Greetings to all of our club members, visitors, and guests!
We welcome you to the regular meetings of the North Houston Astronomy Club on the 4th Friday of every month.
Currently, our club has its monthly meetings at the Montgomery campus of the Lone Star College system for 2018.
Lone Star – Montgomery Campus is north of the Woodlands, TX on the West Side of I45 and East of the WG Jones State Forest near SH 242.
Click below here for a Map of the Campus and Driving Directions!
(Parking permits are not required after 6 PM!)
Lone Star – Montgomery Campus
Physical Address
3200 College Park Dr.
Conroe, TX 77384
Our gathering begins with the Novice Meeting:
Place: Lone Star College – Montgomery Campus
Location: Classroom Bldg. B (2nd Floor – Room B203)
Time: (6:30 – 7:15) PM
Speaker: Paul Johnson (NHAC Member)
Presentation
Equatorial Mounts & the use of DSLR Cameras
A Dobsonian telescope on an equatorial mount!
This will be a demonstration workshop lead by NHAC member Paul Johnson on how to apply equatorial mounts on Dobsonian mounts for reflector telescopes. The advantage of having equatorial mounts on Dobsonian telescopes provides easier use of polar aligned drive systems to using the common Right Ascension (R.A.) and Declination coordinate system for tracking deep sky objects or any object in the night sky without the cumbersome use of Altitude Azimuth drive systems. Mr. Johnson will show how to construct such a system from various parts and the application of such a system with a Dobsonian reflector for DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras for Astrophotography.
Learn more from the following References
What is a DSLR Camera?
DSLR Astrophotography
Deep Sky with your DSLR!
The Dobsonian Telescope
One Minute Astronomer on Telescope Mounts
Dobsonian Telescopes on Equatorial Drives
Place: Lone Star College – Montgomery Campus
Location: Classroom Bldg. B (1st Floor Auditorium – Room B102)
Time: (7:30 – 10:00) PM
Speaker: Steve Goldberg
(Long – Time Veteran Amateur Astronomer)
Presentation
Light Pollution: What it is and How to Stop it!
See how a simple bright light affects the quality of the Night Sky!
Steve Goldberg has been an amateur Astronomer for many decades with a history of winning many of the pins and certificates of the famous observing programs offered by the Astronomical League. Mr. Goldberg first discovered ‘Saturn’ with his first telescope at a very young age as has been a previous president of the Pontchartrain Astronomy Club and has served in many positions of importance for both the Houston Astronomical Society and Fort Bend Astronomy Club. He currently owns a 14.5″ f/5.2 Star Splitter telescope and has attended every Texas Star Party as well as many events and star parties sponsored by Astronomy groups since 1980. Winning every Advanced observing program pin developed by the longtime distinguished veteran of Amateur Larry Mitchell of the HAS Club.
Light Pollution is a serious issue that affects the future of the night skies, Astronomy, and the environmental plus financial matters of our world. Every year more buildings and urban expansion slowly take away our Night Skies meant to be enjoyed by everyone. The problem is persistent with the city of Houston and the surrounding neighborhoods and cities with brighter, high – temperature LEDs without any consideration for the proper shielding methods to direct light away from the skies and towards the ground. Mr. Goldberg’s talk will focus on the nature of Light pollution, its effects on all of us, the future of our hobby, and the current methods and efforts to reduce or stop it altogether.
Learn more about the Issue of Light Pollution
What is Light Pollution?
Light Pollution Map of the World!
International Dark Sky Association
(Get Involved!!!)
Reducing the effects of Outdoor Lighting
Light Pollution & Safety!
Everything Connects! (Why it Matters!)