Illinois Dark Skies Speaker List & Events
Thursday, October 15th - (Registration table open from 1 to 5pm)
| 1:00pm | Arrival Time | |
| 5:00pm | Dinner | |
Friday, October 16th - (Registration table open from 9am to 5pm )
| 8:00am | Breakfast | |
| 12 Noon | Lunch / Swap Meet | |
| 1:00pm | Presenation: Robert Arn – Senior undergraduate mathematics and computer science major at Millikin University, (Decatur, Illinois); Author of “Millikin’s Guide to the Cosmos.” | Topic: “An Introduction to Inexpensive Astrophotography” This talk will highlight materials being developed at Millikin University for a book on inexpensive astrophotography. The goal of the talk is to identity equipment and techniques that are available to the average amateur astronomer. In particular we will focus on wide-field astrophotography with DSLRs. The hope is that participants will join presenters in the evening for continued live demonstration of the equipment and techniques shown throughout the talk. |
| 5:00pm | Dinner | |
Saturday, October 17th - (Registration table open from 9am to 5pm)
| 8:00am | Breakfast | |
| 11am - 12 noon | Astronomy Bowl (Quiz and Trivia) | Tony Hopp, Past President of the Sangamon Astronomical Society will host the popular Astronomy Bowl trivia contest. |
| 12 Noon 1:30pm | Lunch / Swap Meet | |
| 12 Noon 2:00pm | Astrophotography Contest Judging | |
| 1:00pm | Presenation: Jim Hopkins – Professor of Astronomy; Joliet Junior College – Joliet, Illinois. | Topic: “Exoplanets: Their characteristics, orbits, and methods of discovery” NASA and other space exploration efforts around the world are pushing the envelope in the search for new planets. Are we close to discovering an Earth 2? |
| 3:00pm | Presenation: Carl J. Wenning & L. Duane Yockey – Twin City Amateur Astronomers – Bloomington-Normal, IL | Topic: “Stalking the Southern Tier” Only about 3/4 of the celestial vault is readily viewed from Midwestern latitudes. Roughly 1/4 of the heavens - an area equal in size to our north circumpolar region - is hidden below the southern horizon. That part of the sky holds many celestial jewels that are readily visible only to those who are willing to travel to the southern hemisphere. Two Central Illinois amateur astronomers will share experiences viewing the southern celestial wonders from Bolivia and Chile. |
| 5:00pm | Dinner / Astrophoto winner/s, Attendance prizes | |
Sunday, October 18th
No Meals
No Speakers
