Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association
Encyclopedia
The Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association is an amateur astronomy club in Northwest Florida. It was originally started in June, 1959 by two elementary school students and one about to start junior high school. Originally known as the Warrington Amateur Astronomers Association, the first few years it operated informally as a backyard telescope group. As the membership gained in age, the club was renamed the Esacmbia Amateur Astronomers Association when the club went county-wide. Activities included star parties
, meetings at the public library, and field trips, to the Pensacola Naval Air Station planetarium
and centrifuge
, to Spring Hill College
observatory, to a high school astronomy club 100 miles (160.9 km) east-in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, etc. In the 1960s many of the most active members left for college and a new generation of members took over. Soon, the club was printing a club newsletter - the "METEOR" - which is still in print.
The club became inactive in the 1970s. Activity resumed a few years later when the club founder returned to the area as a temporary replacement for the Pensacola Junior College astronomy instructor. He got together such of the old membership as were still in the area in late 1977 and planned a reactivation of the club with the facilities of the community college-such as their Owens Planetarium. With such backing, the club became more and more active. When the astronomy instructor returned-he donated the first large portable telescope to the club-permitting public viewing. Since the 1980s the club hosted a summer viewing program for the National Park Service at the Fort Pickens
campground-taken over from a Pensacola Junior College instructor who had previously given the programs. When an annular eclipse took place nearby-the club raised the money for safe solar filter materials and then gave programs to schools on how to safely watch the event-with filters handed out at no cost to the students.
EAAA has made several attempts to build an observatory-including mounting a dome on top of an Avion travel trailer. But, light pollution made a permanent site impractical so a 16 inches (406.4 mm) telescope has its own trailer and is taken where needed for public viewing.
Because of the generosity of members in sharing their instruments and time many people have been able to enjoy astronomy opportunities offered to the general public, scouting groups and schools---pretty much any group with an interest in attending such events.
EAAA joined the Astronomical League
in the 1960s and has been a member organization continuously---except when the club was inactive.
Events
Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association set up meet dates to study the sky.
Star party
A star party is a gathering of amateur astronomers for the purpose of observing the sky. Local star parties may be one night affairs, but larger events can last up to a week or longer and attract hundreds or even thousands of participants. Many regional star parties are now held annually and are an...
, meetings at the public library, and field trips, to the Pensacola Naval Air Station planetarium
Planetarium
A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation...
and centrifuge
Centrifuge
A centrifuge is a piece of equipment, generally driven by an electric motor , that puts an object in rotation around a fixed axis, applying a force perpendicular to the axis...
, to Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College is a private, Roman Catholic Jesuit liberal arts college in the United States. It was founded in 1830 on the Gulf Coast in Mobile, Alabama, by Most Rev. Michael Portier, Bishop of Mobile, Alabama...
observatory, to a high school astronomy club 100 miles (160.9 km) east-in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, etc. In the 1960s many of the most active members left for college and a new generation of members took over. Soon, the club was printing a club newsletter - the "METEOR" - which is still in print.
The club became inactive in the 1970s. Activity resumed a few years later when the club founder returned to the area as a temporary replacement for the Pensacola Junior College astronomy instructor. He got together such of the old membership as were still in the area in late 1977 and planned a reactivation of the club with the facilities of the community college-such as their Owens Planetarium. With such backing, the club became more and more active. When the astronomy instructor returned-he donated the first large portable telescope to the club-permitting public viewing. Since the 1980s the club hosted a summer viewing program for the National Park Service at the Fort Pickens
Fort Pickens
Fort Pickens is a pentagonal historic United States military fort on Santa Rosa Island in the Pensacola, Florida, area. It is named after American Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens. The fort was completed in 1834 and remained in use until 1947...
campground-taken over from a Pensacola Junior College instructor who had previously given the programs. When an annular eclipse took place nearby-the club raised the money for safe solar filter materials and then gave programs to schools on how to safely watch the event-with filters handed out at no cost to the students.
EAAA has made several attempts to build an observatory-including mounting a dome on top of an Avion travel trailer. But, light pollution made a permanent site impractical so a 16 inches (406.4 mm) telescope has its own trailer and is taken where needed for public viewing.
Because of the generosity of members in sharing their instruments and time many people have been able to enjoy astronomy opportunities offered to the general public, scouting groups and schools---pretty much any group with an interest in attending such events.
EAAA joined the Astronomical League
Astronomical League
The Astronomical League is an umbrella organization of amateur astronomy societies. Currently their membership consists of over 240 organizations across the United States, along with a number of Members-at-Large, Patrons, and Supporting members....
in the 1960s and has been a member organization continuously---except when the club was inactive.
Events
Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association set up meet dates to study the sky.