Is anyone going to this? 

There is a super astronomy conference scheduled for Saturday, January 27.  The annual Regional Gathering of Amateur Astronomers (we call it BoBfest) will be held at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs North Carolina.  The event is a day long informal conference with speakers and presentations on several interesting astronomy topics.  It is a FREE event and is a great way for astronomy beginners to meet local amateurs and get an introduction to the hobby.  There will be several astronomy dealers on hand with great deals.  There will be swap tables where you can possibly pick up some fine used telescopes.  The event is free but they cover their expenses by selling tickets for some nice door prizes.  There will be snacks all day long and lunch may be had in the campus cafeteria upstairs or at several fast food and sit down eateries within walking distance.

The event starts around 9 a.m. and runs until around 4 p.m. with frequent breaks.  Weather permitting, the solar observers should be set up.  Tours of the Williams Observatory on campus may be available.  There also may be the opportunity for evening observing in the local (or not so local) area after the event. 

If you have an interest in astronomy, we encourage you to attend BoBfest.  It is low key and lots of fun with interesting things.

 

I am so glad I went.  There were 3 lectures that were excellent.  One was about collisions of galaxies, the 2nd was about what we think we might know and the last was about astrophotography.  It was so great to see so many telescopes on display there.  I'm so glad I went.