The Woodward News

Local News

August 27, 2009

Astronomy group forming locally

Some people can’t get over the size of the universe. They like to study the stars.

But Paul Mitchell likes to photograph them.

“I’m into astro-photography,” he said recently. “Some people like comet hunting.”

Mitchell is one of a group of about 10 people in Woodward and the surrounding area who plan to form an organization that looks at the stars -- for whatever reason.

“We’ve done a lot of discussion about it,” he said, “We decided to form a club and hopefully build out from there,” he said.

The new organization, called the Starcreek Amateur Astronomical Society, plans to include monthly meetings, hold star parties open to the public and present educational programs to groups, Mitchell said.

“We’re encouraging (star gazing) as a hobby,” he said, noting that club members will use their telescopes to study the stars.

In addition, “We’ve been talking very strongly with Selman and plan observing at Selman’s as well,” he said.

Selman Living Laboratory site near Freedom and Boiling Springs State Park both offer some of the darkest skies for study in the nation, he said.

Selman also is the site of a telescope used for scientific research.

The Woodward amateur astronomers forming the club hope to increase enjoyment of amateur astronomy, provide classes for adults and students and increase individual expertise, he said.

“For the first two meetings held, people will have an opportunity to join with several privileges,” Mitchell said.

One of the perks includes club subscriptions to magazines, he said.

“We also hope to build a library,” he said. “We hope we can get a lot of people interested in it.”

“It was actually Paul’s idea to form the club,” said Acting President Bobette Doerrie. “He came from Australia and was impressed with the astronomy there, so he wanted to get something of that started here. Australia has many observatories.”

“He had visited several of them and was so moved by what he saw, they took him behind the scenes, and he was able to see so many things people don’t ordinarily see,” she said.

“We’re excited about the fact that there are dark skies near Woodward and the surrounding area,” she said.

The first meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the City of Woodward Training Room on Texas Avenue.

“It’s for anyone interested in astronomy,” she said. “We’ll also be scheduling activities during the month. Jupiter is wonderful right now. We’ve assisted in star parties in the Texas Panhandle.”

People who want to join the group may contact Doerrie at president@starcreek.net or Mitchell, who is acting vice president, at info@starcreek.net.

Mitchell may also be called at (580) 216-6202 for more information.

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