A Brief History of the Southeast Ohio Astronomical Society 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. Click here to see the picture. The Society celebrates National Astronomy Day annually by setting up information tables and telescopes at the local mall. The Society also provides several opportunities to the general public for safe solar viewing on the College Green of Ohio University. see Pictures. All of the presentations and viewing opportunities are always free and open to the public. To become a member, send an e-mail to The Southeast Ohio Astronomical Society .