Regional Gathering of Amateur Astronomers aka BoBfest

03/02/2026

02/04/2026

Happy Birthday to BoB Eskridge!!! The BoB in BoBfest!

01/27/2026

01/24/2026

BoBfest 2.0 rescheduled for
Saturday,
February 28 at Catawba Science Center
Pranvera is confirmed

11/10/2025

We have some important news about the speakers and topics at BoBfest scheduled for January 24, 2026! Details very soon!

10/28/2025

𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐫
𝟏𝟗𝟑𝟓 — 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

It is with the most profound sense of loss, a broken heart, and tears in my eyes, that I tell this beloved community of amateur astronomers that I lost my father today. As I write, it's painfully hard to look over at the empty chair in our office we shared for the last 23-years. He passed suddenly and unexpectedly. Thankfully, it happened here at Tele Vue, a place he loved, with people he loved, and even with a telescope in hand.

My father was a naturally joyous person. It was just his nature. No matter what was happening around him or to him personally or professionally, he always saw the bright side of in any situation. Not having that gift myself, I was both in awe and jealous of how he could let things go and just be a grateful, happy person. Maybe that's because my father always had the stars to look up to and, with that, felt comfortable with his little place in the Universe. Now he's among his beloved stars and I'm sure he loves the view.

I could not have wished for or been blessed with a more loving, caring, and nurturing father. I hope that every time that first day of the weekend comes, you'll please just spare a moment to think of him on "SaturNday."

— David Nagler

08/12/2025

BoBfest is on for Saturday, January 24, 2026, at Catawba Science Center in Hickory, North Carolina!

01/14/2025

A motley crew for the moon mars event last nightJohn ONeal NC Stargazer

01/04/2025

We are pleased to announce that the preparations are almost complete for BoBfest, 2025 on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at Catawba Science Center  in Hickory.

Our two keynote speakers are Mr. Chris Cashwell on "Destination Astrophotography, and Mr. Gayle Riggsbee with a presentation about the 1900 solar eclipse that passed through Wadesboro North Carolina

We have lots of door prizes, available and more are coming in every day. We have five table top speakers for the afternoon sessions and we're hoping to add at least one more.

 BoBfest is free and no registration is required, however, if you would like to register to let us know that you might attend, please follow the links on the BoBfest page as shown below.

Stay tuned for much more information!

Please visit bobfest.catawbasky.org for the latest information.

Regional Gathering of Amateur Astronomers BoBfest

09/07/2024

New for BoBfest 2025
At the request of several visitors, we are probably going to add a table top talk at BoBfest every year on the very basics of astronomy and observing for non-astronomers.
This will be aimed at the walk-in visitors with and without kids who know absolutely nothing about astronomy. We will cover simple resources available as phone apps and over the Internet. 
We're not exactly sure what the session will entail but we're working it out. Stay tuned! 

08/30/2024

Know anyone in the Spruce Pine area? College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University