Attendance
- In-person: 20
- Zoom: 14
Date: July 24, 2026
Co-Chair: Dana Bostic
Meeting Presentation:
Meeting Topic: The Biome Above Our Heads: Why Space Debris Requires Our Attention.
Speaker: Shriyans Dwivedi
Meeting Description: Space debris is a growing problem in our orbital environment. It can harm the infrastructure we have spent over half a century building, which allows us to use technologies imperative to our everyday lives, like GPS and cross-continental communication networks. It poses a severe threat to our future access to space if it is not taken care of in time. In this presentation, we will go over what space debris actually is, the problems it has been creating, the history of orbital debris, and potential solutions
Astronomical League Report:
Dean’s AL Messier/Caldwell Monthly Challenge for 2026
A yearlong monthly observing challenge to get members (especially those who did the Hubble Challenge) to the AL’s messier and Caldwell Awards. Bonus Bright/Dark Nebula Observing program.
New/Holdovers:
- Doug lively – M102 AL challenge – certificate (sent)
- Dean F Herring – M102 Challenge – certificate
- Susan Herring – M102 Challenge – certificate
- Al Hamrick – Asterism Observing program – Pin and Cert
- Dean F Herring – Solar Neighborhood OP – Pin and Cert
Dean’s AL Messier/Caldwell Monthly Challenge for 2026
- Bethany Bennett – May (sent)
Upcoming Events:
- July 25 – The Exchange (Raleigh) – postponed TBD
- Fri Aug 7 – First Fridays Under the Stars with TLC (3BA)
- Sat Aug 8 – James Creek Cider House (Cameron)
- Wed Aug 12 – The Willard Rooftop (Raleigh)
- Fri Aug 14 – RAC Observing Session (RACOBS)
- Sat Aug 15 – RAC Class – Telescope Cleaning and Maintenance
- Tue Aug 18 – Duke University Project Lead
- Thu Aug 27 – Imaging meeting
- Fri Aug 28 – Indoor meeting
- Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is planning a free public skywatching event for the partial lunar eclipse the night of Thursday, August 27.
- Morehead Planetarium, at the Sundial (250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill)
- Start time: 10:30 p.m.
- End time: 12:30 a.m.
A paid planetarium show starting at 9:30 pm is also being planned
Treasurer’s Report:
- Memberships:
- RAC memberships: 538
- Cancelled Memberships: 0
- Admin memberships: 1
- TOTAL memberships: 539
- Financials:
- Checking: $1,739.35
- Savings: $24,767.75
- Special Purpose: $13.87
- Note: Officers are planning a membership dues increase to $35.00 for the coming 2027 calendar year. Renewals start in early December and will reflect the new amount.
Outreach Report
- Due to the weather we have had No-Go events for JulyOutreach Committee is looking for volunteers to coordinate events and assist at events; with or without telescopes. To join the committee, send a blank email to [email protected].
Every club member is welcome, regardless of experience!
June’s outreach report is available at https://raleighastro.org/blog/2026/07/01/rac-outreach-committee-report-june-2026/
Safety:
Members interested in First Aid/CPR/AED training can register themselves by finding a convenient class here:
https://www.redcross.org/local/north-carolina/take-a-class/cpr-raleigh-nc
Loaner Scope Report
| Available | Checked Out | In for Repair | Available |
| Cassegrains | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Dobsonians | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| Maksutovs | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Refractors | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Reflectors | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Binoculars | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Accessories | 9 | 2 | 39 |
| Outreach | 4 | 0 | 5 |
Donation: reviewing several telescopes to be added to the loaner program or picnic raffle.
https://raleighastro.org/loaner-telescopes/
Education Committee Report:
- We don’t have all the details for August’s RAC Class, yet. All we know so far is:
- Working Title: “Telescope Cleaning & Maintenance”
- Date: Saturday, 22 August 2026
- Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
- Format: in-person only (Cherry Building)
- Instructor(s): Rob Parsons & Marshall Sweet
Webmaster Report – No Updates
Web team Report: No Updates
Committee Reports
Social Events:
RAC Family Picnic
- Saturday September 5, 2026
- Time: 11am – 2:30pm
- Location: Buckwheat Farm
2700 Holland Road Apex, NC 27502
Social Media:
Welcome Lauren – Thanks Anastasia for leading for many years!! Lauren is officially taking over as Social Media Director.
A/V – No Updates
Imaging Report:
- Big thanks to all who participated in the Globular Blitz! We had 52 images total.
- August imaging meeting topic: TBD
- A poll has been posted on Groups.io and Discord for the next target challenge in October. The choices:
- Cocoon Nebula (IC 5146)
- Veil Nebula Complex (all or part)
- Iris Nebula (NGC 7023)
Have your votes in by August 8th (two weeks).
Key-Holders Report
- Big Woods keyholder applications are still open
- The application process will remain open until July 31, 2026.
Socialize after the meeting at Sammy’s.
