Amateur Astronomy -- A Hobby as Big as the Universe
How would you like to take a trip to some of the most exotic and beautiful
places in deep space without leaving the safety of Earth? Just imagine, exploring the
surface of the moon, watching the weather on Jupiter, peeking into a stellar
nursery, or gazing into the heart of a giant spiral galaxy. Amateur Astronomy
delivers just that and much more!
Amateur Astronomers are hobbyists interested in observing the heavens
for personal enjoyment or public education You don't need to be
a scientist or an optical expert to participate, and you don't even need
to own a telescope. Many amateurs are just ordinary people who look
at the skies through, telescopes, binoculars or with the unaided eye and
a star chart. Amateur Astronomers come in ages ranging from grade schoolers to
senior citizens and in both sexes. Some observe just for the fun of it, while
others build their own telescopes, perform astro-photography, or even scientific
research, but all share a common appreciation of the wonders of the universe.
The Prairie Astronomy Club
The Prairie Astronomy Club was founded in 1961 as a non-profit organization
dedicated to encouraging the study of Astronomy and related subjects
for the benefit of its members and the general public. The club presently
has over 80 members with a wide variety of interests ranging from simple naked-eye
sky gazing to deep-sky objects, variable star observing, and the use of
computers. The club holds monthly meetings open to the general public
on THE LAST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH, unless the date conflicts with a major
holiday. The meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. at the HYDE MEMORIAL OBSERVATORY
located in HOLMES PARK in southeast LINCOLN, NEBRASKA. Each meeting consists
of a short business session, planning for upcoming events, and one or two
short programs followed by refreshments and conversation. The following list
of recent programs shows the variety of topics and interests that
the meetings provide:
| SKY TOURS | How to identify the constellations. |
| BINOCULAR NIGHT | What to look for in your next pair. |
| DEEP SKY OBSERVING | What to look for and how to find it. |
| ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY | How to take deep-sky pictures the right way. |
| TELESCOPE MAKING | Mirror grinding, testing and mountings. |
| EYEPIECES FOR TELESCOPES | What is the best for the best price. |
| PERSONAL COMPUTERS | Hardware and Astronomy programs available. |
| THE SPACE SHUTTLE | Televised activities in the payload bay. |
| VOYAGER'S VIEW OF NEPTUNE | Pictures via satellite from JPL. |
| THE NEW TECHNOLOGY TELESCOPES | Observatories of the future. |
BENEFITS OF CLUB MEMBERSHIP:
1. Members receive the club newsletter, THE PRAIRIE ASTRONOMER each month. It contains
late-breaking astronomy news, information about the meetings, and articles by
club members and other authors.
2. Each regular member is automatically a member of the astronomical League,
the only nation-wide organization for amateur astronomers. Each member also
receives THE REFLECTOR, the quarterly journal of the League, containing
news about Astronomy, conventions, and recent book reviews. Membership
in the League also allows you to buy astronomy books at a discount through the
League's book club, and to attend both regional and national conventions held
yearly. The League also sponsors the Messier and Herschel Award programs to
recognize the achievements of those dedicated people who view the most deep-sky objects.
3. Star Parties (outdoor observing sessions) are held monthly. These events allow members and
guests to see faint deep-sky objects and to find out how different telescopes perform
away from city lights. Members can also use the club 13.1" and 12.5" telescopes
to view the night sky. The club also holds a yearly picnic and star party in
August, drawing amateurs from clubs around the area to share good food, astronomy
talk and good viewing.
4. Special publications such as the RASC Observer's Handbook, Astronomical
calendars, and subscriptions to SKY & TELESCOPE magazine and Astronomy magazine are
offered to club members at special discount rates.
5. Trips to observatories, planetariums, and museums are sponsored by the
club. Recently, the club took trips to the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center,
Lake Afton Observatory, Behlen Observatory, Adler Planetarium and the Museum of
Science and Industry in Chicago.
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES OF THE PRAIRIE ASTRONOMY CLUB:
While there are no requirements for membership other than the yearly dues,
many members of the club on occasion serve as a guide or goodwill ambassador for
Astronomy. Members often donate their time to the following activities:
-Volunteer club members help run the HYDE MEMORIAL OBSERVATORY during regular
public nights and for special groups throughout the year.
-The club stages ASTRONOMY DAY each year to inform the public about
Astronomy as a hobby, and the progress of Space Exploration.
- Other organizations such as the Cub, Boy, or Girl Scouts and camp
groups often call on the Prairie Astronomy Club to provide outdoor "Sky Tours" for
their members. Also, scientific organizations occasionally ask for observations of
certain astronomical events from our members for research purposes.
REGULAR MEMBER - $30.00 per year. Includes club newsletter, and 1 vote
at club meetings, plus all other standard club privileges.
FAMILY MEMBER - $35.00 per year. Same as regular member except gets
2 votes at club meetings.
For more information, contact us, or come to
the next club meeting.
|
