GaSo Baseball Games and Astronomy

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

After the GaSo baseball game you might want to consider this.

http://dso.appstate.edu/news/north-caro ... -observato

[mtnjax]

big weekend series. First time playing the Stink in any sport that I know of since the Sun Belt announcement. Would be nice to get the leg up on our moving mates with a series win this weekend!

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

big weekend series. First time playing the Stink in any sport that I know of since the Sun Belt announcement. Would be nice to get the leg up on our moving mates with a series win this weekend!

I got to see the ball game, and though the earlier start at first gave me too much time after the game it all worked out in the end. And I got to see Saturn in a 32 inch telescope. It is almost 2:30 in the morning but not a bad day, ASU wins and clear skies.

For those in the area of Boone or those that don't mind the drive the Dark Sky Observatory holds monthly sessions for the public. Tonight's sessions was part of NC Science Festival, but another session is coming up in two weeks.

[JCline0429]

big weekend series. First time playing the Stink in any sport that I know of since the Sun Belt announcement. Would be nice to get the leg up on our moving mates with a series win this weekend!

I got to see the ball game, and though the earlier start at first gave me too much time after the game it all worked out in the end. And I got to see Saturn in a 32 inch telescope. It is almost 2:30 in the morning but not a bad day, ASU wins and clear skies.

For those in the area of Boone or those that don't mind the drive the Dark Sky Observatory holds monthly sessions for the public. Tonight's sessions was part of NC Science Festival, but another session is coming up in two weeks.

I'm glad you posted this. I was wondering if the Observatory was still in use. The scope was given to us by NASA, wasn't it? I remember when it was given to us a few years after I matriculated. Is the sky still dark enough for optimal results? I know the Wilkesboros and W-S have grown much since and I'm sure Boone and ASU have, too, to some extent.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

big weekend series. First time playing the Stink in any sport that I know of since the Sun Belt announcement. Would be nice to get the leg up on our moving mates with a series win this weekend!

I got to see the ball game, and though the earlier start at first gave me too much time after the game it all worked out in the end. And I got to see Saturn in a 32 inch telescope. It is almost 2:30 in the morning but not a bad day, ASU wins and clear skies.

For those in the area of Boone or those that don't mind the drive the Dark Sky Observatory holds monthly sessions for the public. Tonight's sessions was part of NC Science Festival, but another session is coming up in two weeks.

I'm glad you posted this. I was wondering if the Observatory was still in use. The scope was given to us by NASA, wasn't it? I remember when it was given to us a few years after I matriculated. Is the sky still dark enough for optimal results? I know the Wilkesboros and W-S have grown much since and I'm sure Boone and ASU have, too, to some extent.

There are some donated scopes on the grounds, but I think the 32-inch was a NSF grant in the very late 1980s, but I could be wrong, and it might be one of the other scopes that was NASA donated. There are 6-7 different scopes on the grounds. The lights of Wilkesboro can be seen and that is not great, but there is still plenty of research going on there. One topic of research is binary eclipsing stars and they seem to do ok with the equipment at hand and light pollution, though it would be nice to have darker skies.

The Three Colleges Observatory just south of Burlington (owned by UNCG, NCA&T, Guilford College) has been hit a lot harder with light pollution growth. Every time I try and visit the Three Colleges it rains. If you need rain for a garden, just ask me to schedule for a public viewing session. I guarantee rain.

[JCline0429]

big weekend series. First time playing the Stink in any sport that I know of since the Sun Belt announcement. Would be nice to get the leg up on our moving mates with a series win this weekend!

I got to see the ball game, and though the earlier start at first gave me too much time after the game it all worked out in the end. And I got to see Saturn in a 32 inch telescope. It is almost 2:30 in the morning but not a bad day, ASU wins and clear skies.

For those in the area of Boone or those that don't mind the drive the Dark Sky Observatory holds monthly sessions for the public. Tonight's sessions was part of NC Science Festival, but another session is coming up in two weeks.

I'm glad you posted this. I was wondering if the Observatory was still in use. The scope was given to us by NASA, wasn't it? I remember when it was given to us a few years after I matriculated. Is the sky still dark enough for optimal results? I know the Wilkesboros and W-S have grown much since and I'm sure Boone and ASU have, too, to some extent.

There are some donated scopes on the grounds, but I think the 32-inch was a NSF grant in the very late 1980s, but I could be wrong, and it might be one of the other scopes that was NASA donated. There are 6-7 different scopes on the grounds. The lights of Wilkesboro can be seen and that is not great, but there is still plenty of research going on there. One topic of research is binary eclipsing stars and they seem to do ok with the equipment at hand and light pollution, though it would be nice to have darker skies.

The Three Colleges Observatory just south of Burlington (owned by UNCG, NCA&T, Guilford College) has been hit a lot harder with light pollution growth. Every time I try and visit the Three Colleges it rains. If you need rain for a garden, just ask me to schedule for a public viewing session. I guarantee rain.

I'm not sure, but I think the first telescope they started with was donated by NASA.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I do vaguely remember something re: NASA as well. The wikipedia page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Sky_Observatory
mentions two telescopes being donated in 81 and 82. That was around the time DSO opened, and one or both may have been a donation from NASA.

The 32 inch is from a NSF grant in the late 80s. The grant was for $100,000 if I remember correctly but I am not sure if that paid for the entire scope or just partially. Lots of electronics have been added since then. I would guess the entire package would be over $500,000 in replacement costs.

Anyone that has an ASU connection that is within an hour drive (or two like me) ought to do one of the public viewing sessions. It is worth it (though I am pro-Astronomy) and something to be proud of that has an ASU connection.