Chiefland Astronomy

Dr. Howard Eskildsen: Observing and Photographing the Sun.

Abstract: This presentation will provide a brief overview of current solar cycle activity and then concentrate on imaging the Sun. Various techniques will be discussed along with a demonstration of processing high-quality solar images will be given during the session. 

About the Speaker: Alachua Astronomy Club (AAC) and Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO) member, Howard Eskildsen, has been interested in the stars, Sun and Moon since childhood.  In grade school he learned the stars from star charts in a book and spent hours looking at the sky and watching for meteors.  His first telescopic views came from his high school’s sadly abused Dynascope that he restored to working condition.  Later he made a 6” reflector and placed it on a pipe fitting mount per designs by Sam Brown and used it for observing when time permitted. 

In the years that followed, he attended medical school and raised a family, which left little time for stargazing.  Finally, after a quarter of a century hiatus, he returned to regular observing in 2002 when his wife, Fairy, purchased him a Meade ETX-125.  Since then he has observed the Sun and Moon regularly and anything else in the sky when time permits.  He has sent nearly 5,000 observations of the Sun to the ALPO Solar Section and has written a piece on solar photography for their website.  He also provided photos and written material for Jamey L. Jenkin’s book, The Sun and How to Observe It, and has given several presentations on solar activity.

Howard also observes the moon and has submitted more than a thousand lunar photos to the ALPO Lunar Section.  He has also written articles for Sky and Telescope, The Strolling Astronomer, Selenology, and The Lunar Observer.  His photos have appeared on spaceweather.com, LPOD, Astronomy Magazine’s Photo of the Day, National Geographic, and other web sites.

Dr. Jerry Cheney: Building a Home Observatory

Abstract: A home observatory offers the amateur astronomer more and better opportunities to observe the night sky. Instead of spending hours setting up and breaking down equipment on a nightly basis, you can begin observations after only a few minutes of setup.  Larger mounts and telescopes that are prohibitive to bring out and put away nightly can be accommodated easily in a well built observatory.  Using my observatory build as an example, I will discuss many of the issues you need to consider in building an observatory.  Your observatory build will differ based on your observing goals and equipment, your building skills, your location, and your budget.

About the Speaker: Jerry Cheney grew up in southeast Texas.  He earned his BS in Biology from Lamar University in 1976 and went on to earn his PhD in Biological Oceanography from the MIT/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program in Oceanography in 1981.  He then accepted a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he met and married his lovely wife, Marianne.  They have two sons, Michael, an industrial engineer in Tampa, and Chris, currently in his final year of Pharmacy School at UF.

Dr. Cheney taught oceanography at the college level and continued his studies of the distribution of zooplankton in the North Atlantic, but after ten years he decided to change careers to become an optometrist.  He graduated from the New England College of Optometry in 1994.  The family moved to Florida in 1997 and eventually settled in Ocala, where Dr. Cheney practiced for fifteen years.   He had the good fortune to be able to retire in 2014.

Dr. Cheney always had an interest in astronomy, and being a scientist by general nature and training, he has taken up astronomy as hobby in retirement   He joined the Alachua Astronomy Club in 2015 and has served in the club’s administration for many years, including as president from 2017 to 2019.  He teaches science courses, including astronomy, through Senior Learners in Ocala.

Dr. Jeffrey Martin: Star Party WOW Moments

JPL/Solar System Ambassador

Abstract: Tonight, I would like to share with you some WOW Moments- both by day and by night- from some of my favorite star parties that I have been fortunate to have recently attended from across the country. You will surely want to add some or all of these to your “star party bucket list”!

I would also like to share a lighthearted story of how I and three other 14-year-old “ROCKET BOYS” planned, built, and “flew” a mock-up of the Apollo 11 spacecraft on a ten-day simulated Apollo 11.5 mission in a sandlot in Central Florida at the exact same time as the real Apollo 11 mission took place in July 1969!

About the Speaker: Growing up in Huntsville, Alabama, near the iconic Marshall Space Flight Center—where NASA developed and tested the Saturn V Moon rocket—sparked Jeff’s lifelong passion for space exploration and astronomy. Inspired by the groundbreaking achievements in spaceflight that unfolded just miles from his home, Jeff pursued a fulfilling career as a family physician, but never lost sight of their astronomical dreams.

Now retired, Jeff  has channeled his enthusiasm into a vibrant second career as a space outreach specialist.  As a certified Solar System Ambassador with JPL/NASA, Jeff has engaged audiences across the southeastern United States through numerous astronomy outreach programs at science museums, scouting events, and star parties. Jeff’s commitment to inspiring the next generation is further exemplified by his role as a certified merit badge counselor for space exploration and astronomy with the Scouts of America.  Additionally, Jeff dedicates time to volunteering at a local school library, fostering curiosity and learning among young students.

With a deep-seated passion for the cosmos and a dedication to education, Jeff continues to share his love for Astronomy and Spaceflight with communities far and wide, bridging the gap between the wonders of the universe and the excitement of discovery.

Prof. Stephen Elardo: The Roadside Geology of Earth’s Moon

Geological Sciences, University of Florida

Abstract: To a scientist, the real treasure is what the Moon can tell us about Solar System history. Have you ever wondered what you’re looking at when you look at the Moon in the night sky? Is the Moon’s forever-hidden far side different? Does the Moon have the same types of rocks as Earth? What did we find when we went there? Are we ever going back? In this talk, Dr. Elardo will take you on a tour of the geology of Earth’s Moon. We’ll take a stroll through what you can see, look at the fascinating features that you can’t see, dive into the Moon’s interior, jump into the past to find out how it came to be and take a peek at what’s on the Moon’s horizon.

About the Speaker: Dr. Stephen Elardo is a petrologist, geochemist, and planetary scientist who uses a variety of experimental and analytical techniques and sample types to answer large-scale questions about the origin and evolution of the terrestrial planets. He specializes in using high-temperature and pressure experimental techniques to recreate the conditions inside rocky planets on laboratory scales and combine the results with detailed studies of planetary materials and non-traditional stable isotopes to gain a more complete picture of planetary evolution. He is particularly interested in planetary differentiation processes, the formation of early planetary crusts, and the geologic evolution of the Moon.