincide with an
educational seminar. Some months ago we hosted Dave Kriege of Obsession
Telescopes to come to Texas and deliver a workshop. That was video taped thanks
to the efforts of Jeff Barton of TAS and especially of Don Welch of FWAS and is
now close to being made available for sale to interested parties. We will
ultimately seek to offer such workshops or scientific seminars on a yearly
basis.
3RF will be implementing a wide diversity of
astronomical programs that will necessitate having a diversity of talents and
interests. We would welcome any expression of interest by those individuals
sharing our vision.
Cordially,
Fred Koch
fkoch@chipshot.net
