For Astronomy day, 2008, the Temecula Valley Astronomers and Wildomar Parks Committee hosted a star party at Marna O'Brien Park. We estimate that anywhere between 100 and 200 people came, which is another way of saying no one counted heads and we all have different impressions of the size of a crowd, especially in the dark.

Making this event extra special, the Parks Committee was able to turn off the lighting (and the sprinklers), giving pleasant conditions for viewing.

Though the sky was rather hazy, this was no damper on the fun. Views of the Moon and Jupiter were crisp at various magnifications offered by the variety telescopes. A slide show was shown twice and based on seating, it was attended by at least 100 visitors (the basis of the lower estimate of attendees). Two highlights were 1) a 25-inch dobsonian refractor was on site for visitors able to ascend the 10-foot ladder to look through it, and 2) a live image of the moon was projected onto a translucent screen. The projected image was reversed, but correct when viewed from the backside of the screen, allowing visitors to view a correct large image without blocking the light beam from the projector. Of course, it was only a matter of time before children discovered the true value of this and started projecting their silhouettes onto the screen. Even better, parents were wipping out cell-phone cameras to capture the unmistakeable silhouettes of their childern.

The projector was quickly commandeered for permformance art: