HICKORY From robots in space to the solar eclipse in August, anyone interested in astronomy and space exploration were left with plenty to talk about after the 25th annual BoBfest held Saturday at the Catawba Science Center (CSC).

This was the first time the CSC hosted the regional gathering of amateur astronomers, presented by the Catawba Valley Astronomy Club along with the Cleveland County Astronomical Society the Hickory Public Library and the science center.

Sam and Barbara Erwin made the trip to BoBfest from Morganton their first. The couple only recently became interested in astronomy.

We went to a program at Lake James State Park this past summer and they had telescopes where you could see the planets and it was really fun, Barbara Erwin said. That kind of started our interest in astronomy. It was just fascinating.

They saw BoBfest as a good way to learn a little more about astronomy and took the time to grab an application to join the Catawba Valley Astronomy Club.

The key note speakers at this years event were Jim Craig, Planetarium Director at the James H. Lynn Planetarium of the Schiele Museum in Gastonia, speaking on Robots in Space, according to a CSC press release. Thomas A. Lesser, Ed.D., spoke on the August 2017 Solar Eclipse. He is a volunteer at the science center and formerly a senior lecturer at the American Museum-Hayden Planetarium.

The Regional Meeting of Amateur Astronomers, eventually named BoBfest after Bob Eskridge, was originally started by the Cleveland County Astronomical Society.

Eskridge became president in 1992 and the club staged the first installment of its annual amateur astronomers meeting, known as "BoBFest" the following year, according to ccastro.org.

Eskridge has loved astronomy since he was a kid. He cant imagine his life without the chance to catch a glimpse of some far flung galaxy, the rings around Saturn or the smallest detail of a moon crater. He thinks its the camaraderie and friendships, built up through years of sharing these kinds of moments, that draws people to both astronomy and events like BoBfest.

I enjoy all of it pretty much. I like to look at a lot of Nebulas the type from supernovas and the ones that are like stellar nurseries, where stars are being born, Eskridge said. The thing is if youre around other people who like sharing this hobby, thats part of it, that joy. The first time somebody sees Saturn, you dont forget it.

Besides the keynote speakers, there were also sessions throughout the day covering topics like using NASA Night Sky Network programs, beginning astro-imaging, sketching at the eyepiece and safe solar eclipse viewing with a home-built viewer.

Were always trying to get more people involved in science and interested in science. We have the same goal as the science center, Catawba Valley Astronomy Club president John Loveless said. If we can get kids interested at an early age in science and astronomy, its good for the economy going forward.

He noted the interest in fellow astronomers making it to BoBfest from South Carolina, Tennessee and throughout North Carolina.

We all have that one thing in common a raw interest in science and astronomy, Loveless said.

Hannah Grimes, a freshman at Challenger Early College High School was certainly interested in expanding her knowledge of science at BoBfest.

I want to be an astrophysicist. Its been an interest of mine forever, and I love it, Grimes said. I have a bunch of astronomy books. Im in Science Olympiad at my school. I really want to go to college and become an astronomer.

BoBfest also provided visitors the opportunity to observe the sun with Randy and Pamela Shivak from Arizona. Randy is a long time solar astronomer, imager and telescope maker, according the CSC release. Pamela is the co-owner of the SOLARACTIVITY Facebook group, the Solar Sidewalk Astronomers Coordinator, social media gal for Daystar Filters and a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador.

Vendors and exhibitors, including Camera Concepts, Barnes & Noble, and Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute were present.

The Catawba Valley Astronomy Club meets on the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. For more information visit their website at catawbasky.org and also visit catawbascience.org.

John Bailey is the education reporter at the Hickory Daily Record.

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Amateur astronomers celebrate BoBfest at Catawba Science Center - Hickory Daily Record