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Southeast Ohio Astronomical Society

January 14th, 2010 | Comments Off | Posted in 123 triad

The Southeast Ohio Astronomical Society was born on March 24, 1999, when a small group of enthusiasts met at the Athens Public Library to organize this group. There were eleven people in attendance led by George Eberts, Tom O’Grady and Maryann Hartwick. Currently, there are over 80 members in the Society ranging in age from 18 - 80+. The Society has provided many presentations on a variety of astronomy topics. Some of the topics have been: “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Mars, But Were Afraid to Ask”, “A Look at Sagittarius”, “How to Buy a Telescope”, “The Star of Bethlehem”, “Stargazing for Beginners”, and “Black Holes and Quasars”. Presentations are given by Society members, as well as faculty from the Ohio University Physics and Astronomy Department.

The Society is a local advocate for intelligent outdoor lighting that does not add to the light pollution problem. The Society has approached many businesses during the building phase to educate the owners on better ways to light their buildings and parking lots. The Society is a member of the International Dark Sky Association. Each year the Society presents a “Friend of the Stars Award” to a local business that uses intelligent outdoor lighting. Previous winners include: Taylor Team of Dealerships; Athens Community Center; O’Bleness Memorial Hospital: and Wal-Mart Super Center. To get an idea of how polluted the sky is over much or most of the U.S., take a look at a picture showing nighttime lights taken by satellite.

For more information, please visit http://www.athensastronomy.org

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Von Braun Astronomical Society

January 13th, 2010 | Comments Off | Posted in 123 triad

VBAS is a non-profit volunteer organization of amateur and professional astronomers. In addition to operating their planetarium and observatories located in Monte Sano State Park just East of Huntsville, Alabama, they also conduct side walk astronomy events in conjunction with several local community events such as Concerts In The Park and we’re working to establish a remote dark sky observatory near Huntsville. VBAS was originally founded in 1954 as the Rocket City Astronomical Association, thanks to the efforts of a group of high school students interested in Astronomy lead by Sam Pruitt, along with the help and influence of Wernher von Braun.

By 1956, the organization had grown to include several members of the Von Braun Missile Team and they completed the observatory shown on the left while under construction and shown below on the right of how their facilities appear today, which includes a second observatory, astronomical library, solar telescope, and planetarium. Use the “Library”, “Observatories”, and “Planetarium” tabs above to explore our facilities. VBAS’s operates the Conrad Swanson Observatory, built in 1956, which houses our 21 inch telescope on the left below and the Wilhelm Angele Observatory, built in the early 1980s, which houses our Celestron C-16 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope on the right which features a roll-off roof that gives a wide view of the sky for our Star Party visitors.

For more information, please visit http://www.vbas.org

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Shreveport-Bossier Astronomical Society, Inc

January 12th, 2010 | Comments Off | Posted in 123 triad

The Shreveport-Bossier Astronomical Society, Inc. is a non-profit, tax exempt Louisiana corporation dedicated to the study of astronomy. Their members are active in many fields of amateur astronomy, including astrophotography, variable star observation, occultation timing, and the study of planets, star clusters, and nebula. The Society has been in continuous operation since 1959. The Ralph A. Worley Observatory was originally built by the Society in 1964. Three years later the Society donated the observatory to the Caddo Parish School Board. Over the years, the Society has operated the observatory and used the facility to host free public star parties.

The Society will usually host three public star parties in the Spring and three in the Fall of the year. In addition, the Society will present free public lectures on topics of current interest. The Society cooperates extensively with Sci-Port: The Discovery Center and with the College of Sciences at LSU-Shreveport in developing joint programs. The Shreveport-Bossier Astronomical Society, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Donations to the Society are tax deductible. Your donation helps to keep star parties free to the public, aids in the development of new programs, and provides equipment used at the star parties.

For more information, please visit http://www.lsus.edu

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Allegheny Observatory

January 11th, 2010 | Comments Off | Posted in 123 triad

The Allegheny Observatory is one of the major astronomical research institutions of the world. It is located in Riverview Park, four miles north of the Golden Triangle (downtown Pittsburgh) and eight miles from the University of Pittsburgh of which it is an integral part. Although pioneering in pure research is the chief function of the observatory, its telescopes and instrumental equipment are available for use by students of the university and observatory astronomers teach both credit and non-credit classes at the university. Throughout its long history the observatory has always been aware, too, of its obligation to allow the public to become acquainted with the wonders of the night sky by actual observations and illustrated lectures.

Astronomy the oldest of the sciences, is education in its purest form, for astronomy exists only because people want to know and understand the universe that surrounds them. The Allegheny Observatory was born February 15, 1859 when three citizens of Allegheny City met at the office of Professor Lewis Bradley to consider the purchase of a telescope, “the magnifying power of which would bring the heavenly bodies near enough to be viewed with greater interest and satisfaction”. These men and 29 others later formed the Allegheny Telescope Association.

For more information, please visit http://www.pitt.edu

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Starmaster

January 10th, 2010 | Comments Off | Posted in 123 triad

Starmaster Telescopes attended the 2006 ICSTARS Star Party in October near Warrensburg, Missouri. The StarGarden Foundation owns and operates the Douglas Observatory located on the ICSTARS Ranch where the annual star party is held. Dedication ceremonies were held to officially open the new education center next to the observatory. The observatory has a 24-inch Starmaster as the heart of its observing telescopes. StarGarden president, the late Vic Winter, above left, with the help of Shadow Winter unveiled the name of the center to a surprised Rick Singmaster.

Their emphasis on total quality control throughout their company’s operation enables us to improve quality, durability, reliability and assure the overall value of each telescope they make. They use quality feedback from as many sources as possible; their employees, vendors, final inspection and test results, and, or course, their customers. This enables them to produce a telescope that combines optimal performance with cost-effective, user-friendly features and innovations. The inherent quality of their scopes makes them a pleasure to use and assures their lasting value.

For more information, please visit http://www.starmastertelescopes.com

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Northeast Kansas Amateur Astronomers League Inc

January 9th, 2010 | Comments Off | Posted in 123 triad

Founded in 1978, the Northeast Kansas Amateur Astronomers League Inc. is made up of amateur astronomers from around the area. Members come in all ages and all expertise levels, from beginner to practically a pro. NEKAAL members observe, draw, photograph, document, discover and enjoy astronomy. They have given hundreds of educational presentations, had articles published in scientific journals, participated in projects of research and discovery, and have introduced hundreds of people to the wonders of the night sky through Star Parties at Farpoint Observatory and across the area.

NEKAAL owns and operates Farpoint Observatory, located on the grounds of Mission Valley High School approximately 30 miles southwest of Topeka, Kansas. NEKAAL is a member society of the Astronomical League, Internationsl Dark Sky Association, and the Night Sky Network.

For more information, please visit http://www.nekaal.org

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Stellafane

January 8th, 2010 | Comments Off | Posted in 123 triad

Stellafane is the contraction of two Latin words: stellar means star, and fane means shrine. Stellafane is therefore literally a Shrine to the Stars. Stellafane is the name of their Clubhouse, located the summit of Breezy Hill in Springfield, Vermont. It is also the name of their annual Stellafane Convention. The Stellafane Clubhouse and Porter Turret Telescope and the land on the summit of Breezy hill comprise the Stellafane Observatory National Historic Landmark. However, the term Stellafane has also evolved to mean to refer to all the club’s land and buildings on the summit of Breezy Hill, or to the club itself, which is properly named The Springfield Telescope Makers, Inc.

They are a club of about 125 members, and unlike most astronomy clubs, their members are geographically dispersed, with most members spread over the New England and mid-Atlantic states. They hold monthly meetings at Stellafane, usually near a new moon weekend for best observing opportunities. Stellafane has been on the web since 1994 (see Web History) and provides information about club activities and information useful to Amateur Telescope Makers world wide. In 2006 they redesigned and updated the site (see About their New Look). They have reorganized their pages into logical groups in the hope of making navigation around out site much easier.

For more information, please visit http://stellafane.org

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ESO

January 7th, 2010 | Comments Off | Posted in 123 triad

Astronomy is often described as the oldest science and there can be no doubt that a view towards the majestic Milky Way band of stars - as it stretches across the sky on a clear night - must have been an awe-inspiring sight to people of all ages and cultures. Today, astronomy stands out as one of the most modern and dynamic sciences, using some of the most advanced technologies and sophisticated techniques available to scientists. And these are exciting times for astronomy: technology now allows them to study objects at the far edge of the Universe and to detect evidence for planets around other stars. They can begin to answer a fundamental question that fascinates every one of them: are they alone in the Universe?

ESO is the pre-eminent intergovernmental science and technology organisation in astronomy. It carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities for astronomy to enable important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in the Atacama Desert region of Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. The ESO 3.6-metre telescope is now home to the world’s foremost extrasolar planet hunter: HARPS (High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher), a spectrograph with unrivalled precision.

For more information, please visit http://www.eso.org

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UK ATC

January 6th, 2010 | Comments Off | Posted in 123 triad

The UK Astronomy Technology Centre is the national centre for astronomical technology. We design and build instruments for many of the worlds major telescopes. They also project-manage UK and international collaborations. Their scientists carry out observational and theoretical research into fundamental questions such as the origins of planets and of galaxies. In 1998 there was a major reorganisation of British astronomy which had a profound effect on the two government funded Royal Observatories. One result of this reorganisation was that some of the functions of the old Royal Observatories were transferred to a new organisation - the UK ATC.

An independent panel recommended to the PPARC Council that the UK ATC should be located at the ROE and the UK ATC was formally established here in April 1998. It was clear from the outset that the UK ATC was expected to work in a new, more commercial style, so was set up to form a customer-contractor relationship with the UKs overseas telescopes and other agencies. Within the first five years of its inception the UK ATC delivered novel and state-of-the-art instruments for the Gemini Observatory, the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (all in Hawaii), and the William Herschel Telescope on La Palma.

For more information, please visit http://www.roe.ac.uk

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Farnham Astronomical Society

January 5th, 2010 | Comments Off | Posted in 123 triad

The Farnham Astronomical Society was founded in 1971 by a group of keen local amateur astronomers with the aim of promoting and furthering interest in the night sky and all things astronomy amongst the people of North Hampshire and West Surrey. They are a friendly and informal society, with a membership spanning a wide range of ages and experience from absolute beginners to experienced observers. There is always a warm welcome for visitors and new members, whether your interest is being able to recognise the constellations, stars and planets, or perhaps you have a deeper interest such as lunar and planetary observing, solar observation, variable star observing or CCD imaging.

They hold a society meeting every month (see venue). Their meetings begin with discussion of current events of astronomy interest and brief reports from the committee. This is followed by a presentation by a guest speaker or member on an astronomy or cosmology topic. Refreshments are available after the presentation and members are able to meet and discuss their interests. Outside of the meeting hall they have an area where members can set up telescopes if the sky is clear.

For more information, please visit http://www.farnham-as.co.uk

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