5th Annual Dark Sky Festival at Harmony

Dark Sky Festival 08 – Lecture Hall Schedule

7:10 PM

Creatures of the Night - Bats

Laura Finn

Director, Fly By Night, Inc. Laura Seckbach Finn (LSF), the founder of Fly By Night, Inc, received a Masters degree in Biology & Bachelors in Zoology from the University of Central Florida.  She is considered an expert in the field of bat conservation & biology, field research & population management.

7:45 PM

Dark Skies - Why They are Important and What can be Done to Stop Light Pollution

Lisa Bruhn

President, San Diego Chapter, Intl Dark Sky Assoc. Lisa Bruhn has been involved in the mission to "preserve the heritage of our night skies" for over 20 years.  She has been an active volunteer in the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) since its inception, as a secretary to the organization in 1988 and currently President of the San Diego County Section since 2001.   Bruhn is the daughter of IDA's co-founder and retired world renowned professional astronomer Dr. David Crawford.    Her involvement and inspiration are founded upon the principal that dark skies and quality outdoor lighting are good for everyone: they provided better visibility at night, energy savings, a comfortable outdoor environment, and preserve the heritage of our night skies.  

8:20 PM

Light Where you Need it, When You Need It!

Larry Leetzow

President, Magnaray International Division has been involved in designing a lighting fixture product line (along with his deceased father) sold worldwide, which solves a wide variety of problems in many different types of applications. Most of the solutions involve saving large amounts of energy, while improving visual acuity, or "see-ability" - the eyes' ability to use light.

Mr. Leetzow's career in lighting began with a high school "ultra-violet light (black light)" science project.

8:55 PM

The Astronomy Bug: Starting Right and Keeping it Simple

Robert Vogel

Robert Vogel is an avid amateur astronomer, current member and former Dark Sky committee chairman of the Central Florida Astronomical Society.

9:15 PM

Getting Started in Astronomy – What You’ll See

Tony Urzi

Tony Urzi is the current president of the Central Florida Astronomical Society, the NASA Night Sky Network coordinator, member of the Saturn Observation Campaign and a Solar System Ambassador for JPL. His interest in astronomy started as a youth in the Boy Scouts.

7:15 PM

7:45 PM

8:15 PM

8:45 PM

9:15 PM

The Starlab Experience, presented by the Brevard Community College Planetarium. 5 Presentations, limited to 25 star travelers each. Festival Exhibit Hall

Appreciating the quiet beauty of the night sky is what Starlab is all about. In the 15-foot inflatable bubble, there are none of the extravagant video displays, no background music. Instead, a simple star projector machine shines hundreds of dots to recreate a natural night sky. Constellation identification, motions of the sky, and skylore are the normal routine for Starlab.

7:35 PM

Harmony Bat Experience Leaving from the Kid’s Zone – limited to 30 participants.

Laura Finn

Short walking tour to the Harmony Bat House to witness the nightly fly out of the bat colony.

8:45 PM

Outdoor Tour of Night Sky

At the Kid’s Zone

Derek Demeter

Learn about the stars, planets and the stories of constellations from "Dr. Sky."

"Dr. Sky” is Derek Demeter, the Director of the Seminole Community College Planetarium in Sanford, FL

Dusk to Dark

Public Telescope Viewing

Telescope Hill” of Harmony Square and "Telescope Trail” behind the Kid Zone.

See the rings of Saturn and other celestial objects. Presented by members of the Brevard Astronomical Society, Central Florida Astronomical Society, Melbourne Astronomical Society, UCF Astronomical Club and other area astronomers.