Pranvera Hyseni

Hickory – BoBfest: A Regional Gathering of Amateur Astronomers returns to Catawba Science Center on Saturday, January 24, 2026 in the West Wing building on the SALT Block. Doors will open at 8:30 am and the event runs until 4:30 pm. BoBfest is a FREE event open to the public and will feature educational speakers, astrophotography displays, and door prizes. Vendors, exhibitors, and information about local events and facilities will be available, as well as the chance to engage with amateur and professional astronomers from the region. Attendees range from professional astronomers and photographers to amateurs who reach for the stars. Anyone with a planetary passion is encouraged to come and ask questions of the more experienced astronomers.

A pre-kickoff event is scheduled on Friday, January 23, 2026 featuring a special presentation by  Pranvera Hyseni, a planetary astronomer and Ph.D. candidate in Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California Santa Cruz.  An Evening Exploring our Expanding Universe, Pranvera will highlight her journey to create Kosovo’s first observatory and planetarium and her work to expand access to astronomy.

Tickets are $4 for CSC and CV Astronomy Club members and $6 for non-members. Students (college, high school, and middle school) are FREE with a valid student ID. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling CSC at (828) 322-8169.

The BoBfest keynote speakers are Chris Williams presenting Lucile Miller Observatory at 50 Years!, and Pranvera Hyseni presenting Chasing Asteroid Shadows.  In addition to the keynote speakers, there will be afternoon forums covering a wide range of topics from the basics of stargazing to, tactile astronomy for the visually/hearing challenged. Lunch is from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm, during which there will be facilitated solar observing if weather permits.

Door prize tickets are available for only $1 on-site. Door prizes range from astronomy materials and merchandise to telescopes, items from local businesses, and more! While attending the event is free to the public, the money from the door prize donations will help fund next year’s event. Any vendors interested in donating door prizes may contact bobfestastro@gmail.com. BoBfest attendees receive a 50% Off Pass to CSC to view any show from the special planetarium schedule throughout the day in the Millholland Planetarium. Features include kid-friendly space exploration shows as well as mythology and higher-level learning shows about planets!

While BoBfest is free to everyone, participants are encouraged to pre-register online at www.catawbasky.org/bobfest. For a more detailed schedule of the events, visit www.catawbascience.org/bobfest. BoBfest is presented by the Cleveland County Astronomical Society, Catawba Science Center, and the Catawba Valley Astronomy Club.

Catawba Science Center is located On the SALT Block, 243 Third Avenue NE, Hickory, NC 28601   t: (828) 322-8169.