Astronomy Day - latest update!

WVSOAR (WV Society Of Amateur Rocketry) will be displaying their rockets all day wish to build and/or launch a rocket will have that opportunity. See the details below in the OVAS announcement section!

Astronomy Day - Press Release from HHS:

The Ohio Valley Astronomical Society (OVAS) and Huntington High School will host a special "Astronomy Day" event, Saturday, May 10, 2003 at the school. This free event is designed for the entire family and will be an opportunity for anyone interested in astronomy to learn more in a fun and easy way. Workshops include: How to observe the day and night sky, as well as changes in the sky; various types of observing equipment; and how to get started. There will also be solar observing during the day and WVSOAR will display some of their larger rockets, and launch other if weather permits. Daytime workshops begin at 10:00 am and continue through 3:00 pm.

Later that evening, beginning at 6:30 pm, there will be a special guest speaker, followed by a multimedia presentation on the wonders of the universe by Jeff Ball. This session will end with a "What's up in the sky tonight" talk, and, weather permitting, we will move outside around 9:00 pm for public stargazing at the Donald C. Martin Observatory.

For more information about the event or the Ohio Valley Astronomical Society, please contact Larry Oyster at Huntington High School by calling 528- 6475 or via e mail at loyster@access.k12.wv.us .

OVAS Press Release:

     Astronomy Day will be Saturday, 5/10/03, at Huntington High.  This will include many talks and demonstrations by OVAS members. This event is designed for members of the general public who have an interest in astronomy or who are thinking about purchasing a telescope. Solar Gazing and day time talks (see schedule below) will run from 10 AM- 3 PM. Also during the day, WVSOAR (WV Society Of Amateur Rocketry) will be displaying their rockets.  Anyone who wants to construct a rocket, may donate $15 to WVSOAR to construct the rocket (who will provide the kit) and receive 2 engines.  The rocket may be launched using WVSOAR equipment if weather permits.The evening program runs from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. This will be followed by a star gaze beginning at 9:00 PM .  

     One of the HIGHLIGHTS of the event will be: Jeff Ball, who will give his award winning talk "The light of Creation" during the evening secession. This sound and light extravaganza has been described as: "A multimedia presentation designed to reveal the beauty of creation and to spark a new level of awe in the viewers heart".

      The daytime and evening secessions will be held in the High School Building (guard at gate can direct you - I will post room numbers and better directions as these become available.) and the gaze is at the observatory dome located 3/4 of the way up the hill to the school on the right.

Day Program:

During the day, we will  have demonstrations of different types of telescopes, star charts, and other observing accessories as well as talks by the members of OVAS. If it is clear, we will observe the sun (with proper filtration). Also WVSOAR (WV Society Of Amateur Rocketry) will be displaying their rockets.  Anyone who wants to construct a rocket, may donate $15 to WVSOAR to construct the rocket and receive 2 engines.  The rocket may be launched using WVSOAR equipment if weather permits.See event progam in the table below.

Please note that most of the organized talks will be given in rooms G113 and G105. The talk on types of telescopes will be in room G103, this will also contain displays on different aspects of observing and different types of telescopes. Club members will be in this room to discuss equipment, observing and observing aids. These rooms are on thr second floor of the high school. They are accessed from the back of the high school entering through the door near the Greenhouse off  the teacher's parking lot. More explicit directions to meetings are via this link.

Evening Program:

     This will run from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. This will feature talks by Jeff Ball ("The light of Creation"), a guest speaker, as well as a brief presentation on what will be visible in the sky that night. This last talk will serve as a prelude and introduction for the star gaze. The evening programs are in room D-144 at Huntington High School (theater style lecture hall). The order of event is: key note speaker - Larry Oyster - Stellar Evolution, Jeff Ball "The Light of Creation", and "What's up in tonights Sky" - by OVAS member.

Star Gaze:

     This will be held at the Donald C. Martin Observatory which is located about 3/4 of the way up the road to the high school on the right. For this event please park on the side of the road opposite the dome (direction that goes down hill) and be careful to watch for those who are crossing the road in the dark. If it is clear we hope to have eyecatching views of Jupiter! At this event the members will be there with their own telescopes. This will allow you to look through many different types of telescopes. So in addition to seeing Jupiter you can see how it looks differently at different magnifications as well as how it looks through different types of telescopes. We hope to look at other objects as well. This will allow you a "virtual test drive" of different types of telescopes. Just remember that these scopes are the club members own personal equipment and treat them as such. If you have any questions, please ask and our club members will try to answer them to the best of their ability. If you use a flash light to help you navigate at night, we ask that you keep the flash light pointed at the ground as we like to keep the light out of our eyes in order to preserve our night vision.

This will be a great event - be there.