Seminars and Keynote Speakers

NOTE: This schedule was changed on April
19

On the schedule timetable below, click on the
Subject to see a full description

SATURDAY Schedule

Keynote Speaker: Terence
Dickinson  –
Author, Publisher, Educator

21st Century Trends in Backyard Astronomy

Suitable for EVERYONE!
Terence Dickinson is a leading amateur astronomer
and science writer who lives near the town of Yarker, Ontario.  He is the
editor of SkyNews magazine and an astronomy
commentator for Discovery Channel Canada. He has written fifteen books,
which are widely regarded as some of the best resources available for
beginners in astronomy. Most notably, “The
Backyard Astronomer’s Guide” and “Night
Watch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe ” are considered “must
have” books by all astronomers.  Terry even has an asteroid named after
him:  Asteroid
5272 Dickinson

No matter your age or experience, you will
thoroughly enjoy this presentation!


Keynote
Speaker: Jim Fitzgerald – Retired NASA Educator
20 Years of NASA Education .. What a Ride!

Suitable for EVERYONE!

Jim
Fitzgerald is a professional educator. In 1990 a unique opportunity took Jim
out of the classroom and into the world of NASA. He became part of the NASA
Aerospace Education Services Project – which began to provide a NASA impact
on education in 1961.

This position placed Jim in front of students, teachers, administrators,
College/university staff, and the general public. In these arenas Jim
provided professional development for teachers, classroom & assembly
programs for students, and many special presentations related to NASA, its
mission, research, people and NASA spacecraft.

Jim Started with NASA AESP in 1990 by being in the clean room where Galileo
was in final stages of preparation for launch. Jim also flew 4 days on the
“Zero” G aircraft.

Jim has worked with and was trained by the people of NASA including
scientists, engineers, astronauts, and many others who contribute to NASA
missions.

Jim’s presentation will inspire you…both young and old!

Choosing Your First Telescope – Glenn Kukkola / Gary Colwell
Beginner and
Family Level
If you are like most people when they first get
interested in astronomy, choosing the right telescope is a difficult
decision. There are so many different designs in so many price ranges.  If
you are having trouble deciding, then this seminar is for you! Glenn  has
owned just about every make and model of telescope there is! Lean on his
expertise to help you choose just the right one!

Dew
Control Techniques – Jim Kendrick
Beginner
and Intermediate Level
Telescope lenses and mirrors are “dew magnets”! Warm humid air during
daylight falls as dew (or frost) when the night time temperature drops.
BUT… there is a cure! Each telescope design offers a different challenge
but Jim will show you the perfect solution.

Telescopes – From Galileo
to Modern Day – Gary Colwell
Beginner,
Family,
and Intermediate Level
Have you ever wondered how Galileo discovered the
telescope? Or have you thought what science would have done without it? In
this seminar you will learn about the evolution of the telescope and how
telescopes of today have revolutionized our thinking of the universe. From
Galileo to the Hubble…this seminar will help you understand the history of
the telescope…and the wonders of the heavens it can help you see.

Advanced Image Processing Techniques – Ron
Brecher
Intermediate
to Advanced
Level – 2 Hours (with breaks)
You’ve learned how to acquire good data with nice round stars.  You’ve
mastered image calibration, registration and stacking. Now you have a nice
image ready for processing. This advanced workshop will go far beyond the
basics to demystify some powerful image processing techniques. This
presentation will cover the following topics, and more:

– “linear” and “stretched” images and which commands to use on them
– recommended work flow for processing different kinds of deep sky images

– Using masks for image processing
– Software options  and how they differ for astronomical image
processing
Advanced Topic 1:  Deconvolution to recover lots
of detail without rings around the stars
Advanced Topic 2:  Combining RGB and H-alpha data
without affecting the size or colour of stars or overall colour balance

Advanced Topic 3:  Multiscale Processing to reveal
hidden detail without artifacts or reduced contrast

Each of the advanced topics will be described and demonstrated
using real data.

Family Observing – Glenn Kukkola
Beginner and
Family  Level
Stargazing is a wonderful family hobby! Glenn will introduce you to the
night sky in a way that the whole family can enjoy. Whether you are young,
or young at heart, this seminar will introduce the whole family to the
wonders of the night sky. Be sure to bring the kids to this enjoyable
seminar!

Imaging In Light Polluted
Skies – Dave Dev
Intermediate
Level
Like most of us, we live in or near a city where the lights destroy the
beauty of the night sky. Seeing the outline of the Big Dipper is hard enough
let alone try to get any images of the night sky…it is an effort in
futility….or is it?  With the addition of a simple filter, Dr. Dev has
mastered the art of capturing amazing images of deep sky objects from the
light polluted skies of his own backyard!. Come learn how you can too!.
This is a must see seminar if you want to take breathtaking images in the
Big City!

Astrophotography Automation – Planning Your Next Purchases, Ron Brecher
Intermediate
to Advanced Level
Those that try their hand at astrophotography quickly learn that achieving
good focus and framing the target can consume a good chuck of time. Time
that is better used in collecting data! How many of us have purchased
“budget priced”  equipment and software only to find out that we should have
bought the “good stuff” in the first place? Ron will present the most
popular methods of automating these tasks. What difference does it make?
Imagine getting perfect focus, and centering your target in less than 5
minutes!  The goals of this seminar are to introduce:
– Motorized Focusers and how to achieve “auto-focus”
– Centering your target using software tools… aka “Plate Solve”
So before you spend another dime, make sure you attend this seminar! The
software tools that will be introduced also have the ability to operate
motorized domes as well as many other useful functions (filter focus
offsets, etc.).

Camera
and Tripod Astrophotography – Gary Colwell

Beginner to Intermediate Level
If you have always wanted to simply take pictures of the night sky without
having to take the time to set up a telescope, then this seminar is for
you.  Gary is a seasoned astrophotographer who started out with just a
camera and tripod to capture pictures of Constellations, star trails and
picturesque images of the surrounding landscape and  sky. You will learn how
to capture breathtaking images of the night sky with the simplest of
equipment. You will even learn how to put your pictures together to make a
movie of the night sky!  Join in  and learn the basics of astrophotography!