Schedule

Friday, May 29
5:00 pm Registration Reservoir Park Pavilion
6:00 pm Pisces Fry Reservoir Park Pavilion
7:30 pm Observatory Tour (optional based on weather and interest) River Ridge Observatory
Saturday, May 30
7:45 am Registration UALR, EIT Building
8:00-8:45 am Regional Business Meeting UALR, EIT Auditorium
9:00-9:15 am Opening Address UALR, EIT Auditorium
9:15-10:00 am Gary Hug - NEO Astrometry UALR, EIT Auditorium
10:00-10:15 am Break  
10:15-11:00 am Scott Austin, Ph.D - Spectroscopy with Small Telescopes UALR, EIT Auditorium
11:00-11:45 am Chris Lasley - The Tablet and the Telescope UALR, EIT Auditorium
11:45 am - 12:45 pm Lunch TBD
12:45 pm Group Photo TBD
1:00-1:45 pm Robert Togni & James (Bruce) McMath - Getting Started in Variable Stars UALR, EIT Auditorium
1:45-2:30 pm Jeff Roberston, Ph.D - Cataclysmic Variables with Small Telescopes UALR, EIT Auditorium
2:30-3:15 pm Robert Berrington, Ph.D - Evolution of Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies UALR, EIT Auditorium
3:15-3:30 pm Break  
3:30-4:15 pm Preston Starr - Setting up a Robotic Telescope UALR, EIT Auditorium
4:15-5:00 pm Terry Attwood - The Future of Astronomy Clubs UALR, EIT Auditorium
7:00 pm Banquet UALR, Donaghey Student Center
7:30 pm    Keynote Ron Dilulio - Amateur/Professional Collaboration: Past, Present and Future UALR, Donaghey Student Center
8:15 pm Awards Ceremony UALR, Donaghey Student Center
Sunday, May 31
  Frontiers in Outreach  
8:45-9:15 am Peggy Walker - Outreach for the Blind and Disabled UALR, EIT Auditorium
9:15-9:45 am Theo Wellington - Urban Star Parties UALR, EIT Auditorium
9:45-10:15 am Jim Small - The 2017 Eclipse and Making of a Library Telescope Program UALR, EIT Auditorium
10:15-10:30 am Break  
  Workshops  
10:30 am - 12:00 pm Imaging Workshop

John Reed and Chris Lasley, two veteran astrophotographers, will lead this workshop discussing topics driven by audience interest. Participants are encouraged to join in the discussion and help drive the workshop by filling out the short survey below.

Imaging Survey

UALR, EIT 217
10:30 am - 12:00 pm Photometry Workshop

Dr. Jeff Robertson, Arkansas Tech University, will run this workshop in which attendees will be instructed in the processing of ccd images of variable stars and generation of light curves. Attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop with a list of freeware progams downloaded (to be provided). Data will be provided for processing

UALR, EIT 218
10:30 am - 12:00 pm Leadership Workshop

In the main this is an open discussion forum for club leaders or potential leaders to compare challenges and strategies for addressing them. How to attract new members, how to retain more of them, optimizing dues structures, cultivating leadership, the how and why of incorporating the Night Sky Network into your club's routine acitivities, developing programing etc. Having an overview of how other clubs are structured and operate can be informative in this process and if your club has not done so you are encouraged to complete the online survey below.

Leadership Survey

UALR, EIT 203
12:00 pm Closing Address UALR, EIT Auditorium