|
Veil nebula. Photo courtesy of Gary Salisbury.
|
Astronomy is most enjoyable when it is shared. We offer a number of options for you to visit with us and learn from us. The ORAS Events and Outreach program brings ORAS members and their knowledge of astronomy together with astronomy enthusiasts from the community.
Star Parties at ORALC
Enjoy an evening under the stars at one of our scheduled star parties at ORALC -- the Oil Region Astronomy Learning Center. See our About Events page for information about our star parties.
ORAS Meetings
ORAS members meet throughout the year to enjoy presentations and discussions on astronomy. You are welcome to be our guest at these meetings. Our presenters cover a wide variety of topics that may include observing techniques, optical equipment, telescope making, astrotourism, and current events in astronomy. If you are just beginning your study of astronomy, these meetings are a great opportunity to learn from our members and presenters. Most meetings can be attended via Zoom.
ORAS Workshops
In the summer of 2023 we presented two workshops, one on basic astronomy for beginners, and one on nature and night sky photography. See our ORAS Workshops page for details.
AstroBlast at ORALC
AstroBlast at ORALC is our premier annual event. It features dark-sky observing, technical presentations from amateur and professional astronomers, and family fun. AstroBlast 2024, which is scheduled for October 1- 6, will mark the 30th anniversary of this event. Save the dates!
Please note the change from the dates that were originally proposed.
Please note the change from the dates that were originally proposed.
2024 Calendar of Events
ORAS In-person and Virtual Public Night on Saturday, September 7, 2024 -- "Remote Telescope Observing
Photo taken by Dan Holler using the R-COP telescope located in Perth, Australia
The presentation: Please join us on Saturday, September 7, at 7:00 PM for Public Night at the Oil Region Astronomical Society Learning Center, home of the Bedow Memorial Observatory. This event can also be attended via Zoom. Mr. Dan Holler will explain Remote Observing, from the smallest telescopes to the largest. He will also discuss today's remote telescope networks, including Skynet, Shared Skies, Slooh, and Telescope Live.
Don’t have your telescope and camera? But interested in astrophotography?
Well, our next presentation will surprise you with what you can do using telescopes from around the world, while never leaving the comforts of home.
Just think of it, no cold nights, no long trips to dark sites, no heavy telescope lifting and long set-up times. Remote Observing has all of that taken care of, while still giving you the chance of a lifetime to collect images, process them, and see the universe through your own perspective.
Public Night Schedule
6:30 PM: The site opens to visitors.
6:50 PM – 7:00 PM: Zoom session opens – Opportunity for Tech-Check to make sure your system is working. (Link will be emailed to you after you register.)
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Education presentation: "Remote Telescope Observing"
8:00 PM -- 11:00 PM: Public stargazing (weather permitting)
About the Presenter: Dan Holler holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University, and is presently the Chair of ORAS' Observatory/Facilities Committee.
A long-time amateur astronomer and ORAS member, Dan has been involved in a number of observatory projects. They include construction of his own remote observatory, Penn West University's Maize Sunfire Observatory, reconstruction of Penn West University's LoPresto Observatory, along with early use of the ORAS R-COP (a telescope in Australia, and part of the Skynet network of telescopes) and Slooh (a commercial telescope network with scopes in the Canary Islands).
Dan's accomplishments include working with long-time friend, Dr. Qiu Hongyun, in testing and development of the popular QHY cameras. Dan has also been involved in testing and development of the KStars software package used for remote telescope control and imaging.
A long-time amateur astronomer and ORAS member, Dan has been involved in a number of observatory projects. They include construction of his own remote observatory, Penn West University's Maize Sunfire Observatory, reconstruction of Penn West University's LoPresto Observatory, along with early use of the ORAS R-COP (a telescope in Australia, and part of the Skynet network of telescopes) and Slooh (a commercial telescope network with scopes in the Canary Islands).
Dan's accomplishments include working with long-time friend, Dr. Qiu Hongyun, in testing and development of the popular QHY cameras. Dan has also been involved in testing and development of the KStars software package used for remote telescope control and imaging.
Who can attend? Anyone who is interested in learning more about ORAS and astronomy-related topics may attend. We strongly encourage members of the general public and educators and students from surrounding schools to participate. Public nights are FREE and open to all.
Location and Zoom registration: This will be both an in-person event and a virtual event. If you cannot join us at the observatory but would like to attend the virtual event, please register before midnight (EDT) on Thursday, September 5 at forms.gle/icaFXFTPYkEyPp4TA. A link will be emailed to you on Saturday, September 7.
Location and Zoom registration: This will be both an in-person event and a virtual event. If you cannot join us at the observatory but would like to attend the virtual event, please register before midnight (EDT) on Thursday, September 5 at forms.gle/icaFXFTPYkEyPp4TA. A link will be emailed to you on Saturday, September 7.
Cancellation policy
ORAS reserves the right to cancel events and outreach programs due to inclement weather, due to health or safety issues, or due to other unforeseen circumstances. Please monitor our social media posts for cancellation notices.
Previous Public Night Presentations
August 10, 2024, Dr. Dean Salisbury, "Meteor Showers: Photograph them with your Digital Camera"
July 13, 2024, Mr. Dean Miskovich, "Monsters: Subtle and Colossal Beasts of the Night Sky"
June 15, 2024, Dr. Susan Prezzano, "The Summer Solstice and Stonehenge in the Past and in the Present"
May 11, 2024, Mr. Larry McHenry "Charles Messier: The Ferret of Comets"
April 13, 2024: Mr. Tim DeBenedictis, “Origins: a personal journey in astronomical imaging”
March 16, 2024: Ms. Yasmin Catricheo, “The Sun and Moon: Mapuche Cosmovision of the Universe”
February 17, 2024: Mr. Gary Purinton, "The 2024 Eclipse Megamovie: Capturing Totality"
January 27, 2024: Dr. Richard Lloyd, "Black Holes from Birth to Death"
November 25, 2023: Mr. Dean Miskovich, "Comets -- A Brief Study"
October 28, 2023: Dr. Susan Prezzano, "Ancient Astronomy in Europe and Western Asia"
September 23, 2023: Mr. Dean Salisbury, "Photography: Birds to Stars"
July 22, 2023: Mr. Larry McHenry, "Planetary Nebulae: From Messier to Abell—What They Are and How to Observe Them"
June 22, 2023: Ms. Suzana Filipecki Martins, "How to Name an Exoplanet, and Other Activities of the IAU's Office for Astronomy Outreach"
May 27, 2023: “Your Night: ORAS Panel Answers your Astronomy Questions"
April 15, 2023: Mr. Tim Spuck, “Big Astronomy: People, Places, Discoveries."
March 25, 2023: Mr. Bruce Howard, "Optical Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence."
February 25, 2023: Mr. Dean Miskovich, "Stars."
January 21, 2023: Mr. Larry McHenry, "Solar Observing -- An Introduction to Solar Features and Observing Techniques."
October 15, 2022: Dr. Susan Prezzano, "Recent Discoveries in Archaeoastronomy."
September 17, 2022: Mr. Dean Miskovich, "Things you may not Know about the Gas Giants."
July 9, 2022: Dr. Arthur Kosowsky, "Searching for Planet Nine."
June 25, 2022: Mr. Larry McHenry, "Stargazing and Myths: An Introduction to the Constellations and Seasonal Night-Sky Mythology."
May 7, 2022: Mr. Gary Purinton, "Lunar and Solar Eclipses."
April 16, 2022: Dr. Kelly Lepo, "What to Expect from the James Webb Space Telescope's First Images."
March 19, 2022: Mr. Lou Coban, "High-altitude Ballooning for Solar Eclipses."
November 20, 2021: Mr. Gary Salisbury, "Astrophotography Image Processing."
October 16, 2021: Mr. Larry McHenry, “Comet Tales.”
September 18, 2021: Dr. Tim Spuck, “The Oil Region Astronomical Society: Building an Exciting Future for Generations to Come.”
August 21, 2021: Ms. Emily Lehnardt, “Astronomy for Kids under Age 12.”
July 17, 2021: Mr. Ed Ting, “Astrophotography: Taking the Next Step.”
June 19, 202: Mr. Ed Ting, “An Introduction to Astrophotography.”
May 15, 2021: Mr. Derek Demeter, “Solving the Mysteries of the Universe, One Puzzle Piece at a Time.”
April 17, 2021: Mr. Dean Salisbury, “Looking Up: Astrophotography and Nightscapes using your Digital Camera.”
March 20, 2021: Mr. Jim O’Leary, “Art and the Cosmos.”
February 20, 2021: Ms. Luci Finucan, “Green Bank Observatory Virtual Tour.”
September 26, 2020: Mr. Tom Field, “Astronomical Spectra."
July 13, 2024, Mr. Dean Miskovich, "Monsters: Subtle and Colossal Beasts of the Night Sky"
June 15, 2024, Dr. Susan Prezzano, "The Summer Solstice and Stonehenge in the Past and in the Present"
May 11, 2024, Mr. Larry McHenry "Charles Messier: The Ferret of Comets"
April 13, 2024: Mr. Tim DeBenedictis, “Origins: a personal journey in astronomical imaging”
March 16, 2024: Ms. Yasmin Catricheo, “The Sun and Moon: Mapuche Cosmovision of the Universe”
February 17, 2024: Mr. Gary Purinton, "The 2024 Eclipse Megamovie: Capturing Totality"
January 27, 2024: Dr. Richard Lloyd, "Black Holes from Birth to Death"
November 25, 2023: Mr. Dean Miskovich, "Comets -- A Brief Study"
October 28, 2023: Dr. Susan Prezzano, "Ancient Astronomy in Europe and Western Asia"
September 23, 2023: Mr. Dean Salisbury, "Photography: Birds to Stars"
July 22, 2023: Mr. Larry McHenry, "Planetary Nebulae: From Messier to Abell—What They Are and How to Observe Them"
June 22, 2023: Ms. Suzana Filipecki Martins, "How to Name an Exoplanet, and Other Activities of the IAU's Office for Astronomy Outreach"
May 27, 2023: “Your Night: ORAS Panel Answers your Astronomy Questions"
April 15, 2023: Mr. Tim Spuck, “Big Astronomy: People, Places, Discoveries."
March 25, 2023: Mr. Bruce Howard, "Optical Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence."
February 25, 2023: Mr. Dean Miskovich, "Stars."
January 21, 2023: Mr. Larry McHenry, "Solar Observing -- An Introduction to Solar Features and Observing Techniques."
October 15, 2022: Dr. Susan Prezzano, "Recent Discoveries in Archaeoastronomy."
September 17, 2022: Mr. Dean Miskovich, "Things you may not Know about the Gas Giants."
July 9, 2022: Dr. Arthur Kosowsky, "Searching for Planet Nine."
June 25, 2022: Mr. Larry McHenry, "Stargazing and Myths: An Introduction to the Constellations and Seasonal Night-Sky Mythology."
May 7, 2022: Mr. Gary Purinton, "Lunar and Solar Eclipses."
April 16, 2022: Dr. Kelly Lepo, "What to Expect from the James Webb Space Telescope's First Images."
March 19, 2022: Mr. Lou Coban, "High-altitude Ballooning for Solar Eclipses."
November 20, 2021: Mr. Gary Salisbury, "Astrophotography Image Processing."
October 16, 2021: Mr. Larry McHenry, “Comet Tales.”
September 18, 2021: Dr. Tim Spuck, “The Oil Region Astronomical Society: Building an Exciting Future for Generations to Come.”
August 21, 2021: Ms. Emily Lehnardt, “Astronomy for Kids under Age 12.”
July 17, 2021: Mr. Ed Ting, “Astrophotography: Taking the Next Step.”
June 19, 202: Mr. Ed Ting, “An Introduction to Astrophotography.”
May 15, 2021: Mr. Derek Demeter, “Solving the Mysteries of the Universe, One Puzzle Piece at a Time.”
April 17, 2021: Mr. Dean Salisbury, “Looking Up: Astrophotography and Nightscapes using your Digital Camera.”
March 20, 2021: Mr. Jim O’Leary, “Art and the Cosmos.”
February 20, 2021: Ms. Luci Finucan, “Green Bank Observatory Virtual Tour.”
September 26, 2020: Mr. Tom Field, “Astronomical Spectra."