DFW Astronomy Opportunities

Apr 3, 2009

Getting in the way of what is possible is always the lack of understanding as to WHERE it is possible.  I am talking about opportunities to learn and do astronomy, of course.  I have several friends knowing what I do, inquire about where they can go to see this stuff for themselves.  So, I thought that I would provide a list of options for local DFW residents to try, describing what it is they can expect.  I will divide opportunities into degrees of astronomical rabidity…starting with places where you will find telescopes just look through and then talking about places where you will get serious exposure to your new, rapidly growing hobby.  Local Star Parties A “star party” is a one-night public event where members of local astronomy clubs gather to setup scopes for a night of community fun.  Scopes of various types and sizes can be found, with generous owners willing to give their time to answer questions and to show off the heavens.  It is the perfect place for beginners to get their first looks through a telescope, or to learn the constellations, or to figure out what type of scope to purchase.  When you arrive just before sunset, you can expect to see perhaps 5 to 20 telescopes on a given night.  Scopes will be trained on brighter sky objects, such as planets, the moon, and easy to view deepsky targets - these mostly suburban events will not be blessed with darkest of skies.  If you have your own star charts and binoculars, bring them.  If you have a new telescope you need help with, bring it.  Club members use this opportunity to spread the joys of astronomy, but also teach others to be better observers.  But be sure to leave your bright flashlights at home - dim red lights are preferred.  Normally, such free events will be regular, monthly affairs, usually aligning with a particular Saturday each month.  The Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas (TAS) hosts four such events beginning just before sunset in various cities on sequential Saturdays during the month as follows: - Springpark Star Party - Springpark Park - Garland, Texas - 1st Saturday of the month - Organizer: Jeff Barton (chipdatajeffb@yahoo.com) - Frisco Star Fest - Frisco Commons - Frisco, Texas - 2nd Saturday of the month - Organizer: Phil Jones (pj@visualuniverse.org) - Cedar Hill Star party - Williams Park - Cedar Hill, Texas - 3rd Saturday of the month - Organizer: Vance Bagwell (vancebagwell@att.net) - The Fort Worth Astronomical Society (FWAS) hosts a monthly starparty at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History open to the entire public.  Be sure to check online or email the organizer to be certain the event is still scheduled on a given night.  As a general rule, mostly cloudy skies and/or high winds could cancel an event.  Astronomy Clubs Perhaps after a few local events you would like go join one of the astronomy clubs that made those events possible?  The Dallas and Fort Worth astronomy “societies” mentioned above have small annual dues (no more than a magazine subscription). In addition to the outreach events, like the local starparties, they provide regular monthly programs and club meetings about astronomy in general and about the hobby itself.  Furthermore, these clubs have “dark sky” sites available exclusively to its members.  Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas has a site near Atoka, OK, where you — Post From My iPhone!