Community events

Announcing Astronomy's annual $2,500 award

Bill Andrews — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:31:43 GMT

Astronomy magazine will present its 2009 Out-of-this-world Award to a club or organization that has shown excellence in astronomy outreach activities. The annual $2,500 award focuses on ongoing programs - not one specific event - by an educational or civic organization. The award will recognize a group's sustained efforts to involve its local community in the science and hobby of astronomy. The prize money is to be used for future astronomy outreach activities. Astronomy editors will review each entry and select a winner.

Applications and material must be postmarked by January 15, 2010. The winner will be announced by March 1.

For more information, visit http:www.astronomy.com/award.

Colorado Astronomy Day & Galilean Nights

Walkey — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:19:02 GMT

Members of the Brighton Astronomy Group will be at Observatory Park (22nd and Bromley Lane) all day and into the evening on Oct 24th, 2009, for Colorado Astronomy Day and Galilean Nights! Come out and look through a replica of Galileo's telescope, learn about astronomical distances, walk the trail in our scale model of the solar system, and look through several different types of telescopes. Come celebrate space, science, Galileo, and the International Year of Astronomy with us in Brighton, Colorado!

www.galileannights.org

www.brightonastronomy.com

BMAA Starwatch - Friday, October 23 at 7:30

Starwolf — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:13:17 GMT

The BMAA (Bucks-Mont Astronomical Association) is having one of their public starwatches right here in my neck of the woods. They are located in SE Pennsylavania just outside Philadelphia. It will be located at the Pennypack Environmental Center on Creek Road. Check their website for more info & directions.

http://www.bma2.org

Alpine Texas Dark Sky Month - October Star Parties Seeking IDA Designation

Gil Bartee — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:09:38 GMT

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Alpine (Texas) Dark Sky Party – October 16^th, 17^th and 18^th.

In conjunction with the International Year of Astronomy, the 400th anniversary of Galileo and the telescope please join us in the celebration of Dark Sky Month in Alpine Texas.

The month of October has been designated by the Alpine City Council as Dark Sky Month to educate and inform citizens, businesses and property owners regarding the use of safe, efficient and appropriate lighting, with the goal of preserving the treasure of Alpine’s night sky, and working towards being designated as an International Dark Sky Association Dark Sky Community. The City of Alpine Environmental Advisory Board and the Bid Bend Astronomical Society are working together to coordinate the Alpine Dark Sky efforts.

Community events during the month of October include dark sky presentations at area schools and at the Sul Ross State University Planetarium and Dark Sky Parties at Sierra la Rana and Luz de Estrella Winery. The International Dark Sky Association will also have a traveling display that will be exhibited at area schools and at Sul Ross State University.

Achieving the status of a Dark Sky Community will benefit the health of the citizens of Alpine, protect local wildlife, spur eco-tourism and economic development, will reduce overall energy consumption, and will likewise benefit the Big Bend region as a whole and the McDonald Observatory in particular. Together with the work that Big Bend National Park is doing to preserve the night skies, this area will be one of the largest Dark Sky Regions in the US.

During Dark Sky Month, the Dark Sky Working group will submit a series of articles in local news papers on the following topics:

· The McDonald Observatory

· Star Parties

· Economic advantages of Dark Skies and IDA Dark Sky Community Designation

· Practical information on retrofitting light fixtures with Dark Sky Friendly fixtures.

Sierra la Rana will host star parties on the 16^th and 17^th of October. The star parties will start at dusk and will include presentations and star viewing with multiple telescopes. There will be a “Black Hole” presentation at the Sul Ross Planetarium at 2:00 pm on October 16^th and Bill Wren of the McDonald Observatory will make a dark sky presentation at Sierra la Rana on Saturday the 17^th at the beginning of the star party. Dark Sky speakers who wish to make a presentation during Dark Sky Month are encouraged to contact us.

Luz De Estrella Winery in Marfa (3 miles east of Marfa on Hwy 90) will host a Star Party, Jam Session, Potluck Dinner and Wine Tasting on October 18^th. Festivities commence at 4:30 pm on Sunday -- Local and Austin musicians and singers will meet at the winery at about 4:30 for a potluck meal and wine-tasting. Everyone, professional musicians and singers as well as rank amateurs, are encouraged to participate. When it gets dark, we'll start the Star Party. Experts will be on hand to interpret, and we expect to have several telescopes. And you may have the good fortune to witness the Marfa lights as well. Contact Luz de Estrella Winery at 432.729.3434 for more information.

The James T. Walker Dark Sky Fund has been established by the Big Bend Astronomical Society to assist property owners who chose to replace non Dark Sky Friendly fixtures with Dark Sky Friendly fixtures. Members of the Dark Sky working group will also provide light assessments free of charge to property owners and local businesses. Tax-deductible contributions to the JTWDSF can be mailed to the BBAS c/o Bernie Zelazny, PO Box 523, Alpine, TX 79831-0523. More information on the Dark Sky Fund can be found at http://www.bigbenddarkskies.com/donation.html

Contact: Bernie Zelazny Contact: Gil Bartee

Phone: 432-238-4747 Phone: 817-975-8736

Email: bdz@apcwizard.com Email: gbartee@swbell.net

Galilean Nights - October 22-24 2009

Sky Beast — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:45:00 GMT

"Galilean Nights is a worldwide event sponsored by the International Year of Astronomy 2009. The idea is simple; get as many professional and amateur astronomers to show the skies to people from October 22 – 24, 2009. That’s it! Just get people to come outside and look up. You don’t need to be part of an organization to do this either; if you have a ’scope, then invite your neighbors to check out Jupiter, Albireo, Mizar and Alcor, or M13. If you do participate, make sure to register your event so the folks at IYA can keep track."

Source: http://www.badastronomy.com

Zie ook: http://www.galileannights.org

100 Telescopes In The Park

Astrosetz — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:03:39 GMT

Hi everyone! For a few months now we've been coordinating IYA2009 activities among various groups in SE Wisconsin, and one of the things were trying out is a group-effort outreach event. Any and all astro folks are welcome and encouraged to participate -- you don't have to live in SE Wisconsin, although for obvious reasons most of the volunteers we're getting are from that area.

The event is called 100 Telescopes In The Park and it will be held Sept 25 (Friday) and Sept 26 (Saturday), 6pm-11pm, at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee. More information can be found at www.wisconsinastronomy.org.

Please feel free to forward this information to anyone you think would be interested, either as a volunteer or as an attendee. Post it in blogs, Tweet, Facebook, print our and post the flyer from the website, whatever. Thanks!

Brighton Astronomy Group Dark Sky Night..

Walkey — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:00:34 GMT

This Saturday July 25th We will be setting up in the Cottenwood Picnic Area, a few hours before Sun set at Barr Lake State Park. This is a great spot to set up that telescope or bionoculars, and view some of the Deep Sky Wonders. If you need help with a telescope we will have some one on hand that can help out. If you do not have a current Colorado State Park Permit, It cost $6.00 for a 24hr park pass per/car load.

Click on the "Locations" link on our web site for directions to Barr Lake State Park.

www.brightonastronomy.com

Hope to se ya there...

total solar eclipse tommorow

a8603103 — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:59:10 GMT

please watch solar eclipse at tommoow on india china and bangdelesh

Our forum policies, including no advertising (updated July 8, 2009)

Karri Ferron — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:06:43 GMT

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McDonald Observatory

Kyle — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:41:25 GMT

Has anyone been to McDonald Observatory in Texas? Looks like I might go there this August or next year.

Total Solar Eclipse from Bangladesh

Zikrul — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:41:17 GMT

Bangladesh Astronomical Association has arranged an observation camp at Tentulia to observe the last Total Solar Eclipse of this century (from Bangladesh) on 22nd July, 2009.

Bangladesh Astronomical Association is working on astronomical event for last 21 years. Through these years, besides Space-Fest, Lab for Children, Astro-Olympiad, Sun-Festival we have arranged weekly sky-observation camp, yearly astronomy workshop, Bruno award and various types of competition (in school and college levels). We are regularly publishing our tri-monthly publication “Mohakash Barta”, the first and only magazine about astronomy. Besides this, we’ve published books like Tara-Porichiti (), Prachin Jotirbiddya (about mythology on various part of the world), Akash Pot, Bangladesh-r Jotir Bigyani-ra (about atro-scientist of Bangladesh), Goniter Moja (about the fun on Mathematics) etc.

Tentulia is the best possible place for this observation. Tentulia (Tetulia) is located at Panchagar district which is the most north-west part of Bangladesh. This Total Solar Eclipse will happen for 3 minutes and 59 seconds (3:59 min) and the total eclipse will happen for two (2) hours.

Scientists, science organizers, artists, singers, photographers, journalists, students and people from various professions will participate in this observation camp. This team will start from Dhaka on 20th July.

It will be our pleasure if you join this team. You and your friends & family are co-coordinately invited to join this team.

Bangladesh Astronomical Association
http://www.AstronomyBangla.com
Cell: +88-01711187555

2009 Stellafane Convention

nfredrick2002 — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 10:47:43 GMT

2009 Stellafane Convention

The 74^th Convention of Amateur Telescope Makers on Breezy Hill in Springfield, Vermont, the 2009 Stellafane Convention, will be held Thursday through Sunday August 13-16, 2009.

2009 Highlights & Special Events

Moonwalker Captain Alan Bean

2009 is the 400^th Anniversary of Galileo's Astronomical use of the Telescope, the 40^th Anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landings, and the International Year of Astronomy.

We have invited Captain Alan Bean, Astronaut, Moonwalker and Artist to be our keynote speaker this year. Alan Bean was the fourth person to set foot on the moon in late 1969.

www.stellafane.org

Brighton Astronomy Group's The Summer Solstices Star Party

Walkey — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:45:34 GMT

Come an enjoy an evening under the stars with us on Saturday June 27th at our Observatory Park located at 22nd and Bromley Lane. Since it is around the summer solstices, the sun will set about 8:30pm and will not be dark until about 9:30pm.
Our star parties are free, every one is welcome to come and enjoy an evening under the stars with us. If you have a telescope or binoculars and would like help with them, we will have someone in the group that can help you out. You do not need to have a telescope or binoculars to be part of the group, you can view through ours. We will also be presenting educational outreach lectures to.

Registration Deadline for the Cherry Springs Star Party

DaveMitsky — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:15:18 GMT

Anyone who's interested in attending the 2009 Cherry Springs Star Party should register ASAP. The deadline is approaching and there will be no non-registered admissions at the gate this year.

http://www.astrohbg.org/CSSP/Registration.html

Dave Mitsky

2009 Mulberry Mountain / AOAS Star Party

nSpace01 — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:44:43 GMT

The Arkansas/Oklahoma Astronomy Society is proud to announce their second annual 2009 Mulberry Mountain / AOAS Star Party, to be held on June 19th & 20th, 2009.

www.aoas.org Once again, this year’s event will take place at Mulberry Mountain Lodging & Events, which is a 650-acre facility located 16 miles north of Interstate 40, on Arkansas Hwy 23, near the city of Ozark, Arkansas. Highway 23 is otherwise known as the Pig Trail Scenic Byway. The facility boasts some of “The Darkest Skies in Arkansas,” at GPS coordinates N 35° 42' 36": W 93° 47' 44".http://mulberrymountainlodge.com/index.htm Mulberry Mountain offers cabins, pull-through RV sites and improved tent campsites with water, electricity & showers. Virtually unlimited primitive campsites are also available. Contact Mulberry Mountain Lodging & Events by phone at (866) 667-1919 or by e-mail at mulberrymountain@aol.com for lodging information and reservations.AOAS plans to set up a Public Observation Area on the south side of the resort on Friday and Saturday evenings. Several of our members’ telescopes will be available. Non-members may set up their equipment in the Public Observation Area if they wish. All scopes are welcome.

Amateurs who do not wish to participate in public viewing or who require a “lights-free” area will be located away from established light sources.

NOTE: It is our sincere hope that this event eventually grows to the point that we will someday require enforceable lighting regulations.Vendors are being invited, and a “Swap Meet” will take place Saturday afternoon in the Main Lodge Meeting Room, where anyone will be able to buy, sell, or trade any astronomical items.

The newly formed Arkansas Section of the International Dark Sky Association will also conduct their 2009 Annual Meeting in the main Lodge meeting Room during the weekend.

This year's Star Party includes an exciting line up of speakers. High-lighting this line up is Arkansas' own Dr. P. Clay Sherrod, world renowned astronomer, educator, author and lecturer. His topic of "Near Earth Asteroids" presents an informative and educational picture of the clear and present danger posed by these objects.

Near Earth Objects and past Earth Impacts

By Dr. P. Clay Sherrod, Director, Arkansas Sky Observatory

Author, A Complete Manual of Amateur Astronomy: Tools and Techniques for Astronomical Observations For more information: http://www.arksky.org/
http://www.meade4m.com/advisors/c_sherrod/sherrod_bio.html

Another exciting speaker comes to us from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dr. Marc Seigar. Dr. Seigar has conducted recent research and published results in various periodicals concerning "Massive Black Holes and the Structure of Spiral Galaxies". This lecture promises an insight into some of the most basic cosmological questions about the Universe.

Black Holes and Dark Energy Research

By Dr. Marc S. SeigarAssistant Professor Dept. of Physics & AstronomyUniversity of Arkansas at Little RockFor more information: http://arkansasmatters.com/content/fulltext/news/?cid=103681
http://ualr.edu/mxseigar/
http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/marc-seigar-phd-honored-by-cambridge-whos-who-for-excellence-in-astronomy-and-cosmology-research-and-education-80799.php Our third speaker, Wade Van Arsdale, hails from Little Rock and is a well-known in the amateur astronomy community and is an accomplished astro-imager. Wade will be presenting an excellent introduction to astro-imaging for the beginning and intermediate amateur astronomer.

Getting Started In Astro-Imaging

by Wade Van Arsdale

Member of the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society (CAAS)Co-founder and Vice President, Arkansas Section of the International Dark Sky Association.For more information: http://www.compubuild.com/astro/ A $5.00 donation will be requested for Guest Speaker events and tickets will be used in drawings for donated door prizes. Note: Additions or changes to the guest speaker list or planned events will be announced as soon as possible. For more information, contact Leonard Lynch at: Phone: 479-782-1131 email: nspace01@swbell.net

2009 Cherry Springs Star Party

DaveMitsky — Sun, 31 May 2009 19:22:30 GMT

The Astronomical Society of Harrisburg's 2009 Cherry Springs Star Party will take place from June 18 to June 21. For additional information, click on this link.

Dave Mitsky

Summer Public Observing Sessions at the Naylor Observatory

DaveMitsky — Sun, 31 May 2009 19:03:55 GMT

Weekly Sunday night public observing sessions for the summer of 2009 begin June 7 at the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg's Naylor Observatory. Due to the ASH Cherry Springs Star Party, there won't be an observing session on June 21.

http://www.astrohbg.org/ASH-e/Public_Observing.html

Directions to the observatory are posted at http://www.astrohbg.org/ASH-i/Directions.html

Dave Mitsky

Anyone Located In Northern Michigan Interested

heavydd — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:26:45 GMT

I would be interested in forming a club in the Petoskey area even with just a few members. The winters here can be harsh and driving to Traverse City can be a hassle late at night. It would be nice to have something more local where we could get together and share equipment and interests.

I hope I posted in the correct area if not please forgive me

Dennis Driscoll

Canceling of National Astronomy Day

Walkey — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:03:11 GMT

Do to rain and clouds we will not be celebrating National Astronomy Day This weekend.

However on May 16^th we will be at Observatory Park at 22^nd and Bromley Lane for our Public Star Party Hope to see you then…

What can WE do to promote the International Year of Astronomy?

zachsdad — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:29:02 GMT

Let do a little brianstorming here. What can each of us do to promote the IYA? I'm just looking for a discussion with some ideas of way we can help to popularize, and publicize this great hobby. I just sent a letter to the local newspaper suggesting that they give some consideration to running a periodic feature about astronomy, or about IYA 2009 events. I also included the IYA 2009 website link in my letter. What other thing can we do, or what have you already done?

Terry D.

Leaning Tower

Australian — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:15:01 GMT

Recently I attended the opening of the 45m Leaning Tower of Gingin in the Australian outback at the Gravity Discovery Centre where Australian astronomers study gravity waves. Think of Galileo when climbing to the top of the most leaning out tower in the world before dropping water bombs off it.

Photos of the new Leaning Tower of Gingin opening day and the new largest telescope in Western Australia can be seen at: the Gravity Discovery FB Group: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=35594277347

Our forum policies, including no advertising (updated 12/18/2008)

Karri Ferron — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:02:35 GMT

Now, to the rules:

Please keep discussions on topic (that is, astronomy-related).

For further guidelines, please visit Frequently Asked Questions or our Web Site Usage Policy.

The Great World Wide Star Count

StarCount — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:54:33 GMT

The Great World Wide Star Count
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/starcount
October 20 – November 3, 2008

This Windows to the Universe program is an international citizen-science event that encourages everyone, astronomers and non-astronomers alike, to measure their local light pollution and report their observations online. The Great World Wide Star Count, part of the Dark Skies Awareness cornerstone project for the upcoming International Year of Astronomy, is designed to raise awareness about light pollution as well as encourage learning in astronomy. No prior experience is necessary--all information needed to participate is on the Star Count Web site, along with a downloadable activity guide available in eight languages. All observations will be available online via Google Earth and as downloadable datasets.

In 2007, people from 64 countries contributed more than 6,600 observations to the inaugural Star Count. In order to build momentum in for IYA in 2009, we are hoping to double our participation this year and need your help!

Please help us spread the word to your members, families, friends, and especially any teachers that you may know. Our downloads page also contains a half-page flyer that may be freely printed and distributed.

If you or your organization are interested or would like more information, please contact us at starcount_info@ucar.edu

Alan Dyer blogs his trip to 3RF's Comanche Springs Astronomy Campus (Texas)

chipdatajeffB — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 03:15:54 GMT

Those of you who frequent the forum here have heard me tout the wonders of our dark-sky site for science education in the North Texas Plains.

We just completed our second Digital Astrophotography/Imaging Seminar there and this year's guest speaker was Alan J. Dyer. While he was onsite, he added two articles and several photos to his blog site:

Deep in the Dark of Texas

Taking in the Texas Skies

If you click on the photos in his blog you'll see a larger version. Some of those show the Milky Way over the site almost exactly as it appears naked-eye on a good night. We had a run of 8 good nights in a row, covering and bracketing the 4 nights of the seminar.

Those of you who are in the area, or near enough to drive over for a weekend campout, should contact us. We're always looking for volunteers for our public outreach activities and use of the site by amateurs is generally free of charge. We are now open 9 consecutive nights a month routinely, and at other times by request (when we can have a staff person or volunteer onsite).

Robert Reeves also profiled our site as one of several in October 2007's Astronomy Magazine article Astronomy Thrives in Texas.

Nebraska Star Party 2008 (#15)

johnjohnson — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:40:19 GMT

I recently attended the 15th annual Nebraska Star Party. If you have never been there it is one of the darkest places still left in the good old USA.

Here is a link to the light pollution map for there:http://cleardarksky.com/lp/NebStPyNElp.html?Mn=binoculars

The week flew by with good observing almost every night. Here is a link to some pictures and some of the comments made.

Enjoy:

NSP 15