2013 Special Guest Speakers
Bob Berman Astronomy Magazine	Dr. Stephanie Milam Goddard Space Flight Center	Bob Piekiel Telescope Design “Barefoot Bob”

David Bishop

Barlow Bob Solar Observing Enthusiast Solar Astronomy Outreach

Presented by

Kopernik Observatory Equipment
6″ AstroPhysics Super Planetary F/12 Refractor Losmandy G11 Mount	20″ Optical Guidance Systems Ritchey-Chretien F/8	14″ Celestron C14 F/11 SCT Celestron CGE Mount

The KAS is a group of volunteers interested in astronomy. We volunteer our services on behalf of Kopernik Observatory & Science Center. The Observatory is perched atop a 1720 foothill in Vestal, 13 miles Southwest of Binghamton, NY. We have calculated a Sky Quality Meter (SQM) reading of 21.00 (naked-eye limit of 6.12 magnitude) with a light dome in the NE. Operating for over 35 years, the Kopernik Observatory & Science Center was New York State’s first science laboratory facility designed for K-12 teachers, students, and their families. Today, our regional science center is also dedicated to public programming and to teaching students from Kindergarten to the Graduate level.

We are planning our AstroFest event for this fall. We are hoping you would consider being a part of our event. At this time nothing has been finalized; some talks are targeted for a more advanced group of amateur astronomers from Kopernik, and other astronomy clubs, as well as college professors, graduate and undergraduate students from area Colleges and Universities; as well as interested members of the public.

Our AstroFest will begin at 6 PM on Friday, October 12th, and concludes Sunday afternoon, October 14th. You can decide how much you would like to participate from one day to all three. Camping will be available at the observatory or you can find lodging at a special discount rate in Vestal motels. We are hoping for clear skies to observe after the talks Friday and Saturday, and sunny skies for solar observing with Barlow Bob and “company” on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

At this event, we will be planning a swap meet, and you are welcome to sell your astronomical items or trade with others that participate. We will provide a free spot under our Gazebo or dining canopy to do so (first come, first served). One of the purposes of this year’s event is to get others to visit us and see the jewel we have here in Vestal.

Not-for-profit Kopernik Observatory is regionally known as a “Space Education Center”. We also claim to be the best sited, best equipped observatory in the Northeast US which is open to the public. We have three domes, one with a 6” f/12 Astro Physics Planetary Special (the second best of the batch of 25 produced) on a G-11 mount/clock drive and NGC-Max; one with a Celesteron 14” with a CGE computer drive and our flagship, a 20” Ritchey-Chretien with an OGS drive. On occasions we talk with astronauts in space on the ISS, Space Shuttle, and in the past, on Mir via amateur radio station.

Directions to Kopernik Observatory, 698 Underwood Road, Vestal NY:

From the E or W – take Route 17 (Southern Tier Expressway – future I-86). Get off at the Vestal Exit 67 S (26 S) and proceed up the hill about 5.5 miles. Just past Vestal Center (alleged to be a 40 mph “speed trap”), turn right at the sign “Observatory 2 Miles” onto Glenwood Road. If you miss the turn, you will hit the Pennsylvania state line in about a mile – just turn around and go back a mile. Take Glenwood road a block to the first left hand turn (about .2 mile). This is Underwood Road. Drive up the hill 1.8 miles. Kopernik Observatory is on the left.

From the N or S – take I-81 to Route 17 (Southern Tier Expressway – future I-86). Then follow directions from E or W.