Hickory – A beginner’s level Smartphone Astrophotography Workshop will be offered at Patrick Beaver Memorial Library on Monday, July 15, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. Astronomers are always looking for new ways to make astronomy relevant to upcoming generations. There are over 8 billion smartphones in the world, all capable of taking great astrophotos. Catawba Valley Astronomy Club member John O’Neal will teach you some tips, tricks, and techniques to capture astrophotos with your smartphone. Attend the presentation to learn the how’s and why’s and then step outside for a hands-on imaging session. Bring your phone, a tripod if you have one, and an adaptor to attach the two together.

Instructor John O’Neal has been an avid amateur astronomer and astrophotographer for over 44 years. He is a NASA Solar System Ambassador and a member of and contributor to the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, the American Association of Variable Star Observers, and several amateur astronomy associations around his home in Statesville, NC. He is also Co-Founder of the Facebook group, SOLARACTIVITY. He has authored numerous tutorials on solar imaging as well as equipment reviews and has recently been named as a Contributing Editor for Amateur Astronomy Magazine. Since retiring, John and his lovely wife Dorothy have taken to traveling and he has given countless presentations to the general public and to amateur and pro astronomers across the United States. You can visit John’s website http://www.ncstargazer.com to learn more about his upcoming schedule, available programs, image galleries, videos, and more.

The Smartphone Astrophotography Workshop is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 304-0500 ext. 7235. Patrick Beaver Memorial Library is located at 375 3rd Street NE on the SALT Block.