Johnson County (KY) Astronomy Fest

Two intrepid astronomers from OVAS drove down to Johnson County, KY to visit their astronomy fest. It sounds like quite and event. Lets hear from Tim Lester And Don Kemper in their own words.

Reports from Johnson Co. Ky.

First Tim Lester

Hello OVAS,

I'd like to start out by saying WOW!!! Those of you that couldn't attend the Astronomy Fest missed one of the best events ever. I have never seen such participation. Don Kemper, Randy Badgett, and I were witness to over 375 grade schoolers, parents, and interested parties in attendance. All of the lectures were in the library and it was packed ( I did a head count and we had over 150 for the lectures). Lectures were given by Eric Thomas, Morehead Science Center; Benjamin K Malphrus, Ed. D., Director Space Science Center, Morehead University; Raymond Shubenski, Director East Kentucky Science Center; Dr. Capp Yess, Cosmologist; Don Kemper, Tim Lester OVAS. Don and I didn't know we were going to give a speech until we were introduced to the entire group. We winged it and did a pretty good job of talking about getting started in astronomy. I won't go into the lectures of the other gentlemen because everyone of them volunteered to come to an OVAS meeting and make a presentation. Any one of them could provide entertainment and enlightenment for an entire meeting. I would strongly suggest that we take advantage of their generous offers for presentations. The Astronomy Fest was covered by the AP, local TV, and other newspapers. After the lecture session, most of the group went to the football field for viewing. The sky had cleared very nicely and provided excellent views through a 12" LX200, 12 1/2" Orion Dobsonian, a Celestron C8 amoung various other smaller telescopes. While on the observing field, Ben Malphrus and Eric Thomas suggested that OVAS get together with the Morehead group for a Messier Marathon. That sounds exciting. It would be a privilege to share observations with real astronomers. We learned that Morehead is offering an Astronomy program now that the university has a large radio telescope coming. I almost forgot about them having the Starlab display along with many videos from NASA, JPL, and other sources. All in all a very enjoyable evening. I have been so excited about all that happened that I can't keep my mind on anything but recalling what we saw and heard. If we are going to have guests for future meetings I hope that we could get any of the learned gentlemen that volunteered their services to come to our meetings. That's all for now but I will try to give more details at the next meeting.

Tim

And now Don Kemper

"We must endeavor to persevere..." A. Lincoln

Tim and I met at my house and started loading the truck. In the process I pulled a muscle in my lower back. So I got off to a real good start for our evening! Tim's stretching suggestions helped.

Directions to the school were left at the house and this was realized after passing road destruction- constriction(?) (or is that traffic restriction?) and getting into Ashland. Our departure time caused a small amount of wonder due to further traffic constriction in other segments of US 23.

Nevertheless, we arrived in plenty of time at the school, very nice modern facility right off 23. Met Danny Blevins and his astronomical buddies and much to out delight, Randy Baget! Randy and the other fellows carried in the Cave and helped assemble it in the library. I set up the display articles. Thanks Randy, I owe you one!

Tim has given a good rundown of the speakers. The first rate Caseni Power Point narrated presentation too was plagued by technical problems, but still was a very interesting presentation followed by a highly animated music synchronized, (even to the very lyrics many times) recap of the mission and the probes. (Made from a NASA presentation with Steppenwolf, and short segments from the HAL 5000 computer of 2001 A Space Oddessy fame added. Really brought a good silent program to life.) Take some notes from this guy! He skipped through the problems and delivered a smooth, good presentation of the mission.

So that was the act Tim and I had to follow... Not wanting to discredit Tim or myself, I sort of felt like Mutt and Jeff. We did kind of a tag team talk about who OVAS is and what we like to do and what people really need to get started in astronomy inviting them to come look at our stuff and ask questions after the rest of the presentations. I think they got the good impression that we were not professionals and that it was OK to do this at home.

After the talk on meteorites and the "Fate of the Universe"- most interesting I assure you, Tim and I found ourselves surrounded by parents and other interested beginning amateurs asking what do you need, how much does it cost, and where do you buy it. They were shown planispheres, red lights, and "NightWatch" and directed to "Astronomy" and "Sky & Telescope" and shown catalogues having planispheres and starcharts. One fellow asked about the Telrad desiring to know more about it. He got his answers and a little hands on experience. We showed people what they really need and cautioned them about wasting money on dept. store scopes and the woes of false advertising, regardless where it came from, and encouraged them to attend public viewing sessions, starparties, and OVAS functions to compare equipment and get real experience about what you really see through good scopes. From now on I'll refer to this as the "Don't buy, learn first lecture." Mission accomplished!

Later we went to the football field. Model rockets were launched after the school's scopes were set up in the stadium with all the lights on. Nice rocketry, although I'm wondering how they are going to get up that steep hill and in the top of that tree to get their rocket. The first one landed on the pad!

Lights out, stars up! With binoculars and planesphere, I showed whoever wondered my direction where constellations and M31 was. Randy was doing likewise without the planisphere and with his astro binoculars. Tim made his way to various scopes, I think. Later I retrieved the Telrad and placed it on one of their Meade Dobs and found a few M's. (Back was feeling better.) The horizon was high and the much asked for Big Dipper was hidden behind a high, steep hill. Cassiopeia and the Great Square of Pegasus, and Lyra were the highlighted features for me. For those of you who went to Hometown, the lighting conditions were better, the horizon was worse, but it was still a good location to do exactly what their program needed.

After most of the attendees left, we talked with the Morehead fellows a while. They are interested in meeting us in Carter County and viewing with us. Carter Co. is a good location for even more reasons now.

The only suggestion I gave Dave Blevins was try to have it on a Friday night next year. They would have really loved to have had a session on the "how to's" of astrophotography.

Tim and I see that the Morehead folks are kind of wanting to do things with us. On the way home we discussed the possibility of OVAS assisting them at events in the future.

Man, what an evening!

We'll be back...

Don