95IL hosts stargazing party

Henderson Field (95IL) in Illinois once again hosted a stargazing party for pilots.

Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) Illinois Ambassador Dave Warner invited the Carbondale-based Astronomical Association of Southern Illinois (AASI) to bring a selection of professional quality telescopes to the privately owned airfield over the weekend of Oct. 11-13, 2024.

“It was an easy sell, since we have such dark skies,” he said.

Warner was awarded two RAF grants to make improvements at the airfield, including rolling the turf runway surface and creating permanent markings.

He and a few other volunteers flew in and camped in advance of this year’s stargazing event to help mow the airfield, measure the runway, and mark the thresholds temporarily until they installed the permanent markings. They cut firewood for the RAF fire ring and arranged tables for the event.

“The Northern Lights were pretty spectacular that evening, which is a very rare event in Southern Illinois,” Warner said.

More planes arrived Friday and by nightfall 10 planes from three states, including a restored Pietenpol Air Camper, had settled in for some stargazing.

The AASI set up telescopes and a high tech imaging device, “and they seemed thrilled with the dark sky, in spite of the half moon. We took turns between the telescopes and the fire,” Warner said.

Warner estimates that over 50 people attended, some of whom also enjoyed hiking or fishing.

“All in all it was a success, and folks are already talking about next year and what the RAF is doing,” Warner added.

For more information on Henderson Field and the required safety briefing, see the RAF’s Airfield Guide.

For more information: TheRAF.org