RAC Outreach Committee Report – January 2026

Recent events:

• January 3 – First Fridays Saturdays with TLC at Three Bear Acres (Creedmoor)
  • Canceled due to weather forecast.

• January 15 – Museum of Life and Science Teen Science Club (Durham)
  • Coordinator/presenter: Tony V
  • Recap: Tony V –

Last night I presented “How to Become an Amateur Astronomer” to the teen club at the Durham Museum of Life and Science.

We began with hands-on planisphere exercises, giving students a chance to experience a traditional star chart–without their heads buried in their smartphones.

The adult leaders jumped in too and clearly enjoyed the challenge.

After the presentation, we headed outside for telescope viewing with the museum’s Dobsonians. Students observed Jupiter and Saturn, and I used a laser pointer to trace the Orion constellation, highlighting Betelgeuse, Rigel, and the belt stars.

Teens with especially sharp eyesight were even able to spot the Orion Nebula.

All in all, it was a great evening.

• January 24 & 25 – Astronomy Days (Raleigh)
  • Postponed until February 7 & 8 due to weather.

• January 29 – Buckhorn Creek ES (Holly Springs)
  • Canceled due to weather. May reschedule at a later date.

Upcoming events:

• February 6 – First Fridays with TLC at Three Bear Acres (Creedmoor)
  • Canceled due to weather forecast and Astronomy Days load-in.
• February 7 & 8 – Astronomy Days (Raleigh)
  • Coordinator: Chris C
  • Volunteers register for individual shifts (volunteer sign-up is closed):
    • Saturday February 7 Shift 1
    • Saturday February 7 Shift 2
    • Saturday February 7 Shift 3
    • Sunday February 8 Shift 1
    • Sunday February 8 Shift 2
    • Sunday February 8 Shift 3
• February 10 – Scotts Ridge ES Steam Night (Apex)
  • Coordinator: Steve B
  • Volunteers registered:
    • telescopes: 1/5
    • floaters: 0/4
• February 12 – Sherwood Githens Middle School STEAM Night (Durham)
  • Coordinator: Steve B
  • Volunteers registered:
    • telescopes: 1/5
    • floaters: 0/4
• February 21 – Stargazing on Tap Star Party (Cameron)
  • Coordinator: Steve B
  • Volunteers registered:
    • telescopes: 2/5
    • floaters: 1/3
• February 25 – The Willard Rooftop (Raleigh)
  • Coordinator: Steve B
  • Volunteers registered:
    • telescopes: 3/3
    • floaters: 3/3
• February 27 – Guest Star Scientists @ Marbles Kids Museum (Raleigh)
  • Coordinator/presenter: Tony V
• February 28 – Guest Star Scientists @ Marbles Kids Museum (Raleigh)
  • Coordinator/presenter: Tony V
• March 2 – Vandora Springs ES “Math Under the Stars” Night (Garner)
  • Coordinator: Steve B
  • Volunteers registered:
    • telescopes: 0/5
    • floaters: 0/4
• March 6 – First Fridays with TLC at Three Bear Acres (Creedmoor)
  • Coordinator: Ana V
  • Volunteers registered:
    • telescopes: 1/15
    • floaters: 0/5
• March 7 – Astronomy Night at Joyner Park (Wake Forest)
  • Coordinator: Steve B
  • Volunteers needed (registration opens February 7):
    • telescopes: 4
    • floaters: 3
• March 14 – Under the Stars @ NCMA (Raleigh)
  • Coordinator: Steve B
  • Volunteers registered:
    • telescopes: 0/10
    • floaters: 0/5
• March 19 – Abbotts Creek ES Science Fair (Raleigh)
  • Coordinator: Steve B
  • Volunteers needed (registration opens February 15):
    • telescopes: 3
    • RAC table: 2
• April 3 – First Fridays with TLC at Three Bear Acres (Creedmoor)
  • Coordinator: Ana V
  • Volunteers registered:
    • telescopes: 0/15
    • floaters: 0/5
• April 8 – The Willard Rooftop (Raleigh)
  • Coordinator: Steve B
  • Volunteers needed (registration opens March 2)
    • telescopes: 3
    • floaters: 3
• April 11 – Wild Ideas Expo (with TLC) (Raleigh)
  • Coordinator: Ana V
  • Volunteers registered:
    • telescopes: 3/5
    • floaters: 1/3
• April 22 – Apex Friendship ES STEM Night (Apex)
  • Coordinator: Steve B
  • Volunteers needed (registration opens March 22):
    • telescopes: 3
    • floaters: 2
    • RAC table: 2
• April 24 – Statewide Star Party: American Tobacco Trail (Apex)
  • Coordinator: TBD
  • Volunteers needed (registration opens March 19):
    • telescopes: 5
    • floaters: 3
• April 24 – Statewide Star Party: White Deer Park (Garner)
  • Coordinator: TBD
  • Volunteers needed (registration opens March 19):
    • telescopes: 5
    • floaters: 3
• April 24 – Statewide Star Party: Imagination Station (Wilson)
  • Coordinator: TBD
  • Volunteers needed (registration opens March 19):
    • telescopes: 5
    • floaters: 3
• April 30 – Lincoln Heights Magnet ES (Fuquay-Varina)
  • Coordinator: Steve B
  • Volunteers needed (registration opens March 30):
    • telescopes: 3
    • RAC table: 2
• May 1 – First Fridays with TLC at Three Bear Acres (Creedmoor)
  • Coordinator: Ana V
  • Volunteers registered:
    • telescopes: 0/15
    • floaters: 0/5

Notes:

The Outreach 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. We will train you! To volunteer for an event, register via the RAC Calendar event entry.

Event coordinators: please send an email after the event to [email protected] indicating:

• How many RAC members volunteered.
• Estimate of how many attendees were present.
• Brief synopsis of the event: what interesting things were observed, attendee reactions, host impressions, etc.