Safe Solar Viewing at the

Athens Farmers Market

10 AM - 2 PM

June 15, 2013

We had a great time at the Athens Farmers Market (located at the Market on State)! Several hundred people stopped by to see the Sun was putting on quite a show with multiple solar prominences and 3 gorgeous sunspot groups. Thanks to our Astronomers at the Market - Steve Bush, Maryann Hartwick and Joe Shields. 

Open Telescope Night

and StarWalk on The Ridges

June 14, 2013

8:30 - 11 PM

Thanks to everyone who came out to The Ridges to go on the StarWalk and spend some time at the telescopes. The waxing crescent Moon and Saturn were beautiful! Thanks to our Astronomers on The Ridges: Tom O'Grady, George Eberts, Maryann Hartwick, Andrea DeMott, Steve Bush, Gordon and Beth Muhlberger, Yu Zhang, and Kathleen and Wes Covalt. 

National Astronomy Day at 

KidsFest 2013

April 20, 2013

We had a great time celebrating National Astronomy Day at KidsFest 2013 at the Convo Center on Ohio University's campus from 10 AM to 2 PM with our specially equipped solar telescopes showing children from all over Athens County and surrounding areas sunspots and solar prominences!

Hundreds of kids and their folks stopped by! For more pictures from KidsFest, check out our facebook page.

Thanks to our Astronomers at the Fest: Steve Bush, Maryann Hartwick, Travis Milliken, Wes Covalt, Kathleen Covalt, Tom O'Grady, Joe Shields and George Eberts.

Open Telescope Night 

February 15, 2013

Ohio University College Green

We were hoping to be on the Ohio University College Green from 7 - 9 PM focusing our telescopes and binoculars on the waxing crescent Moon and Jupiter. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate - rain, snow and clouds canceled this event.

Outdoor Pursuits Stargazing and Campfire

February 8, 2013

The Ridges 

George Eberts had a nice group join him for an evening of star stories and campfire fun. We spent the evening roasting marshmallows and listening to tales of the night sky and Ridges lore. This event was sponsored by Outdoor Pursuits at Ohio University.

Moon Night at New Lexington Elementary School

January 17, 2013

We had a tremendous crowd at our "20 Things You Need to Know About the Moon" presentation at New Lexington Elementary School. The skies were overcast, but that didn't dampen the spirits of the students and parents in attendance. Thanks to our Astronomer for the Evening, Maryann Hartwick.

THE CITY DARK

A Special Public Screening 

January 15, 2013

Athens Public Library

Thanks to everyone who braved the winter weather to come to our free screening of The City Dark.  The City Dark provided a fascinating introduction to the science of the dark and an exploration of our relationship to the stars. Winner, Best Score/Music Award, 2011 SXSW Film Festival. Produced in association with American Documentary | POV.

After the screening, we had a question and answer period with some local experts in this field. Thanks to: Dr. Joe Shields (VP for Research and Creative Activity, Dean of the Graduate College at OU, drafter of the City of Athens Outdoor Lighting Ordinance),  Time Mace (Electrical Designer for Noel and Panich Architects, and Dovetail Solar and Wind), Paula Moseley (Service Safety Director for the City of Athens), and Paul Wiehl (Mayor for the City of Athens).

This event was in collaboration with POV, the award-winning independent nonfiction film series on PBS (www.pbs.org/pov).  Thanks to local sponsors WOUB, the Athens Public Library, the Ohio University Department of Physics and Astronomy, and the Southeast Ohio Astronomical Society.

Winter Solstice Star Party

December 21, 2012

4 - 11 PM

The Ridges Auditorium

Athens, OH

The weather outside was frightful...but we had a great time celebrating the Winter Solstice!

Thanks to all of our Astronomers on The Ridges: Tom O'Grady, Maryann Hartwick, Wes Covalt, Kathleen Covalt, Steve Bush, George Eberts, Phil Armstrong, Ken Bowald, and Andrea Demott. Special thanks to Russ, Conor and Mary Hartwick for offering up extra hands for our event!

Lots of pictures from the event are posted on our Photos page.

We look forward to the next Star Party on The Ridges in celebration of the Spring Equinox! Check back for details.

Moon Night at the Library

Chauncey Public Library

December 20, 2012

We had a great time doing our "20 Things You Need To Know About The Moon" presentation inside the Chauncey Public Library starting at 5:30 PM. Due to inclement weather we had to cancel the outside portion of the evening. Thanks to our Astronomers at the Library - Maryann Hartwick, Kathleen and Wes Covalt.

Moon Night at the Library

Athens Public Library

November 20, 2012 

We enjoyed presenting our "20 Things You Need to Know About the Moon" at the Athens Public Library. Thanks to all of the families that came out to join us. We were able to show folks lots of craters and mountains on the Moon in between the passing clouds. Thanks to our Astronomers at the Library - Wes and Kathleen Covalt, Maryann Hartwick and George Eberts.

Fall Constellations
Night Interpretation Class
Hocking College
November 13, 2012
 
We enjoyed teaching the fall constellations to a wonderful group of students at the
Hocking College Nature Center. After the indoor presentation, we had quite an adventure
at a dark-sky location in the Wayne National Forest focusing our telescopes on Jupiter,
the Double Cluster, the Andromeda Galaxy and the Orion Nebula. Thanks to Steve Roley for
giving us time with the class, and thanks to our Astronomers in the Field - Travis Milliken,
Steve Bush and Maryann Hartwick.

A Tale of Two Star Parties
A Dark Sky Night Presentation
November 9, 2012
 
George Eberts (Astronomy Instructor - OU Department of Physics and Astronomy, Member of the Astrophysical Institute at Ohio University, Vice-President and founding member of SEOAS) thrilled the crowd with "A Tale of Two Star Parties" at our dark sky location outside of Athens. George has attended star parties all over the continent of North America and talked about four of his favorite star parties. After the presentation, we headed outside with telescopes and binoculars to do some deep sky observing. We were treated to some meteor activity early on and got in some great observing of Jupiter and several deep sky objects before the clouds rolled in. Thanks to George Eberts and to our hosts, Wes and Kathleen Covalt.

A Moon Night in Amesville
October 26, 2012
Grange Hall
Amesville, OH 45711
 
We had an indoor presentation, "20 Things You Need to Know About The Moon", in the Grange Hall from 7 - 8 PM. The Open Telescope Night in Gifford Park was canceled due to clouds. Thanks to Mayor Gary Goosman for inviting us and to the Grange for hosting the event. Thanks to our Astronomers at the Grange: Tom O'Grady, Maryann Hartwick, Travis Milliken, Wes Covalt, Kathleen Covalt and Andrea DeMott.

Chinese Sky Myths

A Dark Sky Night Presentation

October 12, 2012 

Ying-chien Chang gave a delightful presentation on some of the Chinese Sky Stories she heard in her youth in China.  One of her entertaining stories told the tale of a lovely Princess (Vega) and her beloved Cowboy husband (Altair) and their 2 sons who were separated by the Silver River (our Milky Way).  The heavenly Swan (Cygnus) spread her enormous wings and allows the lovers to meet once a year on July 7.

Afterwards, we all went outside in the crystal clear, cold evening and looked through binoculars at the stars from Ying's stories.  Jupiter and a few of his moons rose in the East as we watched his brilliant and quick ascent. 

Special thanks to our hosts - Wes and Kathleen Covalt! To register for events like this one, send an e-mail to athensastronomy@gmail.com. once you are registered, you will receive directions to our dark sky location on Angel Ridge Road. 

Open Telescope Night

Ohio University College Green

September 22, 2012

(Parents Weekend) 

We had over one hundred folks stop by our telescopes and binoculars at the Ohio Univeristy College Gate on the main green 8 - 10 PM focusing on the first quarter Moon, Altair and Tarazed in Aquila the Eagele, as well as the Coathanger (Brocchi's Cluster - an asterism in Vulpecula the Fox). We had to wrap up a little early to make room for the break dancers :) 

Thanks to our Astronomers on the Green: Wes and Kathleen Covalt, Dan Lazarz, Maryann Hartwick, Travis Milliken, and Andrea DeMott. Thans to Yu Zhang for taking such great pictures!

In The Dark Of The Night

Athens Public Library

September 21, 2012  

We had a great time celebrating the Autumnal Equinox with stories around the campfire, telescopes looking at the heavens, nocturnal nature walks along the Hocking River, and s'mores! The clouds cooperated and we had great views of the waxing crescent Moon.

Thanks to our Astronomers at the Library: Tom O'Grady, Wes and Kathleen Covalt, and Maryann Hartwick.

Safe Solar Viewing at the 14th Annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival Lake Snowden, Albany, Ohio

September 14 - 16, 2012

Astronomers at the Fest - Travis Milliken, Steve Bush, Wes and Kathleen Covalt - amazed the crowds at the Pawpaw Festival with incredible views of our Sun. 

Transits of Venus - A Retrospective

A Dark Sky Night Presentation

September 7, 2012 

Tom O'Grady (Astronomy Instructor - OU Department of Physics and Astronomy, Member of the Astrophysical Institute at Ohio University, President of the Athens County Historical Society, and member of SEOAS) took us on a journey to understand the historical and scientific significance of the Transits of Venus. Thanks to everyone who came to the presentation and special thanks to our hosts - Wes and Kathleen Covalt!

HIDDEN HOLLOW STAR PARTY

August 17 - 19, 2012

Warren Rupp Observatory of the Richland Astronomical Society

Hidden Hollow Campground 

The Hidden Hollow Star Party occurs yearly and was previously held during the first weekend in October. For 2012, it was held August 17 - 19. It is hosted by the Richland Astronomical Society. It features tons of telescopes, including the 31 inch 'Big Blue Beast' telescope housed inside the Warren Rupp Observatory. It takes place at the Hidden Hollow Campground (5127 Opossum Run Road, Lucas, OH 44843) near Mansfield, Ohio. Several members of our group made the trip and we look forward to their report on this event.

Summer Constellations for Adults

A Dark Sky night Presentation

August 10, 2012

We had a wonderful group join us for another Dark Sky Night Presentation on Friday, August 10th. Maryann Hartwick presented "Summer Constellations for Adults". Following the presentation, we headed outside to test our knowledge of the summer constellations and to see some Perseid Meteors. Special thanks to Wes and Kathleen Covalt for hosting this event :) 

For more pictures, check out our facebook page.

Black Holes: Little Hungry Monsters

July 20, 2012

A Dark Sky Night Presentation 

We had another wonderful Dark Sky Night Presentation on Friday, July 20th. Dr. Markus Boettcher (Director of the Astrophysical Institute at Ohio University) brought us up-to-date on black holes. Participants were able to browse through the Steve Bush collection of meteorites and old astronomy books that were on display. Thanks to Markus for a fantastic presentation and to Wes and Kathleen Covalt for hosting this event.