Members

Education...

Educational experience with the Oil Region Astronomical Society.

Education

Public Nights

     The Oil Region Astronomical Observatory is normally open to the public the third Friday of each month for its regular meeting and observing, and throughout the summer months the third Saturday as well (UNLESS otherwise noted), except for December. There is no admission charge, but donations are appreciated. During Public Nights the Observatory's new 14 inch telescope, and other smaller telescopes are made available for viewing after dark. Prior to this time period observatory tours and an educational presentation are conducted. Activities begin between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM depending on the time of year. For more information click on the calendar link to the left or contact the Oil Region Astronomical Society at 814-437-2525. If you don't hear back from us within several days, please call Tim Spuck at 814-354-6515, or John O'Hara at 814-677-3972.

Monthly Meetings

     The Astronomical Society conducts monthly meetings at the Oil Region Astronomical Observatory in Two Mile Run County Park - Venango County - Pennsylvania. Meetings are normally held on the third Friday of each month and begin at 7:30 PM. Following a 5-10 minute President's Report an educational program is offered. Our educational programs suitable for members of the general public with an interest in astronomy. All meetings are free and open to the general public. For more information contact the Oil Region Astronomical Society at 814-437-2525. If you don't hear back from us within several days, please call Tim Spuck at 814-354-6515, or John O'Hara at 814-677-3972.

Group Tours

     Private group tours are made available upon request, and are modified to meet the needs of individual groups. We have in the past provided tours for church groups, various community groups, and Girl Scout and Boy Scout groups. The cost of a private group visit is $20.00 per group and $1.00 per person over 15 people. In other words a group of 12 people would cost $20.00, while a group of 17 would cost $22.00.

Public Awareness

     Learn about 'Light Pollution', how it affects the environment and how it can be curbed.

earth lights

Hints and Tips

1) CLEANING OF OPTICAL SURFACES:

DO NOT!

Disassemble the component lenses of a refracting telescope

Apply pressure to any optical surface by rubbing or other means

Do not use any cleaning solution not specifically intended for optical components

DO

Clean optical surfaces infrequently (once per year is usually adequate unless surface is accidentally smudged with a fingerprint or foreign substance)

Remove fingerprints and foreign fluids as soon as possible to avoid permanent damage to optical antireflection coatings on lenses or the protective overcoating on mirrors.

EQUIPMENT LIST

Lens solution (from camera shop or recipe below)

Lens tissue (camera shop)

Lens brush (camera shop)

Compressed air for blowing dust off lens or mirror (camera shop)

CLEANING PROCEDURE - SMALL REFRACTOR OR CATADIOPTRIC

1.      Make certain it needs cleaning, a dusty lens works better than a scratched lens
2.      Remove loose dust with compressed air (be careful not to tilt can or frost can develop on lens)
3.      Remove remaining dust with lens brush (usually camel's hair)
4.      Remove smudges with lens cloth moistened with lens solution, gently dab the surface do not rub (do not use to much or excess fluid could leak in between component lenses of the objective)

IF A MORE THOROUGH CLEANING IS NEEDED, HAVE IT DONE BY A PROFESSIONAL

CLEANING PROCEDURE - SMALL REFLECTOR

1.      Make certain it needs cleaning
2.      Remove the primary mirror from the supporting cell (following manufactures directions)
3.      Follow steps 2 and 4 for refractors
4.      More thorough cleanings can be performed by the novice, but he or she should have someone experienced help them the first time.

FORMULA FOR OPTICAL CLEANING FLUID

3 Quarts distilled water absolutely no tap water (drug store or grocery store)
1 quart isopropyl alcohol, 90 % purity or better (drug store)
2 drops of dish washing fluid (smaller batches can be made, but stick to the above proportions, clean plant sprayers make great containers for the cleaning fluid)

2) RECOMMENDED PUBLICATIONS FOR BEGINNING OBSERVERS:

Click here for listings

3) Telescope buying tips:

If you don't know the terms in bold print, you can look them up in the following definitions.

Advertisements that emphasize the magnifying power (magnification) of their telescope as the main selling point usually represent inferior products. Telescopes seldom give good views at powers exceeding 50x per inch of aperture. This means that a telescope of 3 inches (75 millimeters) aperture has a maximum useful magnification of 150x. For most views with any telescope, except for views of the brighter planets and the moon, magnifications from 30 to 50x give the most pleasing view.
Look for a product with a good mount and a sturdy pier or tripod. If these components are undersized, the telescope will be too shaky to give satisfactory views. Remember that a telescope working at even a modest magnification of 30x not only magnifies the celestial object 30 times, but vibrations in the mount are equally magnified.
The aperture of a telescope is its most important feature. For satisfactory views, a refractor should have a minimum aperture of 70 mm (2.75 inches), a reflector should have an aperture of at least 100 millimeters (4 inches), and a catadioptric should have an aperture of at least 90 millimeters (3.5 inches). Larger telescopes than these will show even more, but don't buy a telescope that's too bulky for your physical ability or living situation. Smaller telescopes will lack sufficient light gathering power (often called light grasp) and resolving power (or resolution) to give good views of a wide variety of celestial objects.
Long f-ratios f/8 or more are better for the planets and moon, short f-ratios f/6 or less are best for wide field views of star clusters, nebulas, and galaxies (deep sky objects), moderate f-ratios f/6 to f/8 are good general purpose telescopes.
Look for quality accessories, with the telescope. Avoid cheap eyepieces (sometimes called oculars) such as Hygenian and Ramsden. Eyepieces such as kellners, achromatic ramsdens, Edmund RKEs, orthoscopics, and plossls are good eyepiece designs often supplied as package deals with new telescopes. The plossl design is perhaps the best type for the money.
The telescope should be provided with a finderscope with a magnification of 6 to 8x and a minimum aperture of 30 millimeters (i.e., a 6x30 or 8x50 finderscope).
Buyers of computerized "GO-TO" telescopes can get by with a 5x finderscope; however, GO-TO technology should not substitute for learning ones way around the night sky. Your cheating yourself of a rewarding experience if you don't at least learn the major stars and constellations.
Consider your physical ability and living situation before purchasing. How much weight can you carry? Will you have to lug the instrument up stairs? Will you be transporting the telescope to a dark location in the country for better views? Large telescopes are great, but only as long as they're not collecting dust in a closet because they're too large to use often.
Consider stargazing with a pair of 7 to 10x binoculars before graduating to a telescope. Although any binocular will show you more than your naked eye, choose a pair with front lenses of at least 35 millimeters aperture. Little can be seen with binoculars over 10x magnification unless they are mounted on a tripod. Examples of good "stargazing" binoculars are 7x35, 8x40 and 7x50.
Whether you use a telescope or binoculars, you need good reference materials to help you navigate. The list of references included in your handouts is a good place to start.
Do your homework before you buy, members of your local astronomy club can be a great help.

DEFINITIONS:

aperture: the diameter of the main mirror of reflectors or the front lens on a refractor or catadiooptric, given in inches, millimeters, or centimeters (note: 1 inch = 2.5 centimeters; 1 centimeter = 10 millimeters).

catadioptric: uses lenses and mirrors. More expensive than similar sized reflectors.

eyepiece or ocular: a system of lenses at the eye position of a telescope. Astronomical telescopes have the provision of changing eyepieces to alter magnification. When purchasing eyepieces, be sure to buy the diameter that matches the size of your drawtube. Drawtubes of at least 1 ¼ inches diameter are preferred over smaller 0.965 inch drawtubes.

finderscope: a small wide field crosshair telescope attached to the main telescope. It's an aiming device.

focal length: the distance from a lens or mirror that light from distant objects comes to a focus. For example, the focal length of a magnifying glass can be determined by concentrating sunlight through the lens onto a sheet of paper. When the sun's light is concentrated into the smallest point possible, the distance between the paper and the lens is the lens' focal length. Eyepieces also have an associated focal length.

f-ratio: this is a proportion of the telescopes focal length divided by the telescopes aperture. An f/8 telescopes focal length is 8 times its aperture. When calculating f-ratio, be sure to use the same units of measurement for aperture and focal length.

GO-TO telescopes: use computer control to automatically slew to celestial objects. These are expensive for the size, and a larger non-computerized telescope could be had for the same money. However, if you feel that you want a Go-To telescope, don't cheat yourself by not learning the night sky. This is half the experience!

light gathering power: ability of a telescope to show faint objects. This is more important than magnification. It is primarily determined by the telescope's aperture. Doubling the aperture increases light gathering power four fold.

magnification (or magnifying power): The degree of enlargement provided by a telescope or pair of binoculars. The magnification of astronomical telescopes can be varied up or down by changing the eyepiece. Binoculars are of fixed magnification. A magnification of 30 X provides an enlargement of 30 times the diameter of the object when viewed with the naked eye.

mount: a mechanical device supporting a telescope. Altazimuth are simple mounts that are easy for the beginner to use. Equatorial mounts are more sophisticated and can track objects with only one motion, rather than two (as required by the altazimuth. However, equatorials require more setup time and have a greater learning curve. Equatorials are often equipped with electric drives that keep objects in the field of view without manual tracking.

reflector: a telescope using a curved mirror as the primary light collector (a good dollar value).

refractor: a telescope using a lens as the primary light collector. This is the instrument most people think of as a telescope. It is more expensive than similar sized telescopes of other designs, but well made refractors are great performers.

resolution: the ability of a telescope to show fine detail on the moon or planets or to resolve close double stars or tight star clusters. Doubling the aperture doubles the resolving power.

tripods and piers: these stands support the telescopes mount. A tripod is a wooden or metal stand with three legs. A pier is usually a metal pipe with legs. Most beginner scopes have tripods, which are more easily portable, but should be of sturdy construction.

4) USEFUL ASTRONOMY LINKS:

www.scopereviews.com Hands-on reviews of many different telescopes.

www.darksky.org Home page of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), the leading organization fighting for more efficient and less polluting outdoor lighting.

home.epix.net/~ghonis/ Home page of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting Council, a state based organization sharing similar goals with the IDA.

zebu.uoregon.edu/~mbartels/kolli/kolli.html Help with telescope collimation (adjustment).

www.skypub.com The home page of Sky and Telescope magazine. This page contains a wealth of information for the budding astronomer.

/www2.astronomy.com The home page of Astronomy Magazine, an excellent non-technical publication, the best bet for beginners. The web page is one of the best sources of information.

aa.usno.navy.mil/ An excellent source of free astronomical data, such as the rising and setting of celestial objects.

www.oras.org The home page of the Oil Region Astronomical Society, this areas local astronomy club with an observatory in Two Mile Run County Park. This is your local astronomy club.

trfn.clpgh.org/aaap/ The home page of the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh, a large organization of over 500+ membership.

www.elmwoodmedia.com/cpo The home page of the Central Pennsylvania Observers based in State College, PA.

members.aol.com/bemusabord/index.html The home page of the Marshal Martz Memorial Astronomical Society, based in Jamestown, NY. One of the contacts listed on this page is Tom Bemus. He is currently holding a sale on much of the astronomical merchandise in his Jamestown, NY store, The Camera Infirmary.

www.poconoscopes.com/index.html Home page of a Pennsylvania based dealer of astronomical equipment from several manufactures. The supply both good advice and service.

www.telescope.com Home page of Orion Telescope and Binocular Center. An excellent mail order dealer, offering excellent support and advice.

4) USEFUL TELESCOPE FORMULAS:

MAGNITUDE LIMIT:

     8.8 + 5(log A) = ML
     where A = telescope aperture in inches
          ML = limiting magnitude

RESOLVING POWER:

     R = 4.56 ¸ A
     where A = telescope aperture in inches
          R = telescope resolving power in seconds of arc

MAGNIFICATION:

     MAGNIFICATION = TELESCOPE FOCAL LENGTH ¸ EYEPIECE FOCAL LENGTH
     Units can be in inches or millimeters, but they must be consistent.

MAXIMUM USEFUL MAGNIFICATION:

     Mu = 50(A)
     where Mu = maximum useful magnification
          A= telescope aperture in inches

MINIMUM USEFUL MAGNIFICATION:

     Mm = A ¸ 0.28
     where Mm = minimum useful magnification
          A = telescope aperture in inches

TELESCOPE FIELD OF VIEW:

     FT = FA ¸ M
     where FT = field of view of telescope in degrees
           FA = apparent field of view of eyepiece in degrees
           M = magnification of telescope and eyepiece combination

     For more information or to arrange a tour contact the Oil Region Astronomical Society at 814-437-2525. If you don't hear back from us within several days, please call John O'Hara at 677-3972, or Tim Spuck at 814-678-3893.

aperture:	the diameter of the main mirror of reflectors or the front lens on a refractor or catadiooptric, given in inches, millimeters, or centimeters (note: 1 inch = 2.5 centimeters; 1 centimeter = 10 millimeters).
catadioptric:	uses lenses and mirrors. More expensive than similar sized reflectors.
eyepiece or ocular:	a system of lenses at the eye position of a telescope. Astronomical telescopes have the provision of changing eyepieces to alter magnification. When purchasing eyepieces, be sure to buy the diameter that matches the size of your drawtube. Drawtubes of at least 1 ¼ inches diameter are preferred over smaller 0.965 inch drawtubes.
finderscope:	a small wide field crosshair telescope attached to the main telescope. It's an aiming device.
focal length:	the distance from a lens or mirror that light from distant objects comes to a focus. For example, the focal length of a magnifying glass can be determined by concentrating sunlight through the lens onto a sheet of paper. When the sun's light is concentrated into the smallest point possible, the distance between the paper and the lens is the lens' focal length. Eyepieces also have an associated focal length.
f-ratio:	this is a proportion of the telescopes focal length divided by the telescopes aperture. An f/8 telescopes focal length is 8 times its aperture. When calculating f-ratio, be sure to use the same units of measurement for aperture and focal length.
GO-TO telescopes:	use computer control to automatically slew to celestial objects. These are expensive for the size, and a larger non-computerized telescope could be had for the same money. However, if you feel that you want a Go-To telescope, don't cheat yourself by not learning the night sky. This is half the experience!
light gathering power:	ability of a telescope to show faint objects. This is more important than magnification. It is primarily determined by the telescope's aperture. Doubling the aperture increases light gathering power four fold.
magnification (or magnifying power):	The degree of enlargement provided by a telescope or pair of binoculars. The magnification of astronomical telescopes can be varied up or down by changing the eyepiece. Binoculars are of fixed magnification. A magnification of 30 X provides an enlargement of 30 times the diameter of the object when viewed with the naked eye.
mount:	a mechanical device supporting a telescope. Altazimuth are simple mounts that are easy for the beginner to use. Equatorial mounts are more sophisticated and can track objects with only one motion, rather than two (as required by the altazimuth. However, equatorials require more setup time and have a greater learning curve. Equatorials are often equipped with electric drives that keep objects in the field of view without manual tracking.
reflector:	a telescope using a curved mirror as the primary light collector (a good dollar value).
refractor:	a telescope using a lens as the primary light collector. This is the instrument most people think of as a telescope. It is more expensive than similar sized telescopes of other designs, but well made refractors are great performers.
resolution:	the ability of a telescope to show fine detail on the moon or planets or to resolve close double stars or tight star clusters. Doubling the aperture doubles the resolving power.
tripods and piers:	these stands support the telescopes mount. A tripod is a wooden or metal stand with three legs. A pier is usually a metal pipe with legs. Most beginner scopes have tripods, which are more easily portable, but should be of sturdy construction.

www.scopereviews.com	Hands-on reviews of many different telescopes.
www.darksky.org	Home page of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), the leading organization fighting for more efficient and less polluting outdoor lighting.
home.epix.net/~ghonis/	Home page of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting Council, a state based organization sharing similar goals with the IDA.
zebu.uoregon.edu/~mbartels/kolli/kolli.html	Help with telescope collimation (adjustment).
www.skypub.com	The home page of Sky and Telescope magazine. This page contains a wealth of information for the budding astronomer.
/www2.astronomy.com	The home page of Astronomy Magazine, an excellent non-technical publication, the best bet for beginners. The web page is one of the best sources of information.
aa.usno.navy.mil/	An excellent source of free astronomical data, such as the rising and setting of celestial objects.
www.oras.org	The home page of the Oil Region Astronomical Society, this areas local astronomy club with an observatory in Two Mile Run County Park. This is your local astronomy club.
trfn.clpgh.org/aaap/	The home page of the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh, a large organization of over 500+ membership.
www.elmwoodmedia.com/cpo	The home page of the Central Pennsylvania Observers based in State College, PA.
members.aol.com/bemusabord/index.html	The home page of the Marshal Martz Memorial Astronomical Society, based in Jamestown, NY. One of the contacts listed on this page is Tom Bemus. He is currently holding a sale on much of the astronomical merchandise in his Jamestown, NY store, The Camera Infirmary.
www.poconoscopes.com/index.html	Home page of a Pennsylvania based dealer of astronomical equipment from several manufactures. The supply both good advice and service.
www.telescope.com	Home page of Orion Telescope and Binocular Center. An excellent mail order dealer, offering excellent support and advice.