Field Trip & Observing: Looking up

Rene Gedaly, Field Trip & Observing Chairperson

HAS field trip to the George Observatory  

 

 

 

Review of 2022. We were so ready to get out and observe this year. Socialize, too. The FT&O year kicked off with a Messier Marathon, we traveled solo to the Texas Star Party but met up for coffee and ice cream, we took a field trip to the George Observatory and camped overnight at Brazos Bend SP, and we signed up for the annual picnic in numbers exceeding those of a major star party. 

Do we rinse and repeat for 2023? Maybe. What worked? What needs tweaking? The club enjoyed the field trip to the George; 113 of us bought tickets. Far fewer were ready to camp overnight in the summer. The Messier Marathon was a hit, twice. That is, we got bumped in March for weather but luckily had a good showing in April. We chatted with HASers at TSP that we hadn’t yet met in Houston. And our special interest groups, the SIGs, were out in force on the observing field. That is, depending on the weather. November weather also put the kibosh on what would’ve been a truly epic annual gathering.

Let’s regroup. A lot of prep work has already been done by FT&O and the SIGs and is in safe keeping. We can republish resources to the website and dust off workshops, observing lists, and show and tells. The picnic area and Dob Shed are cleaned, stocked, and ready to go. We know how to do this. We just need the weather to cooperate.

What if we chucked the calendar? Many of us have a “grab and go” astro bag ready with essentials for whenever the weather looks promising. Can we do the same for field trips to the dark site? I think we can. More in the January 2023 Looking Up.

Novice Panel Discussion

"The Joy of Looking: Adventures in Outreach."

 Panel Discussion

 

A trait that we amateur astronomers have in common is a true love of observing the night sky. Another common trait we have is that we enjoy sharing the wonders of the night sky with others.

 

HAS as well as other groups in the Houston area regularly schedule outreach events where we bring our telescopes to the public. When we participate in an astronomy outreach event, we have the opportunity to help members of the public experience the night sky in a way they may never have done before. When people see the celestial sights through a telescope, their reaction is always positive.

Awe, wonder and sometimes even disbelief are some of the emotions you will encounter when you show someone the night sky. You may be widening their horizons and giving them memories that will last a lifetime. And their joy is truly contagious!

If you have not attended or supported a outreach event, this panel discussion will help you understand what an outreach event is, and how you too can participate. If you are a pro at outreach events, we all have outreach memories of our own so please attend and share yours!

Our panelists will be:

Dan Roy – HAS Outreach Chairperson. Dan and his wife Rebeca have a long history of organizing and holding public outreach events, and both are recipients of the Texas Star Party Omega Centauri award recognizing those who have made a significant contribution to public outreach.

Joe Khalaf – HAS President,  former HAS Outreach Chairperson and also an Omega Centauri award winner.

David Haviland – Co-Chairperson of Astronomy Day at the George Observatory, active in public outreach through the Fort Bend Astronomy Club’s Astronomy on Wheels program, George Observatory outreach and also an Omega Centauri award winner.

Debbie Moran – HAS Novice Chairperson, Dark Sky Advocate, very active public outreach and also an Omega Centauri award winner.

Steve and Amelia Goldberg –  Both are very active in public outreach, and are Omega Centauri award winners.  Amelia is also the creator of the pink outreach telescope.

Please join us for what promises to be a very informative and lively discussion. Who knows, maybe it will start you on the path to your own Omega Centauri award!

Main Meeting

General Meeting Topic
TSP & Astro Test
General Meeting Speaker
Rene, Steve, Don
Novice Meeting Topic
Outreach Panel
Novice Meeting Speaker
Omega Centauri awardees

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H2. Testing CKEditor

H3. The 2022 Annual Picnic is Cancelled due to Weather

Normal+bold. See you at the dark site soon when the weather improves

Normal. ••• Picnic ••• Swap Meet ••• Workshops ••• Star Party ••• It's not a party without you! This is the annual picnic and star party for HAS members and their guests. Check your email for the invitation sent via SignUpGenius, Subject: 2022 HAS Picnic & Star Party. Didn’t get it? Contact Rene Gedaly at fto@astronomyhouston.org.

Normal+right justified. Saturday, November 19, 2022 ••• Gates open at 12 noon ••• Clear or cloudy ••• Dark site rules apply ••• Light windows at 10pm and 12am 

bulleted list below.

  • CARAVAN: Watch your email for details about the caravan from Columbus to the dark site.
  • PICNIC: HAS provides chili (beef and vegetarian) and hot dogs plus all the fixings. You provide the potluck sides. Bring a chair to the picnic area. Food service starts at 2pm.
  • SWAP MEET: In addition to the picnic, we'll also have an astronomy equipment "swap meet." Get ready to trade!
  • WORKSHOPS: The AP SIG and EAA SIG will hold workshops, the VSIG will have observing challenges, and there will also be an HAS Texas 45 binocular tour for new observers.
  • STAR PARTY: Arrive in time to claim an observing pad and set up your telescope. Or bring a lawn chair to stargaze and observe the occasional Leonid meteor.
  • DOB SHED CAFÉ: To keep us going into the late evening, the Dob Shed Café will be open with Keurig coffees, hot chocolate, and potluck treats supplied by you. Yum.
  • CAMPING: Don’t drive home sleepy. Reserve a bunk or pitch a tent. Dark site orientation required. Sunday morning, the Keurig will be ready and we’ll bring out any leftover treats for breakfast.

This is a block quote. We have 150+ 160 members and their guests confirmed already so get in your RSVP—we need a good count for food. Fingers crossed for a clear night, but we always have a great time regardless. See you there!

 

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H4. To Take Dark Site Orientation

  1. Log in to the website If you have a problem logging in and it’s within the yearly grace period for renewal, email membership@astronomyhouston.org. Otherwise, begin with the next step.
  2. Pay this year’s dues if you haven’t yet. You can use the PayPal button on each web page or mail a check to Houston Astronomical Society, PO Box 131282, Spring, TX 77393
  3. Scroll down the Observatory page and press the big, blue START YOUR TRAINING button. The button and link appear only if you’re logged into the website and need to take the yearly online orientation class.
  4. Email chriso@astronomyhouston.org that you passed orientation so he can email you back the next steps to take to get the map to the dark site, gate code into the site, and the Wi-Fi password. See you at the HAS Dark Site!

It’s an easy quiz and you get three chances to pass with an 80+. The orientation is not an astronomy quiz, it’s just a quiz to ensure you know where things are located, where to park, what time the light windows are during which you can drive your vehicle off the field, etc.

Example: Annual Picnic & Star Party Saturday, Nov 19, 2022

Rene Gedaly
Field Trip & Observing
Houston Astronomical Society 

The 2022 Annual Picnic is Cancelled due to Weather
See you at the dark site soon when the weather improves

••• Picnic ••• Swap Meet ••• Workshops ••• Star Party ••• It's not a party without you! This is the annual picnic and star party for HAS members and their guests. Check your email for the invitation sent via SignUpGenius, Subject: 2022 HAS Picnic & Star Party. Didn’t get it? Contact Rene Gedaly at fto@astronomyhouston.org.

Annual Picnic & Star Party Saturday, Nov 19, 2022

ReneGSheadshot.jpg
Rene Gedaly
Field Trip & Observing
Houston Astronomical Society 

The 2022 Annual Picnic is Cancelled due to Weather

See you at the dark site soon when the weather improves

••• Picnic ••• Swap Meet ••• Workshops ••• Star Party ••• It's not a party without you! This is the annual picnic and star party for HAS members and their guests. Check your email for the invitation sent via SignUpGenius, Subject: 2022 HAS Picnic & Star Party. Didn’t get it? Contact Rene Gedaly at fto@astronomyhouston.org.

Saturday, November 19, 2022 ••• Gates open at 12 noon ••• Clear or cloudy ••• Dark site rules apply ••• Light windows at 10pm and 12am 

collage for 2022 Picnic_edited.jpg

CARAVAN: Watch your email for details about the caravan from Columbus to the dark site.
PICNIC: HAS provides chili (beef and vegetarian) and hot dogs plus all the fixings. You provide the potluck sides. Bring a chair to the picnic area. Food service starts at 2pm.
SWAP MEET: In addition to the picnic, we'll also have an astronomy equipment "swap meet." Get ready to trade!
WORKSHOPS: The AP SIG and EAA SIG will hold workshops, the VSIG will have observing challenges, and there will also be an HAS Texas 45 binocular tour for new observers.
STAR PARTY: Arrive in time to claim an observing pad and set up your telescope. Or bring a lawn chair to stargaze and observe the occasional Leonid meteor.
DOB SHED CAFÉ: To keep us going into the late evening, the Dob Shed Café will be open with Keurig coffees, hot chocolate, and potluck treats supplied by you. Yum.
CAMPING: Don’t drive home sleepy. Reserve a bunk or pitch a tent. Dark site orientation required. Sunday morning, the Keurig will be ready and we’ll bring out any leftover treats for breakfast.

We have 150+ members and their guests confirmed already so get in your RSVP—we need a good count for food. Fingers crossed for a clear night, but we always have a great time regardless. See you there!

Current Conditions

Columbus Current Weather
Today, April 25, 2024

Dawn: 05:22 A.M.
Sunrise: 06:45 A.M.
Sunset: 07:55 P.M.
End Twilight: 09:19 P.M.

Houston
Columbus
Learn how to read it the clear sky chart.

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