Safe Solar Viewing

February 4, 2012

Parents Weekend

We would have been on the Ohio University College Green from noon - 2 p.m. showing off a very active Sun. We have several specially equipped telescopes for viewing solar prominences and sunspots.

Due to heavy cloud cover, this event was canceled.

Open Telescope Night on the College Green

Saturday, January 28, 2012

We had a great time on the Ohio University College Green from 7 - 9:30 PM, with telescopes and binoculars focused on Jupiter, the waxing crescent Moon, the Pleiades, and the Orion Nebula. Thanks to our Astronomers on the Green: Phil Armstrong, Kathleen Covalt, Tom O'Grady, Maryann Hartwick, Wes Covalt, George Eberts, and Markus Boettcher. Thanks to the 150 brave souls who stopped by even though it was freezing out. The sky was clear and beautiful!

STARWALK on The Ridges

Friday, January 27, 2012

We were going to meet in front of the Kennedy Museum of Art on The Ridges at Ohio University at 7 PM. George Eberts was going to take us on a hike up to the top of Radar Hill to view the winter constellations. Tom O'Grady was going to waltz us through the slow-motion dance of the heavenly bodies Jupiter, Venus and the crescent Moon.

Due to heavy cloud cover, the STARWALK was canceled.

Credit: Brian Emfinger

Quadrantid Meteor Shower

January 3/4

The Quadrantid Meteor Shower can be one of the most active meteor showers of the year. Members watrched from locations around Athens County. We had high clouds from 2 - 3 AM locally, obscuring all but the brightest meteors. From 3 - 4 AM, the skies were clearer and several bright fireballs were observed. Local meteor counts during peak were in the 10 - 20 meteors per hour range, far shorter than the predicted 120 meteors per hour. Several members utilized NASA's live video stream, and Space Weather Radio (where you can actual hear meteors entering the atmosphere) to enjoy the meteor shower.

Open Telescope Night for Athens High School Students and Families

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

After three attempts which were clouded out, we had a wonderful Open Telescope Night at Athens High School on Wednesday, December 14, 2011. We were able to show students and their families Jupiter and his four moons. Io was in the process of transiting Jupiter so we were able to see Io's shadow on the face of Jupiter. We also had a beautiful view of the Pleiades star cluster through binoculars. Thanks to our astronomers - George Eberts, Wes Covalt, Maryann Hartwick and Kathleen Covalt.

Open Telescope Night on the OU College Green

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Thanks to the hundreds of folks who stopped by the OU College Green from 7:30 - 9:30 PM. We looked at Jupiter, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Moon. Io was going across the face of Jupiter and produced a great shadow that we enjoyed following all evening. Thanks to our astronomers on the Green: Dan Lazarz, Kathleen Covalt, Wes Covalt, John Kerr, Ken Bowald, Maryann Hartwick, Tom O'Grady and George Eberts.

Ohio University Department of Physics and Astronomy Open House

November 5, 2011

Clippinger Hall at Ohio University

We showed off different telescopes at the Physics and Astronomy Open House at Clippinger Hall, from 10 am to 4:30 pm. We had two Coronado Solar Scopes and a Dobsonian Telescope with a solar filter and showed the Sun with sunspots and solar prominences to hundreds of visitors! Thanks to our astronomers who staffed the telescopes: George Eberts, Tom O'Grady, Maryann Hartwick, Dan Lazarz, Steve Bush, Joe Shields, Kathleen Covalt, Wes Covalt, John Kerr, Ken Bowald, Sean McGraw, Chris Diltz, Yashashree Jadhav, and Rebecca Santana.

George Eberts and Tom O'Grady did two shows of their famous "Stalking the Moon's Shadow!" talk. They have been all over the world chasing total solar eclipses. Lots of folks stopped in to hear about their adventures!



To see pictures from the Open House, click here.

Safe Solar Viewing

Saturday, October 22, 2011

We spent a beautiful Saturday at the Athens Farmers Market showing folks a very active Sun. We had some specially equipped telescopes to show off a large number of sunspots and a spectacular solar prominence. Our astronomers for the day were: Dan Lazarz, George Eberts, Maryann Hartwick, Wes Covalt and Kathleen Covalt.

Outdoor Pursuits - STARGAZING AND BONFIRE

Friday, October 21, 2011

Join Geore Eberts for a night of roasting marchmallows and constellation stories. Reservations are required.

http://www.ohio.edu/recreation/outdoorpursuits/trips.cfm 

Open Telescope Night on the Ohio University College Green

Saturday, October 15, 2011

We were on the Ohio University College Green on Saturday, October 15, from 8 - 10 PM, with telescopes and binoculars focused on Jupiter, the Andromeda Galaxy, and Albireo. We had lots of folks stop by to have a look. Our astronomers for the evening were: Tom O'Grady, Bob Eichenberg, George Eberts, Maryann Hartwick, Dan Lazarz, Wes Covalt and Kathleen Covalt.

Astronomy Presentation at

Athens High School

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Dr. Markus Boettcher of Ohio University Department of Physics and Astronomy talked about "Exploding Stars!" This presentation was all about supernovae and their remnants including neutron stars. The presentation started at 8 PM and over 75 students and community members were in attendance! We were hoping to show folks the newest supernova in the Pinwheel Galaxy after the talk, but we were clouded out.

STARWALK on The Ridges

Friday, September 23, 2011

This event was canceled due to inclement weather.

If the weather had been clear, we would have met in front of the Kennedy Museum of Art on The Ridges at Ohio University at 8 PM. George Eberts would have taken us on a hike up to the top of Radar Hill to view the fall constellations.

Paw Paw Festival

Friday, September 16, 2011

through Sunday, September 18, 2011

Lake Snowden, Albany, Ohio

We were at the Paw Paw Festival. The weather cooperated and we had telescopes out both nights so that we could share the wonders of the night sky with folks. Thanks to all who stopped by, and thanks for keeping our astronomers well-hydrated. George Eberts and Tom O'Grady were our Festival astronomers.