The 2023 Astronomical League Convention will be held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from July 26th to 29th. Our theme will be “Astronomical Gumbo," which represents the blend of diverse subfields and people within the vast field of astronomy. Gumbo is a dish that combines the culinary practices of Africans, Native Americans, French, and Spanish, and is often used as a metaphor for the mix of cultures that exist in southern Louisiana. Baton Rouge, which is French for "red stick," is the capital of Louisiana and sits along the mighty Mississippi River. The city's many attractions include a planetarium, the new and old State Capitol buildings, and many museums. Serving as the melting pot between the urban cityscape and the rural scenes of nature, Baton Rouge is home to plenty of art, music, and great food for visitors and families to enjoy.
Baton Rouge Astronomical Society, or BRAS, was established in 1981. With
over 100 members, it is Baton Rouge's premier meeting place for amateur
astronomers. BRAS features a diverse collection of individuals, ranging
from new members seeking to learn the basics to more experienced
observers sharing their knowledge with others. Anyone who shares the
common love of astronomy is welcome to join.
Louisiana is home to LIGO Livingston, one of only 5 gravitational wave
interferometers in the world, and one if only 2 in the United States.
Visitors are able to tour a world-class scientific research facility
located deep in the of the pine forests of Livingston.
John R. Nagle, President of the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society
Trey Anding, Treasurer of the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society
Steven Tilley, chair of ALcon 2023 Baton Rouge Louisiana.
Carroll Iorg, President of the Astronomical League
Voice-over By
Natalia "Nat" Brue
Photos
the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society
Video Editing
Steven M. Tilley
Music
Moonlight Sonata
Composed by: Lugwig Von Beethoven
Performed by: Bellini Ensemble Unique
Recording date: 1924
Source National Park Service
By way of the Internet Archive
https://archive.org/details/EDIS-SRP-0197-09
For more information on past ALCons, see: https://www.astroleague.org/al/alcons/alcons.html