Ed Ting -- Keynote Talk

Observations and Opinions on Telescopes: A survey of currently available astronomy equipment, with opinions, commentary, trends, and examples of my favorites.

Since about 1980, Ed Ting has been running one of the most comprehensive telescope review websites on the Internet -- scopereviews.com. He has reviewed over 100 telescopes, written numerous eyepiece reviews, offers a beginner's advice column (stay away from those department store scopes!), plus feature articles, and more. His reviews have been quoted widely on many forums and in astronomy publications.

When he's not stargazing, reviewing astronomy equipment, or riding his bike in cycling events, Ed works as a sales rep for a large international industrial firm. One of his most memorial Scopereviews moments was giving his first talk at BFSP. He writes:

"I was scheduled as the keynote speaker at the Black Forest Star Party on Sept 15, 2001. You will notice, this was only four days after a certain tragic event. I did not want to go. Getting up and making a speech was the last thing I wanted todo. I felt like sulking around the house. But early that Saturday morning, something jump-started my system and I woke up at 4 AM, rented a car, and drove all day to the site in PA.

Having prepared a lighthearted, humorous speech, I was concerned about making light in the wake of the events. It did not seem to be appropriate. But I didn't have time to prepare another talk, so on I went with the scheduled material. I turned out to be just what the doctor ordered. Seeing and hearing those people laugh was a great release for me, and it turned out, for the audience as well. Later that night, walking the field, the warmth of the people towards me was incredible. I was told again and again that this was the first time they were able to laugh out loud since Sept 11th. And now that I think about it, that was probably one of the best things I've ever done in my life."

Thom Bemus Black Forest Sky Tour

You've found some of the darkest skies east of the Mississippi. Now come and join Thom Bemus for a true adventure as you open your eyes to the wide sky. Using your eyes and binoculars, Thom will take you on a tour of the big-picture view of the late summer sky. No stargazing experience is necessary, just bring an 8x40 or larger binocular and hop aboard as we set sail along a Milky Way you may have never experienced before. We'll explore star-spangled clusters, glowing-gas clouds, giant jovian moons and even some stealthy satellites.

Gather Friday evening at the observing field gate at 8:45pm, if clouded-out Friday evening, we'll meet at the same time Saturday evening.

Thom Bemus is a six-time president of the Martz Observatory, and he also served as the Public Education Director from 1986 to 2002. Thom is a member of the Buffalo Astronomical Association and founder of the Cedar Key Star Party.

He is currently the Director of the Southern Tier Recreational Astronomy Society (STARS ) and serves as the national coordinator for the National Public Observatory's Stars-n-Parks program. He is also the founder of the Christian Stargazers Fellowship Ministry. Thom and his wife Kat, also an amateur astronomer, currently reside in Bemus Point, NY.

Website: http://www.upstateastro.org/stars/cssp.html

Joe Bergeron A Jaunt Around the Universe

Space Artist and SF author Joe Bergeron will lead newbies and space art fans of all ages on a merry chase through the cosmos with the help of his original astronomical illustrations.

Joe Bergeron, grew up in the hamlet of Endicott in updstate NY, where he taught himself the constellations using a cardboard star wheel, watching in awe as stars he had never before identified rose according to prediction. Later, he began a more thorough examination of the heavens using various small telescopes. Joe was known as the "class artist" in high school, mostly by virtue of superhero drawings done in ballpoint pen. After honing his craft, he was called upon to produce planetarium shows during a summer job. Joe taught himself to paint so he could create visuals for the shows and later earned a degree in studio art from Binghamton University. Soon he was selling paintings and drawings at science fiction art shows, winning a window full of awards in the process. He has illustrated science fiction books and magazines, including titles by Isaac Asimov, Piers Anthony, and James Tiptree, Jr. He also served as director of the local small planetarium.

Seeking clear skies and warmer weather, Joe migrated to an obscure part of the southern Sierras of California, where he worked for many clients, spending his summers among those familiar cool green hills of upstate New York. After several years of being a Westerner who spent a good part of the year in the East, in 2003 Joe returned to pastoral New York to try life as an Easterner who spends a good part of the year in the West. At the very least, Joe tries hard to attend the annual Grand Canyon Star Party, during which he talks to more people than he does during the entire rest of the year.

To learn more about Joe, his artwork, SF novels, and his premium telescopes, check out his Website: http://homepage.mac.com/joebergeron/

Chip Harrison Dark Sky Parks

Like Cherry Springs State Park, other dark sky parks are be established throughout the country. Chip will tell us where they are, what they look like, and what's required for getting a dark sky park officially designated, and some of the success stories behind these efforts. He will also discuss the International Dark-Sky Association's (IDA) Dark Sky Park Certification program and provide us with updates on Cherry Springs State Park.

Chip is the Park Manager of Cherry Springs State Park (Dark Sky Park Manager) and a member of the IDA Dark Sky Park Review Panel, which reviewed and developed IDA's dark sky park standards and program.

Website: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/Parks/cherrysprings.aspx

Larry McHenry Solar Observing

Larry will discuss the variety of solar features visible in both white-light and H-alpha. He will also talk about solar observing techniques and equipment, and video-capture solar images. The talk will be followed by a solar observing session at Larry's campsite, using his C8 with Daystar .6A filter, along with a PST Ha and PST Cak riding piggyback, connected to a video astronomy system.

Larry McHenry was co-chair of the former Laurel Highlands Star Cruise and past president of the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh (AAAP). He was also the first director of the Mingo Creek Park Observatory (MCPO). He lives in the South Hills community of Baldwin, PA, and works in downtown Pittsburgh as a systems architect. Larry has been has been active in amateur astronomy for over 30 years.

Since 1991, he has specialized in solar observing, sketching, and video imaging sunspots. He is a contributor to AAVSO's sunspot counting program and received an observing award from them in October 1999. He has a website for his solar observatory: here

Chris Palma A Penn State Astronomer's view of Amateur / Professional Collaborations

Penn State astronomer Chris Palma will discuss his ideas for areas where amateur astronomers can make contributions to active professional research programs.

Dr. Christopher Palma has substantial experience in education and public outreach in astronomy, and was hired in 2003 as a full-time astronomy outreach faculty member at Penn State. Since 1995, he has been involved in numerous formal and informal science education programs. As a graduate student, Chris provided summer enrichment labs for a local school, created an "Astronomy Question & Answer" Web site staffed by graduate students, and was the guest astronomy expert on a local AM radio talk show. Since 2001, Chris has served as Director and a Lead Instructor for the Penn State In-Service Workshops in Astronomy. Dr. Palma's research interests include: Galactic structure, stellar populations, and galaxy interactions. He has authored or co-authored 15 articles on his research, which have been published in peer reviewed Astronomy and Astrophysics journals.

Website: www.astro.psu.edu/users/cpalma/