stargazing & shooting stars // open

[bifroster]

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
WHEN: July 15 (backdated)
WHAT: Stargazing and observing a meteor shower
WARNINGS: None; will change as needed



Upon learning about the eager reactions of those on the network, the University gave Jane some more support to host a stargazing party. What was just going to be a few telescopes she happened to own now included some of the more powerful ones the school owned, along with some other tools for those new and old to astronomy to use and learn how to use. Overall, Jane was very excited! She made sure to ping everyone who showed interest on her network post and put posters around the university too:

COME SEE THE SOUTHERN DELTA AQUARIIDS METEOR SHOWER July 15, 2020 8:30PM - JULY 16, 3:00AM EST INFORMATION: - Telescopes will be provided - Rides can be arranged - Meet Jane Foster at Byers University by 6:00PM EST - Hosted at the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park - Questions, concerns, comments, etc. contact Jane Foster OTHER OBJECTS INCLUDE: - Jupiter - Saturn - The Helix Nebula - The North American Nebula - The Andromeda Nebula - Other Deep Space Objects PLEASE BRING: - Blankets - Jackets - Bug spray - Flashlights - Food, snacks - Warm drinks - More bug spray - Hiking boots or sneakers

A // ARRIVING

Jane had already come to the site early to check it out, clear things with the park rangers, see if there would be enough room, and of course, to set up the telescopes! As people started to arrive in various ways, she would help with adjusting telescopes, answering questions, and basically geek out over space with everyone else.

B // METEORS

While meteors tended to go by in a flash, there would be up to 25 meteors an hour. She wasn't expecting any fireballs like some showers would do, but as it was from a lower part of the sky, the meteors would easily fly overhead and not be obstructed by trees. Even if the shower wasn't as strong as previous years, there were other objects to see: planets! Moons! Galaxies! Nebulas!

C // OTHER

Feel free to start your own threads, make up your own prompts, etc.! Mingle and have fun everyone!

Comments

Wei Wuxian | OTA

[chenqing_player]

He got the memo and he came as soon as it said it was going to be starting. He knew he couldn't stay all day since he would have to go to his evening job, but he definitely wanted to enjoy the stars for a little while.

He doesn't have a blanket or anything, but he isn't too concerned with it. He's used to sleeping on roofs or laying out in the grass and staring up at the stars. He just wishes he had some wine to enjoy the sights with.

Settling in, he found a nice spot and flopped down on the grass, hands behind his head so he could enjoy the show.

[bifroster]

Even seeing the meteor shower for just a little while was worth it! The night air was a little warmer than Jane first thought it would be, but nothing too uncomfortable. As long as there was bug spray, because the insect population in Florida should not be underestimated.

"Comfortable?" Jane asked, coming over to check on him as she had been everyone else.

[chenqing_player]

He smiles up at her, "Very! Ready to enjoy the show." He pushes himself up so he can look around at the others that have gathered. He's impressed by the setup and wouldn't mind lounging out like this every night even without something to watch.

"Looks like everyone is really excited to watch the meteors."

Kang | OTA

[governorkang]

"...I don't think I've ever properly seen the stars of this world in all the years I've lived here," Kang stares up at the sky, leaning back on his blanket on his hands. "The cities are too bright at night. These stars are different, but still beautiful."

[bifroster]

Jane, who has joined him now that everyone had settled down for the most part, nodded. "They are. I'm glad we were able to come out here."

Honestly, it had been so long since she had last seen the sky like this.

"What was your night sky like?"

[governorkang]

"Besides the obvious difference in constellations, we have three moons instead of one. Solinari is white, Lunitari is red, and Nuitari is black - the only time anyone can see the last one without being a practitioner of the darker magics is on the Night of the Eye, when all the moons converge."

6PM on the dot! Sypha Belnades | OTA

[verunandesu]

Sypha had navigated the Porter and felt rather victorious as she passed a sign that announced that this was Byers University. Ha-ha! She looked around in reflex, deflating a little when there was nobody near her to gloat to. She'd have to tell Trevor when she got back. Except she wouldn't remember.

Momentarily saddened, she slowed her walk a bit, but quickly recovered as she saw a van and ... hm, maybe that was the Dr Porter from the network? She headed over towards them.

[bifroster]

So punctual!

If not for Jane wanting to make sure that everything was ready to go, she would have been running late, as she tended to do for larger events like this, despite her best efforts. For once, her efforts weren’t in vain! As Sypha neared, she would see Jane helping to load the last of some blankets in the back and cross something off a checklist.

“Oh, hey!” she greeted when she looked up. “Sypha, right?”

[verunandesu]

Sypha had left extremely early to make sure that she would not lose time getting lost or figuring out new technologies and cause Jane (and possibly more people) to wait. She is very proud of her punctuality.

"Hello," Sypha responds to Jane. The woman is shorter than her; she hadn't been expecting that.

"Yes, I am Sypha. Can I help with preparations?" Sypha is very familiar with readying vehicles for long travels, though the nature of her ride here is very, very different from the wagons back home. No horses to calm, for one thing.

Kurt | OTA

[youarespecial]

Kurt arrived about an hour early, wanting to get a good spot and just to make sure he didn't miss anything. He brought a basket of treats, though some of them might not have been very appetizing to a human, unless that human was feeling adventurous.

The Reptilian found a spot to get settled in and gazed around at all the equipment set up.

Allura | OTA

[patchricide]

"What a spectacular view..."

There's something about the meteors that keeps Allura's eyes glued to the sky. The short bursts of light, like a match being struck and then extinguished shortly after — it's far less intense than some of the flaming rocks she's seen fall from the sky on other worlds. Here, it's downright heartwarming and pleasant to see.

Yet another reason why she had grown so fond of this world so quickly.

It might be more chilly out here than she would like, but not enough to draw a complaint from her. Maybe just enough for her to keep a blanket draped arund her shoulders like a shawl, and to slowly nurse one of the drinks. (Which never seems to stop steaming with warmth, thanks to a litle bit of Altean channeling.)

Rachel Dawes | Arrival

[lawes]

There is beauty in the night.

Rachel spends most of her time focusing on the shadows, the darkness, the cowards who come out. When one is a lawyer in the country's most crime-ridden city - one that produced a masked vigilante who only comes out at night - it's easy to forget about the sparkle that night brings.

But there is a sparkle, and that's precisely what brings Rachel here.

"Huh," she says, almost impressed. She'd always been one to look up and ahead, but never as far as the stars.

"It's nice."

[chenqing_player]

Wei Wuxian loves looking up at the stars. It was much easier to do on his world where there wasn't all these tall buildings and lights around that were blocking them out. But at least they had a chance to kind of enjoy them that night.

"Yeah. Everyone should stop and look up at them once in awhile."

[lawes]

Rachel steers her gaze back down to earth to where the voice is coming from. She smiles at his words - a crooked smile that's always been her signature.

"It's easy to forget sometimes." She peers back up. The twinkle in her eye nearly matches those up above.

"To stop that is." Says the girl who comes from a bustling city that never sleeps. She looks back down at him; her arms are folded in front of her, but her smile grows to ensure a less reserved impression.

"I'm Rachel."

Tony | OTA

[irondad]

( As the new kid in town, Tony considers it a smart idea to keep cultivating good relations with other imPorts. He arrives early, happy to assist Dr. Foster with telescope arrangement– and to present her with a bottle of wine.

"It's customary," he insists.

Later in the evening, once the sky glitters with starlight, and the Milky Way is a dusty band arcing from the horizon, Tony can be found stretched out on a flannel blanket, with wine and nibbles enough to spare.

Compared to the others assembled though, he hasn't taken a turn with the telescopes post-setup, happy to enjoy the ambiance. )

Crudités?

[bifroster]

[Wine. Tony Stark gave her wine. She understood the whole entire 'give the host something nice' tradition, but ... she was sure it was more than the $10 bottle she used when making spaghetti sauce. When she actually managed to not explode the kitchen.]

Wow. Thank you. I mean, I would have been happy with the help with the telescopes.

[That really was helpful too. Calibrating telescopes took time.]

[irondad]

( Tony lightly waves off her praise, dusting his hands. )

Don't mention it. Thank you for the invite. And the pizza suggestion, ( he adds, then pauses... and adds to close: ) And the warm welcome.

Knock Out | OTA

[redcosmedic]

Knock Out, obviously, is his own transportation to the state park, and arrives somewhat after the main group. While it's true that he could have driven himself anywhere to see such sights, Jane had seemed so genuinely enthused by the whole trip that he'd felt it only appropriate to show.

He stays at the edges of the clearing so as not to obstruct anyone's view, given that even when sitting he's still over 10 feet tall. He thoughtfully runs a quick subroutine to dim his biolights, reducing the red glows that contour his frame to a lower vibrancy. Still, he might make quite a sight to someone walking past with red glowing optics and size, if one hadn't noticed him before.

But he's amenable to talking to anyone who wants to strike up a conversation. "Earth's atmosphere is fairly generous for this sort of thing... I've been on some planets where you can't even see their suns, let alone stars."

[bifroster]

His red lights won't actually bother anyone. When electronics were put into 'night mode', their colors were often shifted to black and reds.

Jane was absolutely ecstatic to see Knock Out and rushed over to him the moment she could.

"I know of a few planets like that, though I've never been on them. You kind of don't want to be on Venus with its acid rain. Thanks for coming! I'm glad you made it!"

[redcosmedic]

That reaction right there... that was why Knock Out had shown up to this evening soiree. He could take or leave the stargazing, but Jane's beamingly happy reaction was worth the drive.

"You're very welcome," he answered. "I'm glad to see the weather cooperating for you tonight."

[chenqing_player]

Wei Wuxian is awestruck. He hadn't really thought anything about the thing he was walking past until it started moving and talking and then it just about startled him out of his skin. He thought it was another odd statue or something of this world.

He stares up at Knock Out with large, impressed eyes, "You've been to other planets?" That is just one question of about a hundred that are springing up into his mind at that moment. But to hear that anyone could have been among the stars is certainly the most attractive of the questions.

[aeva]

Though Jane had said that she hadn't needed anything she'd brought more snacks with her than were clearly just for herself, leaving her basket open near her, a blanket out that she's sat on. And for some of it (or most of it) she's leaving the telescopes, instead simply looking up at the sky.

Before the meteors start to pass her attention lies just with the stars, a comforting, familiar sight to her, constellations that she's very familiar with despite the fact that this isn't her Earth, but she supposes that some things had been made similar enough.

When the meteors do fall she's a little amazed by it, a cup of tea in her hands, some of her snacks (muffins, some sandwiches) gone from both herself and any that she's offered them to, a content smile on her at just how enjoyable the evening has been.

[bifroster]

The evening was progressing with a lot of success: people were mingling, asking questions, helping each other with the telescopes, and just having a good time. The night sky was absolutely gorgeous and clear, not a cloud to mar any views.

“Hey there, you made it! Your snacks have been a huge hit!”

Bucky Barnes | OTA

[ex_cryofroze631]

[ Bucky arrives a little late, but he comes armed with a folding chair, blanket, and a little picnic basket of food and drink goodies. He sets up near enough the telescopes to reach them easily, but still far enough away so as to stay out of foot traffic.

Coming out here is worth it, though, once he's settled in the chair and gazing wide-eyed at comets shooting across the inky sky. ]

Is anyone counting? I think that's number four in the last ten minutes.

[bifroster]

[Jane beamed when she saw Bucky arrive, not minding that he was late at all. Others were still coming in and the party would be lasting for another few hours, or more, depending upon what the crowds wanted.]

I think one of my students is, because they're doing some research on space debris. But this is the ... tenth one I've seen since coming here.