Star Party Speaker give their talks on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
at 11am and 2pm
Fall 2025 Speaker List
There’s a Revolution Going On In Solar Astronomy
John O’Neal
Join Amateur Solar Astronomer & Imager John O’Neal, NC Stargazer on a journey of discovery to learn about the revolution going on right now in solar astronomy.
John will be sharing insights on the new MLASTRO SPECTROHELIOSCOPE, the revolutionary new SKY-WATCHER HELIOSTAR 76, his homemade PHOTOHELIOGRAPH and ALTAIR ASTRO’S upgrade to the HERSCHELS WEDGE. He will also have these items on hand for you to see & try firsthand.
John has been promoting solar astronomy for the last 15 years and has built his own solar telescope and photoheliograph.
He has been an Associate Editor of Amateur Astronomy Magazine for the last 15 years and writes a recurring article and gallery called SOLARACTIVITY. He also writes tutorials, DIY articles and does product reviews on solar & astro gear.
He has been a NASA SOLAR SYSTEM AMBASSADOR for several years and does countless outreach across the Carolinas where he belongs to and participates with lots of local & regional astronomy clubs.
John resides on a 5 acre ranch outside Statesville, North Carolina with his lovely wife, Dorothy O’Neal of “Dorothy’s Astro Quilts” fame.
Introduction to remote telescope hosting at Starfront Observatory in Texas
Tim Slay
Tim Slay is a (nearly) retired electrical engineer who worked for 41 years at Duke Energy and is currently an adjunct instructor in the Senior Engineering Design program at UNC-Charlotte. A lifelong interest in Astronomy became a passion 10 years ago when he discovered astrophotography and began to experience the frustration of finding clear, dark skies. A resident of Mooresville, NC, Tim is a member of the Piedmont Amateur Astronomers and the Catawba Valley Astronomy Club
“The Cygnus Walk and The Cygnus Wedge”
John Raymond (Richmond Club)
“ The Cygnus Walk and The Cygnus Wedge” – Richmond Astronomical Society
John Raymond is past president of the Richmond Astronomical Society and author of the Mysteries of Lyra
This presentation will cover the Milky Way in the constellation Cygnus with its many celestial denizens suitable for naked-eye, binocular and telescopic observation.
Luke Skywalker’s tourist trip through our Milky Way –
Scott Jackson
As a crowd pleaser at a recent themed event (Star Wars) for the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, a show was created depicting what it would be like to travel to nearby deep sky objects. Not an easy show to put on, but the software does have 3D positions of nearby stars located near familiar deep sky objects. So while sitting in your own seats in whatever theater we use, you will travel faster than the speed of light in the Millenium Falcon (think Star Trek on the Enterprise for us old folks). You won’t get shorter (Lorentz contraction) or heavier (a by-product of special relativity — damn that Einstein!) but you will enjoy the sensation of traveling through a portion of our galaxy. The images of the deep sky objects were created by astrophotographers who belong to the Delaware Astronomical Society. Rated G for general audiences. Not too terribly technical but I do manage to get into concepts of stellar evolution.
The Herschel 400 observing program with a Seestar S50
Jon Stewart-Taylor
The Herschel 400 observing program is daunting. The number of objects is not the only factor: Many of the objects are difficult to find without electronic finding help, and many are small, dim, or both. The new “intelligent” telescopes such as the Seestar S50 can make the program, if not exactly easy, at least manageable. Jon will discuss his approach, and give his results.
Jon is a long time Member of the Chapel Hill Astronomical & Observational Society and the Cape Fear Astronomical Society. He has given presentations at the Staunton River Star Party many time in the past.
Gravity Assisted Propulsion
Walter Fowler
Walter Fowler is the Vice President of the Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society. Walter will be talking about the physics and demonstrating the theory behind Gravity Assisted Propulsion.
Introduction to the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation
Paul Runkle
The discovery of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) was one of the most significant scientific findings of all time. The CMB provides strong evidence for the Big Bang theory of the early universe and our current understanding of the evolution and structure of the universe. The CMB continues to be an active area of research and has inspired multiple generations of satellite and ground-based measurements.
Celebrating 35 Years with the Hubble Space Telescope
Michael Keefe
Join us in a journey through the story of the Hubble Space Telescope—beginning with the visionary astronomer Edwin P. Hubble, whose discoveries reshaped our understanding of the universe. We’ll explore the telescope’s innovative design and instruments, trace its path from conception and construction to its dramatic launch, and revisit the daring repair and upgrade missions that kept Hubble alive and thriving. Along the way, we’ll highlight the breathtaking scientific breakthroughs and iconic images that have inspired both scientists and the public alike. Finally, we’ll look ahead to Hubble’s future and its lasting legacy in the era of next-generation space telescopes.
