Captain James Tiberius Kirk was born on March 22, 2233, in Riverside, Iowa. Every year, Star Trek is celebrated in Riverside on the last weekend in June. As part of the Trekfest celebration, a few volunteers from the Cedar Amateur Astronomers, a Cedar Rapids area astronomy club, set up a few telescopes so that people can search the sky for the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701).
I will be hosting a flashmob just prior to sundown at the same location where the telescopes will be. There will be a few doorprizes.
If the sky is clear, it will get dark around 9:30pm and star viewing will begin. There is no charge! Bring binoculars to look at cool things the astronomers will be pointing at and look through the telescopes! People who attend the flashmob event are encouraged, but not required, to stay for the star viewing.
Bring your children and bugspray. Please stay downwind and far away from the telescopes when spraying!
Parking: There is ample parking in front of the school. Please allow the astronomers to park in back so they can unload their telescopes.
Rain: I will still be there, but I will be in front of the school at the main entrance where there is a little cover.
Flashlights: Red lights only, please. No cellphones or white flashlights near the scopes - the light is blinding to dark-adapted eyes.
Don't forget to visit the Voyage Home Museum just a bit further into town on Highway 22. Look for the model of the Enterprise in the museum's parking lot. The museum is open later during Trekfest.
For additonal fun, complete the easy multicache, "Famous Iowan's Birthplace" (GCH41N), which starts at the museum and progesses through Kirk's birthplace and favorite boyhood park.
Permission for this event was given by the Trekfest organizer: Ron Warren. Thanks Ron!