15 replies to this topic

[dudleyjohn]

I'm wondering if there are any other members of this site who live near Gettysburg, PA and would be interested in meeting to talk about astronomy in general, astrophotography, telescopes, imaging equipment, etc. I was a member of an astronomy club down in Maryland before I moved here, but haven't been able to meet anyone who shares my passion here. Even though there's an observatory at the local college, there's no club or any kind of social group that I have found. If there's enough interest, maybe we could start a club here. But even if it's only a couple of people, it would be fun just to socialize every now and then and share our experiences.

[David Knisely]

I hope you find some people near to you, but if you don't, there is a club (Harrisburg Astronomical Society) in Harrisburg:  https://www.astrohbg.org/

There is also The York County Astronomical Society in York:  In Maryland, there are several others within driving distance, with the closest one probably the Tri-State Astronomers in Hagerstown:  https://www.tristateastronomers.org/.  Good luck and clear skies to you.

[dudleyjohn]

Hah. I was just looking at the ASH site before I came here. It's a 50 min drive from my house. Thinking about it, but I'd really like to find others nearby who would enjoy getting together more frequently. Looks like I'm out of luck on that score.

[Dave Mitsky]

The York Club's observatory is about 30 miles from Gettysburg.

 

http://www.astroyork.com/

[Dave Mitsky]

I happen to know Dr. Larry Marschall, who ran the Gettysburg College observatory for many years and who was a speaker at a number of ASH meetings and banquets.  He's retired now and I don't know if he still lives in the area but you might want to try contacting him.

https://www.gettysbu...d7-d177ced258a1

[dudleyjohn]

I happen to know Dr. Larry Marschall, who ran the Gettysburg College observatory for many years and who was a speaker at a number of ASH meetings and banquets.  He's retired now and I don't know if he still lives in the area but you might want to try contacting him.

https://www.gettysbu...d7-d177ced258a1

I live just down the street from the current astronomy professor at Gettysburg College. She invites me to their consortiums and open houses, but isn't really interested in a club.

[Dave Mitsky]

I attended a CLEA lab at Gettysburg College a number of years ago.  I've also been there, as well as at Dickinson and Franklin & Marshall, for a number of Central Pennsylvania Consortium Astronomers' Meetings.  I've visited the college observatory a couple of times too.

[Rgross2112]

I'm interested.  I live right down the road in New Oxford.  I got interested in Astronomy at a young age when my little league coach invited my father and I over to his house to look through a telescope.  I was amazed that first time and begged for my first telescope for Christmas.  Ended up having to use a spotting scope but I didn't care, I made the best of it.  What was cool was my coach was also a math teacher here in New Oxford and he ran the Astronomy Club.  He eventually retired and started to work at Gettysburg College, working at the Observatory.  You may know him, his name is Richard Cooper.  Long story short I served time in the Air Force and lived away for 15 years.  One station I was at in South Dakota and I found a local Astronomy Club.  I got connected with a guy who hand ground his mirrors.  He eagerly took me in and taught me the way.  So I have a  hand ground 10" Dobsonian that has been parked in the corner for years.  Just recently I got it out and jumping back into the hobby.  In fact if you look up my history of messages on this forum you will see I reached out about correcting my focal length after I put a new focuser on the telescope.  It took me 2 years to get the guts up to cut the tube and shorten the focal length slightly.  The scope works great again.  

 

So if you're still interested, count me in.  I've pretty much been a stalker on this forum for the past few weeks and already it's costs me about $700.  I upgraded my eyepieces and a few filters.  Currently contemplating if I want to buy a refractor and all the goodies needed to start astrophotography.  I have a feeling people here will be happy to help me spend that money.

 

I'll have to invite my neighbor over some time, Mr. Cooper, he only lives a few doors down from me.

[spongebob@55]

Well, we come to Gettysburg 3 or 4 times a year and have always hoped to do some visual but haven't had any luck.  Look at my avatar, look familiar?

Will be visiting again in April.  PM me if there's any interest.

Bob

[dudleyjohn]

I'm interested.  I live right down the road in New Oxford.  I got interested in Astronomy at a young age when my little league coach invited my father and I over to his house to look through a telescope.  I was amazed that first time and begged for my first telescope for Christmas.  Ended up having to use a spotting scope but I didn't care, I made the best of it.  What was cool was my coach was also a math teacher here in New Oxford and he ran the Astronomy Club.  He eventually retired and started to work at Gettysburg College, working at the Observatory.  You may know him, his name is Richard Cooper.  Long story short I served time in the Air Force and lived away for 15 years.  One station I was at in South Dakota and I found a local Astronomy Club.  I got connected with a guy who hand ground his mirrors.  He eagerly took me in and taught me the way.  So I have a  hand ground 10" Dobsonian that has been parked in the corner for years.  Just recently I got it out and jumping back into the hobby.  In fact if you look up my history of messages on this forum you will see I reached out about correcting my focal length after I put a new focuser on the telescope.  It took me 2 years to get the guts up to cut the tube and shorten the focal length slightly.  The scope works great again.  

 

So if you're still interested, count me in.  I've pretty much been a stalker on this forum for the past few weeks and already it's costs me about $700.  I upgraded my eyepieces and a few filters.  Currently contemplating if I want to buy a refractor and all the goodies needed to start astrophotography.  I have a feeling people here will be happy to help me spend that money.

 

I'll have to invite my neighbor over some time, Mr. Cooper, he only lives a few doors down from me.

I just checked my content and saw your response. I haven't heard from anyone else in the area, yet. I do strictly astrophotography with a 125mm refractor. If you are ever interested in seeing it in action, I'd be happy to give you a tour one clear night. Most of what I do is from indoors over ethernet and wifi. I'd love to see your setup, too. I used to do visual and imaging with a Celestron CPC1100 from an observatory I built myself down in Maryland before I moved to Gettysburg. I sold the CPC and got the refractor last year.

[Rgross2112]

I am very interested in seeing your scope and setup in action.  I'm in the middle of determining what my next telescope will be.  We camp so I'm looking for something that will give me this mobility but I also want something that can be used for visual and astrophotography.  Your AT125EDL is one that is on my short list.  Others include the Orion EON 130mm Triplet or the Celestron Edge HD 8", so I'm very interested in chatting with you and seeing your scope and the EQ6R-Pro in action.  I have so many questions.  I'll send you a PM and see if we can connect.

[dudleyjohn]

I am very interested in seeing your scope and setup in action.  I'm in the middle of determining what my next telescope will be.  We camp so I'm looking for something that will give me this mobility but I also want something that can be used for visual and astrophotography.  Your AT125EDL is one that is on my short list.  Others include the Orion EON 130mm Triplet or the Celestron Edge HD 8", so I'm very interested in chatting with you and seeing your scope and the EQ6R-Pro in action.  I have so many questions.  I'll send you a PM and see if we can connect.

It looks like I'll be going out again Sunday and Monday nights. Not sure yet about Tuesday. I'm assuming you'd want to see the setting up as well as the operation of the rig, although actual imaging isn't very "illuminating" once it's started. Are you on FB? 

 

I don't drink (just because I don't want the extra calories, not because I object to drinking), but we could meet somewhere that serves beer, if you like. Do you have a place in mind?

[ShaulaB]

Twenty years ago, wow how time flies, I participated in Dr. Larry Marschall's CLEA 10 day workshop for educators. Maybe Gettysburg college can let you use a room once a month for meetings.

 

Using social media like Facebook, maybe you can find people in Chambersburg and McConnelsburg and other small towns who might be interested in forming a club. One of the clubs near me meets at a restaurant every month and people seem to like that. Weather is getting nice, so maybe you can host a picnic at a park. Getting the word out is the hard part. Can a local radio or TV station or newspaper advertise a meet up for free?

[Mike Q]

We visit Gettysburg in late Sept every year.  It would be cool to hook up with a local astro group during the visit 

[r1larry]

There is also a club south of the border (about 35 mins away) Westminster Astronomical Society. Meetings are held in the Bear Branch Nature Center, 300 John Owings Rd. Westminster.

[Mike Q]

The wife stumbled onto something on Facebook.  Evidently Tri State Astronomers is having a star party out by the Sach's Covered Bridge in October.