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Welcome to one of the finest astronomical observing facilities in the eastern United States. The Chiefland Astronomy Village is basically an astronomical retirement community where astronomers from all over have built their observatories and attached living quarters. We now have over 20 astronomy families who own property here. So far they have built 14 observatories, with new ones going up every year.
Since it's inception over twenty years ago, Chiefland has maintained an observing field built and maintained by "club members", where serious astronomers from all over Florida and the US share observing facilities second to none. We have members in 15 states that come to Florida to enjoy week-long camping trips for minimal cost. Now we are in the process of opening another observing field so we can allow continued growth of the club into the future. While not a regular astronomy club in the regular sense, the privately owned observing fields are shared by serious astronomers and their astronomical guests.
The original observing field has 3.5 acres of flat, mowed grass, with nine 30 amp electrical outlets for RVs, and forty 15amp outlets around the perimeter of the field for telescope equipment. A large shade pavilion provides seating for 80 and a gathering place during the daytime. The clubhouse has two flush toilets, a refrigerator and microwave oven make fixing mid-night snacks a snap.
The clubhouse also has a wi-fi setup for checking email, and wireless internet is provided for club members.
(Please turn off automatic updates and limit your down loads to small files!)
The Village is situated only 7 miles south of the small town of Chiefland, (population 2000), so restaurants, stores, and motels are close by to supply all your needs.
The CAV consists of all privately owned land, and the observing fields are private property also. Their use is donated to the astronomy club. In 2007 the average attendance of our monthly star parties has run from 20 astronomers in the summer months to 50-70 during our mild winters.
How are the skies? In a word - DARK AND STEADY! While they are naturally not as dark as they were at the club's founding in 1985, they are still excellent compared to most other observing sites in the USA. During partially cloudy nights light domes can be seen from Chiefland, only seven miles to the north of the site, and from Gainesville and Ocala, 40 and 60 miles respectively, in the east. Our south and west skies are still excellent. While our seeing doesn't usually match that of the Florida Keys and its Winter Star Party, we are still on the Florida peninsula and our seeing is far better than what most observers in the the USA ever experience.
Chiefland is supported mostly by those who use the site on a regular basis. That is why our dues are lower than they were twenty years ago. When you arrive at the club site, you will see a donation box under the shade pavilion. The suggested amount for members and their guests is $5 per person per night. For those who use extra electricity please throw in a few extra dollars to cover its cost. Every dollar donated by our visitors is turned back into the site for improvements, and to cover operating costs such as electricity, supplies, maintenance, and our heaviest expense - mowing.
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