RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes
February 21, 2025
Co-Chair Naveen Malik hosted the meeting
Upcoming Events:
- Feb 22 – Stargazing on Tap Star Party (Cameron)
- Mar 3 – Sanderson High School Astronomy Class (Raleigh)
- Mar 6 – Math & Science Night: Washington ES (Raleigh)
- Mar 7 – First Fridays with TLC at 3BA (Creedmoor)
- Mar 8 – Astronomy NIght at Joyner Park (Wake Forest)
- April 4 & 5 – Statewide Star Party
Tonight”s Presentation:
TOPIC: Stone Structures In New England and Archaeoastronomy
Speaker: Russell F. PInizzotto, PhD
Business:
Current Officers
Co-Chairs: Naveen Malik, Dana Bostic
Treasurer: Steve Izzo
Secretary: Susan Herring
Committee Chairs:
ALCOR: Dean Herring
Outreach: Steven Blake
Webmaster: Barton Meeks
Loaner Scopes: Rob Parsons
Key Holders: Naveen Malik
Education: Anastasia Vail,
Social Media: Anastasia Vail
Imaging: Chris Cole
A/V: Naveen Malik
NEW Committees
Safety: Steven Blake
Social: Susan Herring
Reports:
Treasurer’s Report: Steven Izzo
Membership:
- RAC memberships: 483
- Past due memberships: 65
- TOTAL memberships: 418
Financials:
- Checking: $1,228.91
- Savings: $30,431.65
- Special Purpose: $24.49
Astronomical League: Dean Herring
Feb 8 Class: 10 Awards!
Hubble 35th Challenge Silver January OP Certificate
- Dana Bostic
- Blair Groden
- Dean Herring
- Susan Herring
- Naveen Malik
Dana Bostic – Outreach – Stellar/Master – cert framed and pin
M. Adnan Asif– Solar System OP – cert and pin
Al Hamrick– Solar System OP – cert and pin
Tonight:12 Awards!
Hubble 35th Challenge Silver January OP Certificate
- Kevin Fowler
- Michael Keef
- Doug Lively
Hubble 35th Challenge Silver February OP Certificate
- M. Adnan Asif
- Dana Bostic
- Kevin Fowler
- Al Hamrik
- Dean Herring
- Susan Herring
- Doug Lively
Dean Herring – Variable Star OP – cert sleeve and pin
Dean Herring – Stellar Evolution OP – cert and pin
Outreach Report: Steve Blake
- https://raleighastro.org/blog/2025/02/06/rac-outreach-committee-report-february-2025/
- Jan 29 – STEAM Night: Githens MS (Durham)
- Feb 1 & 2 – Astronomy Days (Raleigh)
Cancelled:
- Jan 23 – Buckhorn Creek ES (Holly Springs)
- Feb 7 – First Fridays with TLC at 3BA (Creedmoor)
- Feb 8 – Astronomy Night at Joyner Park (Wake Forest)
- Feb 15 – Stargazing on Tap Star Party (Cameron)
- Feb 19 – The Willard Rooftop (Raleigh)
- Feb 20 – Morrisville Community Library (Morrisville)
Loaner Scope Report: Rob Parsons
Prepping: Celestron Nexstar 130GT (5” f/5) Reflector Telescope
Prepping: Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 (6” f/12) Maksutov Telescope
Prepping: Accessories (Observing Chairs, Skyris Camera, Camera Adapters, Solar Filters, ASIair Plus, Books, …)
Available Now:
Four Big Telescopes!!!
Scopes:
Cassagrains: 7 out / 2 available/ 1 in for repair
Dobsonians: 9 out / 2 available
Maksutovs: 1cout / 1 available
Refractors: 0 out / 2 available
Reflectors: 2 out / 2 available
Binoculars: 2 out / 2 available
Keyholder Report:
- No report
Imaging Meeting & Report:
- No Report
A/V Report:
- Volunteers needed to help with A/V
Education Committee Report: Anastasia Vail
Date: Saturday March 15, 2025
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Location: Cherry Building + Zoom
Topic: “Ask the Astronomer/Astrophotographer”
Instructors: Naveen Malik, Jim Presley & Dean Herring
Social:
For the March 21st indoor meeting we will be having a pre-meeting gathering with refreshments. A reminder email will be sent out with more details before the 21st!
No Report:
- Social Media
- Webmaster Team
- Safety
After meeting Social:
Sammy’s
All First Friday Under the Stars with TLC events in 2025 will be held at Three Bear Acres, until further notice.
The observing committee is looking for volunteers to coordinate events and assist at events with or without a telescope. To join the committee, send a blank email to [email protected]. Any club member is welcome, regardless of experience level. To volunteer for an event, register via the RAC Calendar.
