Will Dr. Levesque be joining us in person? If via web conference, on what AV resource will the video feed be displayed?
This should be a VERY interesting presentation. I’m excited!
Dr. Levesque will be joining us via ZOOM. AT THIS TIME, it will be available only at our OKC Astro Club Meeting at SMO- Goldman Room - on Friday, March 8th - at 7 PM.
The SMO Auditorium is undergoing a remodel.
Thank you, Eileen. This should be a great presentation. I’m unfamiliar with the other rooms within the SMO, so, I’ve now looked this up on their website:
Yep, it’s upstairs behind the NASA attraction. We used to meet up there all the time.
Eileen,
Is there any possibly that club members that live outside of the OKC area could join in on the Zoom meeting?
Thanks…
Stan
At this time that is not an option. Perhaps other club officers who understand the IT issues involved could chime in to answer. We have enough issues with using the WiFi at SMO and broadcasting live is beyond the bandwidth allowed. If the speaker allows & the recording is decent, it is sometimes posted to the club’s YouTube account.
Thanks for your quick response. Posting on you tube would be nice. I would like to travel to OKC to see the presentation but it’s not always possible.
Thanks
Stan
Now that we know that not everyone was clouded out for this eclipse, I am asking our Astrophotographers of all types to display their images during the June meeting. Why wait until June? To give folks the chance to process their images!
There are several ways we could proceed:
- Send your pictures to me or someone else and we will make a Google Slide or Powerpoint to display a few (2-3) of your best photos in alphabetical order (by your name).
- Have a Walk-Around (if indoors at SMO is a large Open Space or out-of-doors (weather-permitting).
- Do a Combination of #1 AND #2 by doing a presentation in the SMO Auditorium followed by a “Meet-And-Greet” Walk Around.
Suggestions welcomed! Now VOTE!
Eileen
PS Feel free to send comments to my email: eileengr@sbcglobal.net.
Sounds like a fun idea. Any and all experiences, photos, videos, etc are wonderful to share. We all got to share this amazing event, I hope lots of members take a few minutes and at least describe what it was like for them. It’s events like these that bring us closer together in our shared love of Astronomy.
Thanks, Andy!
So which format would you prefer?
Eileen
I think a projector so everyone can see, and we just take turns going up and sharing our experiences/photos.
Andy - I agree a projector would be great but if all have their own individual flash drives, etc., it may take a lot of time. Would you be willing to send a few of your best to one person to be inserted into a Google Doc or Powerpoint Slide presentation? Or folks could send a GOogle Doc link that we could just open? Not everyone knows how to use Google Slide…
Eileen
I like the idea of both. A slide show of the best in the auditorium, then maybe some tables for individuals to show more on their computer screen, tablet or TV.
And hold it indoors. Screens are too hard to see outdoors.
And who is to decide the BEST, Mitche? That’s why I suggest putting things in alphabetical order. Once we decide, the only ones in a Google Slide or a Powerpoint presentation will probably have to reach me or whoever volunteers to take submissions by a certain date such as May 25th. The ones not sent by that time could be on screens afterward. My real concern is that few respond via Discourse.
I don’t consider it a contest myself. I just want to enjoy everyone’s images of the eclipse!
If you want a contest, I suggest appointing 3 club members, who didn’t take any images of it, as judges and let them decide. I certainly don’t want to have to pick between the spectacular images I know we’ll see.
I’ve always thought this is a problem with the club, only Patrick can send out an email to all the club members? I don’t like not being able to ask important questions to the entire club via email. I think this deserves an email to all the club members.
I do not want a contest but would prefer to show any submissions.
REMINDER TO ALL! WE NEED YOUR SUBMISSIONS ASAP for the June Meeting oN Friday, June 14th at 7 PM.
June OKC Astronomy Club Meeting!
Solar Eclipse Photo Share Fair - Friday, June 14th - SMO 7 PM.
Speakers: Any Club members who have Eclipse photos!
We will have a brief meeting in the SMO Auditorium for CLUB announcements and questions.
Then we will have two areas to display photos:
The SMO Auditorium will have a repeating Slide Display of any photos submitted to our Solar Eclipse Photo Submissions. THIS IS NOT A CONTEST! See your pictures on the Big Screen!
We will set up an area in Pavlov’s Cafe where folks can meet and greet any astrophotographers who participate, ask questions, share eclipse stories, and enjoy even more sequences of photos.
If you wish to submit any eclipse photos for the ongoing and repeating “Slide Show” (and we hope you do), this is what we ask of you.
You may include pictures from both the Satuday, October 14th, 2023 Annular Eclipse AND the Monday, April 8th, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. If you saw it as a partial event, those photos are welcome, too!
Where to submit? Send us your photos via the Section on the OKC Astro Club Discourse FORUM or via the submission email we provide. (We recognize that not everyone is on the Discourse Forum at this time and wish to include everyone.)
For folks who use the OKCAC Discourse Forum, we will have a forum post for you.
For those who don’t use the Forum, we made an email address for submissions: submissions@okcastroclub.com
Number of photos to submit? No limit! Submit as many as you want and we’ll decide how many to include based on the volume we receive. Not all from one person may be displayed if the volume is too high. We recognize that these are eclipse photos. Many people have sequences so if we limit it, folks might not participate. Your sequences are important records of the event.
Your name and the location from where you took your photos (required)
Camera and Processing details (optional) - You may include those in the Walk Around in the Pavlov’s Cafe area.
Submission deadline? We’d prefer Friday, June 7th but you may submit up to the last minute assuming there are not a zillion of them… We do not want to exclude anyone who wishes to participate.
This ANNOUNCEMENT will be included in the May & June OKCAC Meeting announcements and the Gazer’s Gazette Newsletter!
OKC Astronomy Club Meeting - July 12th, 2024 - Science Museum of Oklahoma - 7 PM
SPEAKER: Larry Beatty
Topic: Attending the OzSky Star Safari – 3 Reasons to Go!
Background information about you and an abstract about your topic. References are welcomed.
Viewing the Skies of the Southern Hemisphere is a unique and beautiful treat! How are they different from the skies of the Northern Hemisphere? How are they similar? Take a moment to think about these questions. From what locations is it best to view the Southern Skies? Several years ago, Larry and several of our long term OKCAC members took a trip to OzSky Star Safari in the “Land Down Under” aka Australia - to experience the beauty of the Southern Hemisphere skies. Larry Beatty is 67 years young and has recently retired after selling my boiler service company in 2020. These days he is devoting more time to his family and hobbies. He enjoys astronomy mainly through imaging with telescopes up to 1 meter, but still enjoys visual observing as well. Larry has been a member of the OKC Astronomy Club since 1970, and held many positions from Vice President to Newsletter Editor. He has enjoyed volunteering for the OkieTex Star Party since its inception and continues to support it today. He is also one of the Founding members of Cheddar Ranch Observatory (CRO) and 4 Domes Observatory on the grounds of CRO.
Abstract:
In our July 12th presentation, Larry will present an overview of the OzSky Star Safari, how to travel to Australia, the people and the skies at the Star Party in the Land Down Under.
How did you get interested in Astronomy? Larry first saw Comet Bennett in the morning sky while fishing with his grandad in 1969/1970. That got Larry hooked on Astronomy! For Christmas he got a Sears 2.4 inch refractor from his parents. He has had “Aperture Fever” ever since culminating in a 1-meter Planewave telescope.
What questions (research or otherwise) are you most interested in? Larry enjoys all questions that arise in Astronomy.
How do you prefer to observe? Up until retirement, his observing has been restricted to star parties during the years while I was working. Now that he has more free time, he is trying to get out and observe more. Right now the easiest way for him to observe is with his scope that is located in southern New Mexico.
Where are your preferred locations for observing? Typically at star parties and remotely in New Mexico. Larry is working on a place in southern Arizona to observe from next year.
What are your favorite things to observe and image? Larry always enjoyed observing and imaging Abell galaxy clusters and groups of galaxies.
What challenges would you make to OKCAC Members - Beginners to Intermediate to Advanced levels? Always push yourself to learn more about the night sky!
N.B. On a personal note, I would like to express my appreciation to Larry for encouraging the students from Norman North High School to participate in OTSP since 2021. If you ask them, the Alumni will now mention participating with pride in OTSP and note that it was one of their top one or two events throughout their High School years. Many of them are now holding down jobs and beginning to parent the next generation of star gazers. Several come out observing with us at Washington Elementary School as their schedules permit. They send their love! Thank you, Larry and the OTSP Staff over the years for your generosity in including our next generation of amateurs.
~ Eileen