 | Astronomy Day EveSeveral members of the BSAS gathered at Adventure Science Center on Friday night for a public star party in the upper parking area. |
 | Dobsonian telescopes were in evidence everywhere, giving great views of the Moon as well as Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. |
 | SCT's required some glare reduction measures due to the artificial light in the area, but still gave great planetary and lunar views. |
 | Visitors were amazed at what could be seen with relatively modest instruments, even from well within Nashville's light dome. Here, someone sees the moons of Jupiter for the first time. |
 | The beautiful conjunction of Venus and the crescent Moon attracted a lot of public attention, and spawned a lot of questions like "so, you guys are astrologers, eh?" |
 | The fan of spotlights at Gaylord Entertainment Center is about as astronomy-unfriendly as you can get, but fortunately (?) was in a relatively uninteresting part of the sky given the amount of light pollution already present, and didn't affect the star party. |
 | Steve Wheeler demonstrated multipurpose video astronomy with a consumer digital camera and a television monitor. |
 | Telescopes of all types and sizes can be found at BSAS star parties, so visitors can compare their strengths and features when choosing their own first telescope. |
 | JanaRuth Ford's Dobsonian telescope nearly dwarfs this young astronomer as he observes the Jovian moon system. |
 | Danika Wellington does some observing of her own between visitors. This equatorially-mounted Newtonian is more complex than a "Dob," but simplifies tracking of celestial objects. |
 | Chuck Schlemm points out an artificial satellite passing through Ursa Major on its way to the dark side of the earth. Thanks to satellite tracking software (and websites such as Heavens Above, anyone can predict satellite passes with great precision. |
 | John Harrington adjusts the helical focuser on his Porta-Ball telescope. |
 | There was lots of activity, comaraderie, and fun at the Astronomy Day Eve Star Party! |
 | BSAS President Joe Boyd shares the wonders of the night sky with a potential future amateur astronomer. |
 | Visitors leaving an event at the ASC are captivated by Steve Wheeler's video astronomy setup. |
 | Chuck Schlemm answers a bright young stargazer's questions while Mom takes a peek for herself. |
 | Many people who looked at Venus through a telescope thought they were looking at the crescent Moon instead. What a great opportunity for a (brief) explanation of phases! |
 | A BSAS friend gets in one last look at Saturn before the clouds rolled in a bit after 10:00pm. |
 | Astronomy Day at the Adventure Science CenterFor over six hours, our members participated in a range of events organized to promote amateur astronomy and the space sciences. Here, BSAS member and JPL Solar System Ambassador Chuck Schlemm answers a visitors question about the current Mars missions. |
 | Chuck's displays always draw a lot of interest! |
 | One of the BSAS's displays was an overview of the solar system, complete with interesting facts about each one, and experienced amateurs available to answer questions. |
 | The Middle Tennessee section of the International Dark-Sky Association provided a wonderful display including a demonstration of efficient, sky-friendly lighting fixtures. |
 | Loren Ball, one of the most successful asteroid hunters in the United States, drove from Decatur, Alabama and stayed all day to help make our Astronomy Day program a success. Thanks, Loren! |
 | Several members of the BSAS and the Clarksville Astronomy Club brought their telescopes to display and answer questions about them. |
 | BSAS Member Dr. Spence Buckner put up a great informational display of the Goldstone Apple Valley Radio Telescope (GAVRT) Project which gives students and teachers across the country the opportunity to work with real science projects in radio astronomy. |
 | Dr. Buckner, shown here demonstrating astronomy education software, worked tirelessly to coordinate volunteers and equipment for the Astronomy Day event. This is actually the first time he has sat down in three weeks. |
 | Steve Wheeler's video astronomy setup provides a centerpiece for his stellar presentation! |
 | Thanks, Steve, for all the work you've put into your hobby, and for sharing it with us! |
 | Amateur astronomers are notoriously inventive. Ever thought of playing "Capture the Flag" from miles away with a StellaCam-equipped telescope? |
 | Dr. Buckner also provided materials from Austin Peay University's excellent Department of Physics & Astronomy. |
 | Astronomy wasn't the only thing going on at Adventure Science Center. The ASC kicked off German Culture Week by hosting a full-costume reenactment of Otto Von Guericke’s famous 1655 demonstration of the power of atmospheric pressure. Here is Otto von G. with his date for the event, the first of its kind in the United States. |
 | Here are some of the sixteen draft horses used in the demonstration, in which they are used to try to separate two iron hemispheres held together by air pressure. |
 | BSAS luminaries Loren Ball and Lonnie Puterbaugh lay odds on the horses. |
 | [insert your own caption here.] |
 | Two guests from Magdeburg, Germany comment on the silly way that Tennesseans dress. |
 | Kris McCall, director of the Sudekum Planetarium at the ASC, allows herself a moment of jubilation as the day goes off without any major hurdles. |
 | All the King's horses... |
 | ...and all the King's men... |
 | ...couldn't do what one little girl did then. |
 | With the valve open, air rushes back into the evacuated space and the hemispheres fall apart by their own weight. |
 | The hemispheres, after the vacuum pixies which held them together have been allowed to escape and fly back to the high altitudes where they live. |
 | Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell poses with German visitors in curious attire. |
 | Loren Ball, the newest BSAS member, meets Jackson Campbell, currently the youngest BSAS member. Jackson is obviously taking issue with Loren's stand on Vaisala's method. |
 | Loren wraps up his presentation to an enthralled group of visitors of all ages. |
 | Loren stays to answer questions from BSAS members about the outreach work that he does for NASA. |
 | Partly cloudy afternoon weather provided some opportunities for demonstrating solar astronomy, and several BSAS members (including Mike Benson and Chuck Schlemm, pictured here) were quick to take advantage. |
 | Loren Ball always takes time to speak to kids and their parents. |
 | Lonnie celebrates the successful end of Astronomy Day at the Adventure Science Center by performing his famous impersonation of a globular cluster. |
 | Guerrilla AstronomySaturday night, BSAS "guerrilla astronomers" fanned out to parking lots and other public places in Middle Tennessee, offering views of the Moon and planets wherever the rapidly-advancing clouds allowed. Here a grocery shopper gets her first glimpse through a telescope since childhood. |
 | This child had never before seen the Moon through a telescope. |
 | This is far from the ideal dark-sky site, but that's not the point of Astronomy Day. We came here to bring astronomy to the people, and that's exactly what we did. |
 | This was Katarina's first glimpse through an astronomical telescope. She stayed to take several turns at the telescope, asked many questions, and left with a BSAS brochure and a newly-kindled interest in astronomy. |
 | These boys just thought it was cool. |
 | ...and they'll be back! |
 | The clouds finally came and ended the evening's viewing, but not before several dozen people had visited and seen the Moon and other objects, many for the first time. Despite uncooperative weather and a few minor glitches, the Astronomy Day weekend was without question a big success. |
BSAS Home