Mason Dixon Star Party 2008

Speaker Topics and Bios

Updated when when new speakers and topics are confirmed

Keynote Speaker
Tom Trusock of Cloudynights.com
Toys and Tools to Explore the Universe: One Gearhead's Perspective
Saturday, 6:00PM

Gear Heads Unite! Join Tom as he talks about upcoming gear, as well as trends in observing and equipment. We'll take a good look at some of the best options available for the amateur, as well as a peek or two at what is coming down the pike in the (hopefully) not so distant future. The best tool for the best job!

Biography

With over 23 thousand members (as of April 2008), there's no denying that the Cloudynights.com forums are some of the most popular astronomy forums on the internet. Spend any time there, and you'll run into Tom Trusock. Tom is the top level forum administrator and head gear hound. Aside from contributing 150+ odd articles to CloudyNights, Tom has also written for several other publications including Astronomy and the BBC's The Sky at Night. Although he's mainly known for his equipment reviews, he confesses that he has the most fun writing his Small Wonders columns - a series of tours of the night sky. Small Wonders has been greatly enriched by it's readers input, and is available in 4 languages. Tom is a long time amateur who observes from Michigan's dark skies.

Dr Marty Rice
Astronomy as a Religious Endeavor
Thursday, 7PM

We’re use to thinking of Science (and in that regard, astronomy, too) as an endeavor that is fundamentally "objective" in that true science, as opposed to pseudo-science, is and should be free from prejudicial influences that come from outside the scientific method. Religious belief is one of the prejudicial influences that true science should be free from, or "neutral" towards, in order to be trustworthy. However, recent work in both the history and philosophy of science belies this traditional picture. In this regard, many of us are familiar with the work of Thomas Kuhn and his radical scientific subjectivism surrounding the notion of "paradigm." However, more recently, philosophers working in a tradition known as the "Amsterdam" philosophy have made arguments that all scientific theories, in their very epistemological structure, presuppose what amounts to a religious belief while rejecting the radical subjectivism of Kuhn. This lecture will be an introduction to the Amsterdam perspective and how it is radically different from, and rejects other popular views about the relation of science to religious belief, such as fundamentalism and seven day creationism.

Biography

Martin Rice is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh's Johnstown campus where he advises the student astronomy club. His primary teaching responsibilities are in Philosophy of Science, Logic, the Philosophy of Mathematics and Philosophy of Religion. When not collecting telescopes, he's championing the advantages of the typewriter over the computer. BACK TO TOP

Larry McHenry
Solar Observing Techniques and Equipment
Friday, 2PM

Larry will present a discussion on observing the Sun, which will include examples of various solar filters and equipment, solar observing techniques, and his specialty of video-capture solar imaging. Weather permitting, the talk will be followed by a solar observing session at Larry's campsite using his Meade 8" LX200 with a Daystar .6A H-alpha filer, along with Coronado's PST Ha and CaK telescopes. We hope to be able to view sunspots in white-light, and active-regions, prominences, and if we're lucky, perhaps even a solar flare!Observations will be made both visually and with a video astronomy system. To find Larry's campsite, just look for the Wazat! (teardrop trailer).

Video Astronomy for Beginners
Friday, 7PM

An overview of the benefits of using an astronomical Deep-Sky videocamera, type of equipment needed, and video capture tips and examples). Video Astronomy allows you to observe in comfort and reduces eyestrain and eliminates 'floater' issues. It is great for group observing, and allows you to manipulate images in real-time thru your monitor and camera's controls. The future of Video in amateur astronomy is quite bright, as Video Astron omy is becoming as popular as conventional film and CCD astrophotography. Today we are seeing amateurs replacing their glass eyepieces with electronic video eyes!
Video astronomy website: http://home.comcast.net/~lemastro/vidcap/video1.htm

Biography

Larry McHenry co-chair of the former Laurel Highlands Star Cruise convention, past President of the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh (AAAP), and past Director of the Mingo Creek Park Observatory (MCPO), lives in the South Hills community of Baldwin, and currently works in downtown Pittsburgh as a systems application architect. Larry has been active in amateur astronomy for over 30 years, and is currently a member of both the AAAP and the Kiski Astronomers. Since 1991, Larry has specialized in solar observing, sketching, and video imaging sunspots, and is a contributor to the AAVSO's sunspot counting program. He has created a website highlighting his solar observations and equipment: Big Woodchuck Solar Observatory - http://home.comcast.net/~lemsolar/Bwwso1.htm. BACK TO TOP

Dr. Roger Davis
Marred Reputations, Buick Transmissions, and Hailstorms: Clyde Tombaugh and the Discovery of Planet Pluto
Wednesday, 7PM

Roger will be giving a talk about the events that set the stage for the discovery of Pluto. You will hear about Clyde's early life, the path that lead him to Lowell Observatory, the techniques used for the search and discovery of Pluto, and the impact on Clyde's life and astronomy. With all of the talk about Pluto being demoted from being a planet you hear these days, it will be fascinating to learn more about the man who first found this poor little ex-planet.

Biography

Roger Davis is currently the Director of Science and Engineering Programs for OptiMetrics, Inc. He previously served as the Director of Bioinformatics at Axcell Biosciences, and was a senior scientist and Vice President for Science and Technology Corporation. He received his Ph.D. in Astronomy from New Mexico State University where he came to know Clyde Tombaugh. During his graduate studies Roger had the honor and pleasure of having an office next to Dr. Tombaugh. Roger enjoyed and learned from Clyde from 1975 until Clyde's passing in 1997. BACK TO TOP

Norm Lewis
Solar system walk
Saturday, 10AM

Most people the enjoy the sky, deal in really large numbers like the sun is 93 million miles away from the earth. Hard to conceive. We are going to replicate or solar system on a scale that everyone can understand. On Saturday we are going to do a Solar System Walk. We will start out at one end of the astronomy viewing field at the Sun or to be more specific a model of it. Our space travelers will then start out on a "walk" through the solar system. The first stop on our walk will be at the planet Mercury, which is modeled to scale. Once Mercury is reached and put in it's proper place we will then travel off into space again, down the runway, to the rest of the planets which are all to scale. By the time we reach the outer planets, (a nice hike), young and old alike will get a better feel for the size of our solar system. This "space journey" should take about an hour and will require some walking and audience participation.

Norm Lewis is also donating a raffle prize!

Biography

Norm Lewis is the Chief Meteorologist for ABC2News. Norm grew up in Florida and went to Florida State University . His background in weather came from the US Navy where he received schooling in meteorology . Norm worked with the Hurricane Hunter Squadron, VW-4 for several years and also worked at the National Hurricane Center in Coral Gables Florida . Norm has resided in Baltimore over thirty years and considers Baltimore his home town. "The reason I feel Baltimore is so special is due to the people. This is one of the few towns where you can walk down the street and talk to people and they will stop and really talk to you. There are no put-on attitudes…just real people…real neighbors." Norm is involved with archery and has won four National Championships. His other interests include ballroom dancing, target shooting and astronomy. Norm also is fortunate to have one of the few private observatories in Maryland. BACK TO TOP

John Raymond
Observe 10 Excellent Planetary Nebulae at the MDSP
Saturday, 11AM

Planetary nebulae are fascinating deep sky wonders. This talk covers locating and observing 10 selected planetaries observable during MDSP. All 10 are visible in small telescopes and amazing in large apertures. Also covered are hints on observing Planetaries for the Astronomical League's observing club. A limited supply of handout charts included. If weather allows there will be a mini-tour of the planetaries Friday or Saturday night at John's telescope. For those interested the AL has an observing guide at http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/planetarynebula/planetneb1.html

Biography

John Raymond is an amateur observer from Virginia. John has a certificate from the Astronomical League for observing 60+ planetary Nebulae, by star-hopping. Some other astronomical achievements: Past president of the Richmond Astronomical Society, participation in numerous public outreach observing sessions, founder of the Richmond Telescope Party (See page 8 of April 2008 Astronomy Technology Today) and author of Asterisms for Small Telescopes and Binoculars. 2008 marks John's fifth MDSP. John's works at inspiring others to observe and enjoy the sky. "My favorite part of astronomy" John says, "is providing the telescope for someone's first view of Saturn." He invites anyone with an interest in telescopes or observing to visit during MDSP. BACK TO TOP