The Raleigh Astronomy Club and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences again hosted the premiere astronomy event in North Carolina, Astronomy Days on May 19th and 20th 2012. The event drew over 10,000 people who were able to enjoys displays, activities, workshops, and presentations from the Raleigh Astronomy Club, NASA/JPL, the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, the Nature Research Center, and many other organizations.

NASA Personnel in Space Suit

NASA Personnel in Space Suit

Telescopes on Display in the NRC

Telescopes on Display in the NRC

This was the first event held in both the existing Museum of Natural Science building and the new Nature Research Center ((opened this spring). It featured new exhibits like a Solar System Model, Astronomy Fact or Fiction, and the Scale of the Universe. RAC would like to thank all the members who dedicated their time and efforts to develop these new exhibits. Of course, we are always open to new ideas for next year!

In addition to the new exhibits, RAC also updated popular exhibits from previous years like Astrophotography, Finding Exoplanets, Age & Weight on Other Planets, and Ask an Astronomer. The club would also like to thank all the members who worked so hard to update, coordinate, and present these exhibits, like Chris Cole, Brain Reasor, Ron Monti, and Michael Keefe. In addition, a new astronomy days web site was created for this and future events. This will be a good way to stay in touch with the coming event!

New Solar System designed by RAC

New Solar System designed by RAC

IR view in the thermal imaging exhibit

IR view in the thermal imaging exhibit

Jim Dellapenna shows a budding astronomer a scope

Jim Dellapenna shows a budding astronomer a scope

In addition, the club also sponsored and made presentations on a wide variety of astronomical themed topics. The workshops included seminars on how to get started in amateur astronomy (with versions for children and adults) and how to get started with your camera in astrophotography. Thanks to Mike Keefe and Chris cole for developing and presenting these. The presentations were done by club members, NRC researchers, and members of the NASA Solar System Ambassadors on a great many topics like astro-biology, exploring pluto, the history of Apollo, and the Mars Science Lander (“Curiosity”) mission. RAC would especially like to recognize Tony Rice, Mike Malaska, and Captain Mike Lucas from the Solar System Ambassadors program and also Dr Rachel Smith and Jay Mhon from the Space Observation Laboratory at the Nature Research Center.

Although this year’s event was in May (like last years one as well) because of other activities surrounding the NRC and the weather was really nice, next year Astronomy Days will be moving back to the traditional time slot in January. Planning is already underway and we hope to mek it even better than this years event. See you there!