The Eccles Ranch Observatory site is just north of Caroline in beautiful west-central Alberta.
We look forward to you joining us for some good times and great viewing under wonderfully dark skies!
Click here for a printable highway map,
or right click to Save Target As a jpg file.
Clear Sky Chart for Caroline Alberta
Brought to you by: The Calgary Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
And the following sponsors:
All Star Telescope
3263 Parsons Road Northwest, Edmonton, Alberta T6N 1B4
Contact: 587-336-6621 |
NOTE TO SPONSORS:
If your organization would like to be Star-B-Q Sponsor
contact the Star-B-Q organizer (see the bottom of this page).
Note: Sponsors (organizations making a donation or providing door prizes)
are required to register and also pay the camping fee if staying overnight.
Only Sponsors may set up a booth or display at their site for the promotion
and/or sale of equipment to attendees.
Star-B-Q photo by Larry McNish
Welcome
The Calgary Centre of the
Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
beckons you West and North of light polluted urban skies to
bask in hot summer days and gaze away warm quiet nights at
The Great Alberta Star-B-Q.
Programs
Just two hours away from Calgary, near Caroline, Alberta, you and your family can enjoy
a "cost-friendly" weekend that includes:
- A fun "astro-weekend" at a time when the skies are not totally dark
- Camping
- Observing
- A Guest Speaker
- A catered, all-included Saturday Dinner (with Vegan option)
- Door Prizes (Door prize tickets are provided to registered guests upon arrival)
Parents are encouraged to organize events for the children. There are also attractions around
Caroline and a little further out. Scenic views of the Foothills and Rocky Mountains can be had
along the Forestry Trunk Road west of Caroline. Burnt Stick Lake, about 25 km away, has
birding and swimming. Sylvan Lake is only 45 minutes away and has water slides, a public
beach, etc. There are also several nearby historic sites.
Star-B-Q photo by Larry McNish
Scheduled Events and Speakers:
| Schedule |
Friday
July 12 |
Saturday
July 13 |
Sunday
July 14 |
| Morning |
Registration
RASC Promotional
Items for sale |
Registration
RASC Promotional
Items for sale |
The Star-B-Q ends |
| Afternoon |
|
Registration
Event: 3 PM Talk:
Speaker: TBA
Dinner
starts at 5 PM
(see menu below)
Door Prize Awards
after the Dinner - ticket
holders must be present
to win prizes.
|
|
| Evening |
Registration |
|
|
| Night |
Personal Observing
25 Object Star-B-Q
Scavenger Hunt
If you must arrive
after dark please
have someone
guide you to a
camping spot with
your headlights off. |
Personal Observing |
Personal Observing |
Star-B-Q photo by Larry McNish
SATURDAY DINNER
The Dinner is as follows:
- The StarBQ this year will feature a full meal professionally catered beef brisket and roast chicken feast with all the trimmings.
- We will also have a vegan option.
Click here for information about the Star-B-Q 25 Object Scavenger Hunt - a two page pdf document.
Star-B-Q photo by Larry McNish
A Brief History of The Great Alberta Star-B-Q
In the fall of 1995, we stood shivering in a meager shelter on a weed-infested,
mud-slogging gravel field when Bob Morgan proposed to this bedraggled group
that we host a summertime astronomy event geared to families, beginners and
those less disposed to frozen sogginess. Today, we invite you and yours to
celebrate the realization of his vision and join us under warm summer skies
for an eventful and informative family weekend at the Eccles Ranch Observatory (ERO).
About the Site
 |
Kerby and Priscilla Eccles, life members in the Calgary Centre, recognized early our
need for a deep sky observing site. They spearheaded the reclamation of an
exploration lease on their property and their willing support of our goal grew
into a donation that together we "RASC-CALS" and the Eccles had designated a
Conservation Easement.
Natural lands for RASC-CALS young and
old to enjoy.
We ask that you show respect for the land by packing out your
refuse, leaving no sign of your presence, other than the memories we will share.
On the left, a photo of an orchid at the ERO, by Lynn Colborne,
(click for a larger view) |
Photos from previous Star-B-Qs
Star-B-Q photo by Larry McNish
Directions to the site
- Click here for a map, or right click to save.
- From Calgary, go North until you reach Highway #54 at Innisfail.
- Go West on 54 about 56 km (35 miles) to Caroline. (Fill up on your water (see below), gas and other
necessary supplies here.)
- At the four-way stop in Caroline, turn right (North).
- Head North for about 2.4 km (1.5 miles).
- Turn right (East) onto the gravel road RD 36-4.
- Continue East for about 1.6 km (1 mile).
- Turn left (North) onto the private gravel road RGE RD 6-0.
- Follow the gravel road about 1.3 km (0.8 mile), turn right and go down the hill to the ERO site and you're there!
General Information
About the Event
Camping at ERO is a no-frills experience. Water and power are not available on-site, so fill up in nearby Caroline (see below). Bring a table for your site if you can, and don't forget your chairs, mosquito repellant, binoculars, boots and a kite. We observe a red-light-at-night policy so bring red balloons for flashlights.
Well behaved dogs are welcome to roam, but please bring a leash and doggy bags anyway. There is wildlife in abundance, so make sure you can control your pet.
Full trailer hook-ups and showers are available at a campsite 5 km away, just 1km east of the 4-way stop in Caroline. 1 km east of the 4-way stop in Caroline. At the campground you can use the sewage dump for $20, or shower for $10.
Hours of operation for the RV park: end of May to end of August - Sunday to Thursday is 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM / Friday and Saturday is 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The RV Park is open for the month of September with reduced hours.
Nearby hotels:
Caroline Gateway Motel (403)-722-3322
You are advised to make reservations well in advance.
Calgary RASC Star-B-Q Guidelines
Everyone is welcome, however, to make the event enjoyable for all, some restrictions will
apply:
- Please Cover all of your white lights, e.g. flashlights, headlights, interior trailer lights, etc. with red cellophane or the equivalent; or leave them off.
- On Thursday through Friday nights, vehicles will be allowed in (or out) until 23:00 (11:00 PM).
- On subsequent nights, there will be a black-out rule in effect after 21:00 (9:00 PM).
Entry or exit shall be done with absolutely no white light - headlights and taillights MUST be
covered and the vehicle shall be guided by a pedestrian with a red flashlight. Ideally, the
vehicle may be left at the front gates and the site accessed on foot. When in doubt, walk!
- Noise (quiet times) - Please refrain from playing loud music, running power
generators, or other noisy activities that can disturb attendees from one
hour before sunset until 11:00 in the morning. Car alarms that create noise
as well as initiate bright flashing lights are particularly disturbing -
please be extra-cautious entering your vehicle during these hours, or leave
your car alarm off.
- Absolutely no garbage is to be left at your campsite! Clean up after yourselves. This is rough-it camping; what you bring in, you take out.
- Dogs are to be kept on a leash in and around the observing areas! Many telescope owners do not
appreciate dogs 'visiting' their equipment.
- Children are welcome at the Calgary RASC Star-B-Q but parents will be responsible for their child's
conduct and safety at all times. Watch out for fences, both electrified (might still be on) and
barbed, beaver ponds, ditches, etc.
Photo by Eric Klaszus
REGISTRATION
We invite you and your family to attend the Calgary RASC Star-B-Q.
Please register early for this event so we can let the caterer know the number of people to expect.
Last minute or on-site registrations will be allowed to sign up for Saturday's dinner based on "dinner availability".
To register please use this EVENTBRITE LINK: (TBA)
Star-B-Q Contact:
Roland Dechesne
E-mail: 
Planning ahead?
Star-B-Q 2024 - TBA
|
January 31, 2024
