Have a love for astronomy? Warren Astronomical Society meets monthly
Diane Hall was 4-yearsold when her grandfather took her stargazing and she’s been gazing ever since.
“I just love astronomy,” said Hall, past president and avid member of the Warren Astronomical Society (WAS), which recently hosted an open house at the Stargate Observatory in Ray Township.
The monthly event — designed to inspire future astronomers and membership in the club is a popular event.
This month especially, considering the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8.
Hall’s group will not be hosting any events but she encourages residents to find somewhere or some way to experience this astronomical phenomenon.
“We went to Nebraska in 2017,” said Hall, referring to the last full total eclipse. “It was amazing. The black moon, surrounded by pink flames and stars all around, we didn’t even try to take pictures.”
“It only lasts a few minutes. So, we just took it all in,” said Hall, who advises others to leave the photographing to the professionals with proper gear so you don’t miss out.
“Viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury,” according to a NASA advisory.
As with Hall, those who experience the event are likely to want more and that’s were the WAS comes in.
“We’ve been around since 1961,” said Hall, referring to the club whose membership has reached as high as 150.
However, in the last few years astronomy has become a graying hobby.
“Kids used to have a lot of free time,” Hall said, and that’s what drew them outside. “You don’t see that anymore.”
Right now its mostly scouting groups who come out to their open houses, which provide visitors of all ages an opportunity to view galaxies that are millions of light years away in great detail. The group is also known for their telescope tutorials and talks on astronomy hosted by local libraries.
Still, after April 8 the pendulum could swing the other way creating a newfound interest among youngsters. That’s what Hall and her group of stargazers are hoping to see on the horizon.
For more information visit warrenastro.org