In the January indoor meeting Dr Rachel L. Smith, Director of the Space Observation Laboratory at the Nature Research Center (NRC) presented an overview of her research into solar system evolution to record setting 70 attendees. She also provided an overview of the astronomy based laboratory at the new Nature Research Center in downtown Raleigh (opening in April).
She started out by explaining that meteorites are records of the early solar system and also had a real example of a meteorite to show everyone. Members were able to look at and touch this meteorite during the break after the talk. She explained how we determine what elements that exist in stars by using the elements spectrum observed in the infrared and provided some details of her research on understanding the origins of the exoplanets and the solar system.
She finished the talk by introducing the soon-to-be-completed Space Observation Research Laboratory of the Nature Research Center (the museum’s new wing). There will be a functioning research laboratorry with opportunities for visitors to come into the laboratory to understand the process. The NRC will allso allow visitors to participate in Citizen Science in the museum.
Business Meeting Notes
Discussion of the NRC Opening Event
- Open 4/20/2012 (Friday) at 5pm until 4/21/2012 (Saturday) at 5pm.
- Expecting a large crowd – possibly 50,000
- The new restaurant will be open
- There will be bands and other activities for the entire 24 hours.
- NASA will be participating – They will be in the conference center.
- RAC may be able to have a small table located on the 4th floor and can set up two telescopes on the green roof. This is the rooftop outside the 4th floor.
- For this event, the streets around the museum will be closed off. This will give us an opportunity to set up telescopes on the street. The location was discussed and Jones street was chosen.
- Volunteers are needed to set up telescopes. Can have multiple shifts to watch the telescopes, as ther eis no security.
- Planning night observing and solar observing during the daylight hours.
Astronomy Days
- Dates: May 19 (Saturday) & May 20 (Sunday), 2012
- Next planning session is 2/6/2012 at 6pm at the Museum of Natural Science. Anyone interested in helping to plan is invited to attend.
- Museum is determining how many more exhibit spaces are possible (this will not be many).
- Need to take a first pass through the exhibitsto determine if there are members that are willing to work the exhibit and is it something that would interest the public. Results to be distributed via email.
- NASA will be located in Conference Center
- RAC tables will be located together.
- Need input on shift timings. We can arrange them so that members can work multiple exhibits and have time to see things.
- Members are encouraged to take different exhibits. To move around.
- There parking will be better adverstised for this event..
- Looking for more outside exhibit ideas. There will be more room outside this year.
