Car Load Public Viewing Night - March 20 

LOCATION:  maps to observatory found in Gallery Section of this web site. 

Please email astrorandy (at) tbaytel.net if you plan to attend. 

Check the web site prior to leaving to ensure the event is proceeding (clouds or lack of participants)

Remember, dress for the weather, Observatories are not heated.   

ASTRONOMICAL IMAGING COURSE (Spring 2010)

Early Spring / Late Winter, I will be holding Workshops for those that wish to learn Astronomical Imaging.   The course will be held over a number of evenings and will take the participants from basics in astronomy step by step to the process of capturing and processing images of astronomical objects.  Included in the Course will be sessions in the observatory to obtain hands on experience with the equipment.  At the end of the course, you will also have an entire night in the observatory to your self (or with your partner) to put your new found skills to work and create your own work or works of art, or undertake your own scientific research.  Each of the students images will then be considered for inclusion in the annual Calendar or upcoming  Images from Thunder Bay Observatory book.

 If your Interested in signing up for one of the limited spots, contact me at Astrorandy (at) tbaytel.net

COURSE WILL COVER THE FOLLOWING TOPICS:

• Astronomical Coordinate Systems

• Introduction to Telescope

• Overview to Astronomical Objects

• Overview of planning your imaging session

• Introduction to Observatory Operations

• Details on operating related imaging equipment (filters, focuser, guiding..etc)

• Detailed explainations of CCD technology

• Detailed explaination of the CCD imaging process

• Using Software for controlling equipment (Autostar, Maxim DL, Starry Night, Carte de Ceil)

• Details on capturing images using the equipment

• Details on processing your images after

HANDS ON PORTIONS OF THE COURSE WILL INCLUDE:

• Observatory startup and shutdown procedures

• Observatory operations

• Planning your imaging session

• Finding, centering and tracking objects

• Reaching optimal focus

• Manual vrs automated imaging

• Capturing Images

• Processing Images

INTRODUCTORY COST: $150 (only $25 more if you want to bring a partner)
Students are asked to bring a Laptop to continue learning between sessions, however, Computers will be provided for those that do not have a laptop.

Scheduling will be determined later to accomodate all the students.  Options include one evening a week for about 6 weeks, 3 Sundays or a compressed weekend Saturday and Sunday 8 hours each

HOW TO BOOK OBSERVATORY:

If you are interested in booking the Observatory for a group, please email the following to Astrorandy(at)tbaytel.net.  NOTE: Many voice messages have been automatically deleted by the system before I was able to retrieve them, sorry for the inconvience.

Primary Contact: Email, Phone Number
NAME OF GROUP:  (School, Guides, Scouts..etc)
SIZE OF GROUP:
AVERAGE AGE / AGE RANGE:

Type of Tour:  1) Slide show, Lecture & Observatory Tour 2) Telescope Only Tour 3) Snack, Slide Show and Tour

Preferred Date:  (I always suggest dates around the first 1/4 moon are best)
Alternative Date: (In case cloudy, or will you proceed with Tour and slide show..etc)

Forward the information to ASTRORANDY (at) tbaytel.net

Thank you

Randy

Latest Image From Observatory
M31 - Andromeda Galaxy

M33 - Pinwheel Galaxy Nov-2009  

STAY TUNED

Upcoming Theme Nights planned over the winter!

 Fall 2009 Update

LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY:  Welcome back 2nd year LU students.  Once again Thunder Bay Obsevatory will be providing access to the Observatory, Telescope and Imaging equipment to students attending the PHY 2410 "Observational Astronomy" class.  Students are currently forming groups, designing their research projects and will be soon booking sessions on the telescope.    Once the student schedules are booked, the Observatory will be accepting new bookings for Student tours, and adult groups.

Also this fall, a number of special evenings are planned for the Faculity of Education and local teachers.  Please stay tuned for programing and dates.

NOLALUECOCENTRE.ORG  Once again I will be presenting a nite with the stars, Backyards to black holes picture tour of the universe work shop.  Sep 26th.  See NolaluEcoCentre.org for booking your seat.

DIGGING FOR THE TRUTH.  Saturday Oct 24, I will be hosting a work shop on life in the universe, a blend of a scientific and conspiracy look at life out there...with a overview of the UFO phenomenon.

May 2009 News  

TBOB successfully hosted a couple of dinner parties in the last month. The feedback from the groups was very positive and this area of the operation seems to be growing as does the interest.

I hope to start construction of dedicated facility that will be used for hosting large groups for lectures and special catering events.  

The Lakehead University Observational Astronomy Course has now been approved.  Last years pilot project was a huge success and the feedback from all students and facility has been very positive.  Look for the course to run again this fall semester.

Partnership with the Nolalu Eco Centre continues to grow.  Look for expanded offerings this coming fall between the eco centre and TBOB.  New workshops and programming.

This fall TBOB plans to expand its Highschool and Public school offerings to better meet the needs of the education system.

TBOB is also in the process of working out partnerships with local hotels and shuttle services to give our out of town guest a easy method to access the observatory and more flexibility to sleep longer and check out later at the hotel.

As you can see...much activity is underway as usually !!!

We are close the the 4 weeks of no darkness...so stay tuned for the annual sky party in early august.

 Randy

UPDATE  March 2009

Sorry folks...I've been a bit preoccupied as of late.   I have recently started another house re-build project (#5) in order to fund some of my observatory expansion plans for 2009.  Plans include a 75 seat lecture theater / catering facility, a show room / studio and a second observatory for the LU students next semester.  I hope to finish the house project in a month or so and resume operations of the observatory in a bigger capacity shortly after.

Thank you all for you support, encouragement and invovlement in my on-going development of this facility. 

Stay tuned...

Randy McAllister
Director,
Thunder Bay Observatory

P.s. If you feel like hammering nails, stringing drywall ...drop me a line..