14 replies to this topic

[Kickthefog]

Hi All,

 

Back quite a few years ago, I was invited by Thomas Whiting (Erie County Mobile Observer's Group) to come out to a field, south of Erie, PA,  where he and a few other gentlemen had their gear set up.  Thomas had a large Dob, and there was also a gentleman who had an observatory with a slide-off roof and had a 10" or 12" Meade LX200 on a pier.  Nice setups.  

 

Anyway, Thomas showed me around the sky with his Dob and the other gentleman showed me some sites through his LX200.  It was an awesome night, I will always remember how they kindly took me in as a stranger and I reluctantly left the site after many hours, having to work the next day, but I was leaving with a new level of appreciation for the night sky and had some new friends as well!  I was always very grateful to Thomas and the others.

 

I googled and sadly found that Thomas passed back in 2018. 

 

https://www.legacy.c...uary?id=6569787

 

With all that said, I was wondering if:

 

Anyone from that group is still around anywhere?

Anyone in the Erie Area has a "darker" area that they frequent?

 

I don't see a lot of references anywhere to Erie County Mobile Observer's Group as I assume it melted away after Tom’s passing, or perhaps sooner, but I can’t help but wonder if there is anyone from this group still around? Or are there any other groups or events in or around the Erie Area?  I see reference here to some pre-covid events with Erie mentioned, but nothing recent. 

 

I have been in and out of the hobby for over 35 years now since I was about 17, and I'm back into it now... again.  Can't seem to get rid of the "itch". I worked my way up over the years to an Edge HD11” and then slowly worked my way back down to a small refractor for Astrophotography using an ASI Air PRO which sparked my widefield interest. I also have a 6" SCT, and have a new 10 Dob on order...if it ever arrives!   

 

Anyway, great to be here.

 

Thanks,

Pat

[MawkHawk]

Hi All,

 

Back quite a few years ago, I was invited by Thomas Whiting (Erie County Mobile Observer's Group) to come out to a field, south of Erie, PA,  where he and a few other gentlemen had their gear set up.  Thomas had a large Dob, and there was also a gentleman who had an observatory with a slide-off roof and had a 10" or 12" Meade LX200 on a pier.  Nice setups.  

 

Anyway, Thomas showed me around the sky with his Dob and the other gentleman showed me some sites through his LX200.  It was an awesome night, I will always remember how they kindly took me in as a stranger and I reluctantly left the site after many hours, having to work the next day, but I was leaving with a new level of appreciation for the night sky and had some new friends as well!  I was always very grateful to Thomas and the others.

 

I googled and sadly found that Thomas passed back in 2018. 

 

https://www.legacy.c...uary?id=6569787

 

With all that said, I was wondering if:

 

Anyone from that group is still around anywhere?

Anyone in the Erie Area has a "darker" area that they frequent?

 

I don't see a lot of references anywhere to Erie County Mobile Observer's Group as I assume it melted away after Tom’s passing, or perhaps sooner, but I can’t help but wonder if there is anyone from this group still around? Or are there any other groups or events in or around the Erie Area?  I see reference here to some pre-covid events with Erie mentioned, but nothing recent. 

 

I have been in and out of the hobby for over 35 years now since I was about 17, and I'm back into it now... again.  Can't seem to get rid of the "itch". I worked my way up over the years to an Edge HD11” and then slowly worked my way back down to a small refractor for Astrophotography using an ASI Air PRO which sparked my widefield interest. I also have a 6" SCT, and have a new 10 Dob on order...if it ever arrives! 

 

Anyway, great to be here.

 

Thanks,

Pat

Hi, Pat. I don't have answers to your questions, I'm afraid, but I can't help noticing that you're about 2.5 hours from Cherry Springs State Park. Check those threads on this forum.

[Kickthefog]

Hi, Pat. I don't have answers to your questions, I'm afraid, but I can't help noticing that you're about 2.5 hours from Cherry Springs State Park. Check those threads on this forum.

Hi Mark,

 

No problem at all. I appreciate your response.  

 

Thanks!!    Yes indeed, I already sent my mail in registration for the Black Forest star party at Cherry Springs. I know the online registration opens Tomorrow I believe, but having never been there and being extremely excited about it, I didn’t want it to sell out, so I wanted to get my registration in!  Probably an over reaction on my part but I’m determined to get there.  

 

I guess I’ve been living under a rock my entire life because I just learned of Cherry Springs in general and also of the Star party last year when I saw a YouTube video featuring it.   So I am kicking myself for kind of keeping to myself all these years and not getting out of my own backyard.   So I am really looking forward to it!  .   As you said, it is close enough for me so I’d like to go often,  if possible.   Can’t wait.  

[MawkHawk]

I go to the Great Lakes Star Gaze every Sept and register very early like you, although I don't beleive that they have an attendance limit. Cherry Springs is kind of far for me so I've never been.

But I guess we're straying from your topic.

[Kickthefog]

I go to the Great Lakes Star Gaze every Sept and register very early like you, although I don't beleive that they have an attendance limit. Cherry Springs is kind of far for me so I've never been.

But I guess we're straying from your topic.

Looks like the Great Lakes Star Gaze is about 6 hours from me. I'll keep that one in mind also moving forward. 

[Larry Mc]

Hi Pat,

You might want to check out the Oil Region Astronomical Society, ORAS. Our observatory is slightly less than 2hours from Erie.

Here's our website: http://www.oras.org/

 

We also have a small astro convention coming up at 5he August New Moon, called Astroblast. I have a posting up about it in this forum.

[Kickthefog]

Hi Pat,

You might want to check out the Oil Region Astronomical Society, ORAS. Our observatory is slightly less than 2hours from Erie.

Here's our website: http://www.oras.org/

 

We also have a small astro convention coming up at 5he August New Moon, called Astroblast. I have a posting up about it in this forum.

Hi Larry,

 

Thank you so much for this!!  I just looked through every aspect of the website and read all about the group and the event.   Looks fantastic! What an incredible observatory, learning center, and field space you guys have.  Very impressive and exciting!    I would love to come down to see you guys and participate and help support your mission. 

 

This is exactly the kind of thing that I hoped existed around my area but was completely unaware of.  Really Cool!

 

I'll check with the "boss" (Wife) and make sure we don't have things going on that week, that I forgot about, and if not,  I'll be putting in my registration for the event! 

 

Thanks again! 

Pat

[*skyguy*]

Martz-Kohl observatory and club is about a 1hr 15min drive from Erie PA. They have an impressive array of equipment and membership is only $25 dollars a year. 

 

I visited this observatory some years ago and it was certainly worth the drive. I'm about 1.5 hour drive away from them.

 

https://martzobservatory.org/

[Kickthefog]

Martz-Kohl observatory and club is about a 1hr 15min drive from Erie PA. They have an impressive array of equipment and membership is only $25 dollars a year. 

 

I visited this observatory some years ago and it was certainly worth the drive. I'm about 1.5 hour drive away from them.

 

https://martzobservatory.org/

Holy cow! I wasn't aware of this either!  Thank you so much!  Really appreciate the suggestion and info.  I'll be connecting with these folks as well. 

 

Again, much appreciated!

Pat

[astronutski]

Hi Pat.  While reminiscing about Tom just now I stumbled upon this post of yours from 2 years ago.  I hope you're still here.

My name is Bill Mitchell and I knew Tom extremely well.  I built Tom's 30" f/4.5 Dob that you were looking through on this night you describe and I was very likely there with my 24" f/4 scope.  I also know the gentleman who was renting land there to have his SCT in an observatory, but he's another story I won't bore you with. 

 

I've spent MANY clear and not so clear nights with Tom and others in the ECMOG group traveling around observing anywhere Tom would tell us he was heading to.  He was definitely on another level than us mortals and I know exactly how you felt that night, as I felt it every minute I shared with him.  Yes, unfortunately he passed in 2018, however the club (of which I was a member, and the web guy) had dissolved in about 2012 or so as Tom's health had unfortunately taken a turn for the worse.

 

Ironically, if you're from the area we are just now in the early stages of reforming an astro group and we're holding meetings at Penn State Behrend campus in the planetarium, I can give you further details offline if you're interested.

 

Yes, we have a "secret location" that we don't like to advertise online, as being in this hobby we're kind of vulnerable out there with expensive gear in the dark.  Tom always screened new folks who showed an interest in joining us, ensuring our safety like a protective father.  I honestly can't say enough great things about Tom and I miss him dearly and have regrets for missing his final years but my interest had waned after about 15 years, and he was not going out as much.  But, I have TONS of memories and pictures and some video even, but wish I had more.

 

Anyway, sorry for rambling, I could talk about Tom all day and not run out of compliments, he surely lived for Astronomy.  The knowledge of the night sky that guy had was unbelievable.  He didn't need any star charts, he was the star charts.

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Edited by astronutski, 28 November 2024 - 02:37 PM.

[Tony814]

Bill, I am new to the forum and found your post while searching for a club near me. I am an absolute beginner just getting started with an astrophotography setup. As you can imagine its a steep learning curve at the moment. I would definitely be interested in attending your astro group meetings and talking with more experienced observers. I live in Erie County and my daughter is a Behrend engineering student so I am at least somewhat familiar with the campus. Any info on joining would be appreciated thanks. I am using a 127mm refractor on an eqr-6 mount and controlling everything with the asi air and an Ipad.

[astronutski]

Hi Tony, I sent you a dm just now. Thanks

[ScaredOfTheDark]

I’d be interested in joining, any information about it would be great. I used to live and work about 5 mins from PSB for many years, now I live about 15-20 minutes from there. I’m still a complete newbie at this hobby and haven’t been able to find anyone locally who has any interest in it. 

[astronutski]

Hello scared (we don’t bite LOL), I just sent you a dm regarding the next meeting. Hope to see you there!

Clear skies, Bill

[Kickthefog]

Hi Bill, 

I missed your reply to me back in November. I just checked this thread again and I appreciate your reply and for sharing your story!    Yeah, Tom sure was an amazing person and as you said, HE was the star charts. Unbelievable knowledge and his willingness to share and spend time with a newbie like me. A memory that has absolutely stuck with me!

 

Since posting this I joined ORAS on Larry's recommendation above. What a great group of people they are if you haven't experienced ORAS before, and they have a wonderful observatory and site as well.  I attended Astroblast there at ORAS shortly after posting my initial question above and it was a wonderful experience!    I've also spent time with ORAS members at Cherry Springs for a few Black Forest Star Parties. Larry and the gang at ORAS are very much like Tom in that they love to share knowledge and experience and are very welcoming. Really great folks!

 

I haven't had a lot of time to do astronomy because my normal life and work often interfere, but I am absolutely interested in joining up with you guys at some point if the invite is still there. 

 

Much appreciated and thank you!

Pat