Comet Lovejoy: Star of Wonder

A Dark Sky Night Presentation

May 18, 2012

On Dec. 16, 2011 Comet Lovejoy flew through the hot atmosphere of the Sun and emerged intact, something many experts thought impossible. Following it's miraculous survival, not only did Comet Lovejoy regenerate its two tails, but they became bigger and brighter! Comet Lovejoy's close encounter with the Sun was recorded by the International Space Station and many different types of satellites including: the Hinode, NASA’s STEREO probes, the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, and NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.  

SEOAS member, Kathleen Covalt will share a power point presentation that includes some of the beautiful satellite images of the Comet as it graced our skies, blew a loving kiss at our Sun, and continued on its long 800/900 year journey.

This is a Dark Sky Night Presentation. The presentation will begin at 8:30 PM. After the presentation, if the skies are clear, we will head outside with our telescopes and binoculars to view some deep space objects.

Registration is required. To register, send an e-mail to athensastronomy@gmail.com.

Amesville Open Telescope Night

May 25, 2012

Gifford Park

We will be at Gifford Park in Amesville on Friday, May 25th, from 9 - 10:30 PM. We will have telescopes and binoculars focusing on the waxing crescent Moon, Venus, Mars and Saturn.  If you would like to bring out your own astro gear, set-up will be at 8:45 PM. This event is free and open to the public. This event is weather dependent - rain or clouds cancels.

Transit of Venus 

June 5, 2012

6:10 PM - 8:52 PM EDT

We will have a public viewing for the Transit of Venus. The transit will begin at 6:10 pm EDT. The Sun's altitude will be 28.7 degrees - nice and high. The Sun will set mid-transit at 8:52 pm. This gives us almost three full hours!

We will set up our solar telescopes at the Richland Roundabout Sandstone Area (NW corner of the roundabout). Please park at the Southside Park, the Convo or Peden Stadium and walk over to the Sandstone Area. Clouds/rain will cancel this event. Check back here for a last minute cancellation due to weather.

For more details of Transits of Venus, click here.

Open Telescope Night

June 8, 2012

Lamping Homestead Campground

We will be at the Lamping Homestead Campground, which is part of the Wayne National Forest, from 9 - 10:30 PM with telescopes and binoculars looking at Mars, Saturn, and some beautiful deep-sky objects. Clouds/rain cancels.

Directions: The campground is located on S.R. 537, 2 miles from S.R. 26 (approximately 35 miles from Marietta). GPS Lat/Long coordinates for the area are 39 deg 37' 32"/81 deg 11' 16". 

Summer Constellations and Star Stories

June 19, 2012

Washington County Public Library

Beverly, OH

We will be at the Washington County Public Library, Beverly Branch, at 5 PM for a special program on "Summer Constellations and Star Stories". Children will learn about the summer constellations, play our special version of constellation bingo, and get to take home their very own summer star map!

Summer Constellations and Star Stories

June 25, 2012

Crossroads Branch Library

Cambridge, OH

We will be at the Crossroads Branch Library, Cambridge, at 6:30 PM for a special rpogram on "Summer Constellations and Star Stories". Children will learn about the summer constellations, and make and take home their very own star map.

Journey to the Constellations

Athens County Library System - Summer Book Camp Programs

July 9, 10, and 12

We are excited to announce that we will once again be doing summer programs at the Athens County Libraries! Children will be able to enjoy a game, a craft, stories and lots of images and information about the big dark sky above with members of the Southeast Ohio Astronomical Society.

Monday, July 9, 11 am, Glouster Public Library

Monday, July 9, 4:30 pm, Chauncey Public Library

Monday, July 9, 9:15 pm, Open Telescope Night at Chauncey Public Library 

Tuesday, July 10, 11:30 am, Nelsonville Public Library

Tuesday, July 10, 2 pm, The Plains Public Library

Tuesday, July 10, 6:30 pm, Athens Public Library

Tuesday, July 10, 9:15 pm, Open Telescope Night at Athens Public Library 

Thursday, July 12, 2 pm, Albany Public Library

Thursday, July 12, 9:15 pm, Open Telescope Night at Albany Public Library

The Open Telescope Nights at the libraries are weather dependent. Rain/clouds cancels.

Journey to the Constellations

Meigs Public Library

July 11, 2012

We are traveling down to the Meigs Public Library (216 W. Main Street, Pomeroy, OH) to do our Constellation Show at 2 PM. Hope to see you there!

All events are held in conjunction with the Ohio University Department of Physics and Astronomy.