{"version":"1.0.0","segments":[{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":0,"endTime":3.46,"body":"Welcome to Backfocus, bringing astronomy together."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":3.46,"endTime":4.38,"body":"I'm Eric."},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":4.38,"endTime":5.46,"body":"And I'm Rowan."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":5.46,"endTime":9.14,"body":"And thank you for joining me for my very first episode."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":9.14,"endTime":11.78,"body":"Whether you're an experienced astrophotographer,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":11.78,"endTime":14.34,"body":"a visual observer, a telescope maker,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":14.34,"endTime":16.22,"body":"a member of an astronomy club,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":16.22,"endTime":18.26,"body":"or someone who's just beginning to look up"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":18.26,"endTime":21.78,"body":"at the night sky, this podcast is for you."},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":21.78,"endTime":24.14,"body":"I cannot overstate the importance"},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":24.14,"endTime":26.78,"body":"that this is a place of learning."},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":26.78,"endTime":28.86,"body":"Many of us here are brand new"},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":28.86,"endTime":31.66,"body":"to just the idea of astrophotography."},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":31.66,"endTime":34.46,"body":"And I myself am still learning every day."},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":34.46,"endTime":37.78,"body":"And I hope that you'll join me with that process."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":37.78,"endTime":41.62,"body":"First off, I'd like to talk about what Backfocus is."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":41.62,"endTime":45.66,"body":"This is a dream of mine that I've had for quite a while"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":45.66,"endTime":49.3,"body":"in getting involved in astronomy and astrophotography."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":49.3,"endTime":51.42,"body":"I've been doing astronomy and astrophotography"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":51.42,"endTime":52.8,"body":"for just a little over a year."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":52.8,"endTime":54.66,"body":"And when I first got started,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":54.66,"endTime":57.36,"body":"I had a DSLR camera."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":57.36,"endTime":58.3,"body":"That's all I had."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":58.3,"endTime":62.82,"body":"And I went out and bought a nice lens, a Rokinon lens."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":62.82,"endTime":65.4,"body":"And I went out and bought a Star Adventure"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":65.4,"endTime":67.86,"body":"two-eye tracking mount."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":67.86,"endTime":71.54,"body":"And I was not happy with my experience."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":71.54,"endTime":76.34,"body":"So I joined up with another group of astronomers near me"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":76.34,"endTime":79.74,"body":"with Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":79.74,"endTime":82.42,"body":"After this point, I slowly began to build up"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":82.42,"endTime":85.62,"body":"both my experience and my equipment"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":85.62,"endTime":88.58,"body":"to kind of get myself up to a higher level"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":88.58,"endTime":90.26,"body":"that I was happy with."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":90.26,"endTime":93.62,"body":"Now, for some people, they're happy with a DSLR"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":93.62,"endTime":97.04,"body":"and they're happy with not having to process images."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":97.04,"endTime":99.3,"body":"Some people are happy with just having a telescope"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":99.3,"endTime":102.22,"body":"to look at the night sky and see the stars"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":102.22,"endTime":104.66,"body":"and be able to say, I found that object."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":104.66,"endTime":107.4,"body":"I looked up at the sky and that object"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":107.4,"endTime":111.1,"body":"I was looking for, I actually found it myself"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":111.1,"endTime":114.04,"body":"that literally puts goosebumps on my skin"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":114.04,"endTime":116.5,"body":"every single time it happens."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":116.5,"endTime":121.5,"body":"And I now have an F4 six-inch telescope."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":123.1,"endTime":128.1,"body":"I have a Rokinon entire set up for Nebulae photography."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":128.26,"endTime":131.86,"body":"I have an eight-inch Dobsonian."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":131.86,"endTime":135.38,"body":"I have several other pieces of equipment,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":135.38,"endTime":140.38,"body":"including a 10-inch, 18-inch Newtonian coming as well."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":140.86,"endTime":145.86,"body":"And my experience has shown me that being in astronomy"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":147.06,"endTime":149.54,"body":"is fun, but it's not nearly as fun"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":149.54,"endTime":152.74,"body":"as being in astronomy with other people."},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":152.74,"endTime":157.74,"body":"Now, unlike Eric, I did not have the freedom"},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":158.34,"endTime":161.9,"body":"of just being able to buy everything I wanted"},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":161.9,"endTime":163.5,"body":"right from the get-go."},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":163.5,"endTime":168.5,"body":"My first telescope actually was inherited from my uncle."},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":168.74,"endTime":172.46,"body":"When he passed away, he left me a decent telescope"},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":172.46,"endTime":174.82,"body":"and a bunch of different sky maps."},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":174.82,"endTime":179.58,"body":"He had one for every month dating as far back as 2007."},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":179.58,"endTime":183.08,"body":"He had been doing this for most of his life."},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":183.08,"endTime":185.06,"body":"And to this point, you know,"},{"speaker":"Rowan","startTime":185.06,"endTime":188.42,"body":"I've kept up with those star maps even now."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":188.42,"endTime":191.94,"body":"I can't tell you guys how much fun it was"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":191.94,"endTime":196.46,"body":"to be frustrated at Observatory Park in Montville, Ohio"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":196.46,"endTime":198.5,"body":"and not knowing what to do."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":198.5,"endTime":200.74,"body":"And turning to the guides on my left and saying,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":200.74,"endTime":203.5,"body":"hey, do you know how to work this stupid mount?"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":203.5,"endTime":205.18,"body":"I can't figure it out."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":205.18,"endTime":206.54,"body":"And that guy is saying, yeah,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":206.54,"endTime":208.46,"body":"I had that stupid mount before too."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":208.46,"endTime":210.1,"body":"This is exactly what you have to do."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":210.1,"endTime":214.42,"body":"And he showed me hand and foot what to do with this mount."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":214.42,"endTime":216.62,"body":"And it was mind-blowing to me"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":216.62,"endTime":218.34,"body":"that people like that even existed."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":218.34,"endTime":220.46,"body":"And that's something that I see in this hobby"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":220.46,"endTime":222.38,"body":"over and over and over again"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":222.38,"endTime":225.34,"body":"is not only are people interested about their hobby,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":225.38,"endTime":227.98,"body":"not only are they interested about talking about their hobby,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":227.98,"endTime":229.86,"body":"but they're interested in helping others"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":229.86,"endTime":231.86,"body":"learn about their hobby as well."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":231.86,"endTime":235.1,"body":"And that is what this podcast is all about."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":235.1,"endTime":238.3,"body":"The reason why back focus exists"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":238.3,"endTime":241.1,"body":"is because of something that happened recently"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":241.1,"endTime":244.7,"body":"where we have an annual event called the OTAA,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":244.7,"endTime":246.74,"body":"which is supposed to be an event"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":246.74,"endTime":249.46,"body":"for all the clubs in Northeast Ohio."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":249.46,"endTime":253.42,"body":"And only maybe two clubs came out to the event."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":253.42,"endTime":257.26,"body":"And I remember seeing another YouTuber's video"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":257.26,"endTime":259.18,"body":"and saying, hey, he's the president"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":259.18,"endTime":263.22,"body":"of one of the other groups in our area."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":263.22,"endTime":265.5,"body":"Let me talk to him and invite him to this event."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":265.5,"endTime":267.46,"body":"He said he's never heard of it before."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":267.46,"endTime":269.06,"body":"And that blew my mind"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":269.06,"endTime":270.9,"body":"because I know that I invited their group."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":270.9,"endTime":274,"body":"I'm the secretary of CVAS now."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":274,"endTime":276.06,"body":"And I know that I invited their group,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":276.06,"endTime":277.9,"body":"but none of them showed up."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":277.9,"endTime":282.34,"body":"And that's one of the things that I am frustrated about"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":282.38,"endTime":286.02,"body":"is that we have so many people who love this hobby,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":286.02,"endTime":288.34,"body":"but they have no idea how to connect."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":288.34,"endTime":291.58,"body":"They have no idea who all is around them,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":291.58,"endTime":293.34,"body":"who loves this hobby too."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":293.34,"endTime":297.54,"body":"So the mission and the goal and the purpose of back focus"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":297.54,"endTime":299.34,"body":"is to bring everyone together."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":299.34,"endTime":301.22,"body":"And as a matter of fact,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":301.22,"endTime":306.22,"body":"that back focus name comes from the aspect of focus"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":306.3,"endTime":309.34,"body":"when you have a camera and a telescope together."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":309.34,"endTime":311.38,"body":"There comes a singular point"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":311.38,"endTime":313.74,"body":"where light comes to a single focus"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":313.74,"endTime":316.34,"body":"and that's where your camera needs to be at"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":316.34,"endTime":318.86,"body":"to get a clear and focused picture."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":318.86,"endTime":322.58,"body":"If you're off by just a little bit, you'll get lost."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":322.58,"endTime":323.98,"body":"You'll get distracted."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":323.98,"endTime":325.74,"body":"You won't be able to take a clear image"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":325.74,"endTime":327.34,"body":"and you'll get frustrated."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":327.34,"endTime":329.1,"body":"And the goal of this podcast"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":329.1,"endTime":332.22,"body":"is to help you guys find the groups near you,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":332.22,"endTime":334.76,"body":"to let them talk about themselves,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":334.76,"endTime":337.66,"body":"to let them advertise the events they have going on."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":337.66,"endTime":340.42,"body":"Do you realize there's a star party near you"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":340.42,"endTime":343.22,"body":"happening almost every single day"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":343.22,"endTime":345.18,"body":"or at least every week?"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":345.18,"endTime":349.18,"body":"Within 30 miles of you probably is a star party"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":349.18,"endTime":351.98,"body":"where you can go and meet these individual people"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":351.98,"endTime":355.36,"body":"who want nothing more than to share their fun with you."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":355.36,"endTime":356.74,"body":"Now with that said,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":356.74,"endTime":359.18,"body":"I wanna talk to you guys about what the future episodes"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":359.18,"endTime":361.38,"body":"are gonna be like for back focus."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":361.38,"endTime":364.62,"body":"I wanna talk specifically about astronomy clubs,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":364.62,"endTime":366.9,"body":"observatories, telescope makers,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":366.9,"endTime":369.26,"body":"astrophotographers, outreach volunteers,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":369.26,"endTime":372.58,"body":"educators, beginners, experienced observers,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":372.58,"endTime":375.3,"body":"astronomy events, public star parties,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":375.3,"endTime":376.86,"body":"and all that kind of fun stuff."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":376.86,"endTime":380.9,"body":"While space news is interesting,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":380.9,"endTime":384.66,"body":"it's not the core of what astronomy is about."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":384.66,"endTime":387.22,"body":"The core of what astronomy is about"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":387.22,"endTime":389.76,"body":"are the people behind the telescopes."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":389.76,"endTime":391.06,"body":"They are the ones that matter."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":391.06,"endTime":393.78,"body":"Their experience matters."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":393.78,"endTime":395.82,"body":"And you're the one who's out there"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":395.86,"endTime":400.06,"body":"who's able to make their experience worth doing."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":400.06,"endTime":402.82,"body":"I can't tell you the number of times"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":402.82,"endTime":407.82,"body":"I've almost given up and gone home without a picture."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":407.82,"endTime":410.46,"body":"And somebody else said, hey Eric,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":410.46,"endTime":413.46,"body":"hang on a second, let me give you a hand."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":413.46,"endTime":415.34,"body":"We were able to get my gear set up"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":415.34,"endTime":418.02,"body":"and I was able to come out with a phenomenal photo."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":418.02,"endTime":420.18,"body":"That happens all the time."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":420.18,"endTime":423.22,"body":"And it's something I wanna see the rest of our groups do."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":423.22,"endTime":425.06,"body":"Invite each other to your clubs,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":425.06,"endTime":428.02,"body":"talk to them, help them through their problems,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":428.02,"endTime":430.54,"body":"and you know what, we're gonna have a community."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":430.54,"endTime":432.06,"body":"That's what this is all about."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":432.06,"endTime":434.38,"body":"So I want to invite you."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":434.38,"endTime":436.66,"body":"Are you part of an astronomy club?"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":436.66,"endTime":439.66,"body":"Do you run a public outreach for astronomy?"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":439.66,"endTime":442.02,"body":"Have you built your own telescope?"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":442.02,"endTime":444.3,"body":"Have you built your own observatory?"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":444.3,"endTime":447.22,"body":"Do you have access to a really cool one?"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":447.22,"endTime":449.98,"body":"Do you have a story that's worth sharing?"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":449.98,"endTime":452.98,"body":"I would love to have you on this show."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":452.98,"endTime":454.86,"body":"I wanna talk to you."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":454.86,"endTime":456.62,"body":"Thank you so much for listening"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":456.62,"endTime":459.54,"body":"to my very first episode of Backfocus."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":459.54,"endTime":461.1,"body":"If you enjoyed today's episode,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":461.1,"endTime":463.94,"body":"please subscribe, share it with your astronomy club,"},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":463.94,"endTime":467.02,"body":"and help us build a stronger astronomy community."},{"speaker":"Eric","startTime":467.02,"endTime":470.5,"body":"Until next time, keep looking up and stay focused."}]}