Term Limits
As a practical matter, this means that both Ann Murphy and Mike Keefe must take a year off. This opens up the secretary position and a co-chair position. If anyone is interested in either one of these offices, please let Mike or myself know. Both Mike and I can train you in the position.
RACOBS moved to 1/16/2015 for this month only
Due to Astronomy Days, RACOBS will move to January 16, 2015. This will happen only for this month, then RACOBS will be back to the fourth Friday of the month.
Public Observing Saturday, February 21, 2015, 07:00pm – 10:30pm; North Cary Park, Cary, NC
Join us for an evening of amazing observing of the winter night sky. Visible will be a beautiful new crescent Moon, Jupiter will be rising in the East, Mars and Venus will be less than 1 degree apart in the Western sky. Uranus will be less than half a degree away from the crescent Moon. We’ll also be treated to great views of deep sky objects like the Great Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, the Double Cluster and more.
The ‘rain date’ for this event is Saturday Feb. 28th.
Location : North Cary Park, Cary, NC
Contact : [email protected]
Keep an eye on the email list for signing up to volunteer for this public observing night.This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Telescope Equipment Clinic Saturday, February 28, 2015, 05:30pm – 07:00pm, Green Square Parking Deck, 120 W Edenton St, Raleigh, NC
Free Equipment Clinic – Open to the Public.
Location : Green Square Parking Deck, 120 W Edenton St, Raleigh, NC
Contact : [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Keep an eye on the email list for signing up to volunteer for this equipment clinic..
Astronomy Days Update – Saturday and Sunday January 24, 2015 and January 25, 2015. The times are 9am – 5pm for Saturday and 12pm – 5pm on Sunday, North Carolina Museum of Natural Science
Astronomy Days is taking place at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science. The website is: http://www.astronomydays.org/. The signup for the Astronomy club will be coming soon. Watch for an email from Mike Keefe. The event takes place Saturday and Sunday January 24, 2015 and January 25, 2015. The times are 9am – 5pm for Saturday and 12pm – 5pm on Sunday. You can volunteer for two hour shifts for the booths or if you volunteer all day, you can get a free lunch.
To sign up for RAC booths etc., use the link :
http://raleighastro.wufoo.com/forms/rac-astronomy-days-volunteer-registration-form/
The volunteer opportunities include the following:
Solar Observing:
Using a scope with a safe white light, H-alpha, or other filter and
encourage passersby to observe the Sun. Scopes without filters may observe
distant objects in buildings but not the Sun. If you have an 8″ SCT, the
club has a solar filter you can borrow.
RAC Table & Ask the Astronomer:
Meet and greet museum visitors who are interested in Astronomy. Pass out
club literature and answer general questions concerning astronomy, The
Raleigh Astronomy Club, and locations of astronomy exhibits around the
museum. Also, there will be the “Ask the Astronomer Booth.” This year we
will also bring back the speed of light display at the RAC Table.
Astrophotography:
Exhibit astrophotography photos taken by club members. Explain how
astrophotography photos are taken, processed and displayed.
Telescopes on Display (NCMNS):
Bring your scope and explain and demonstrate its capabilities to the crowd.
Telescopes on Display (NRC):
Show guests touring the NRC a view of a planet (actually a photograph of a
planet hung inside the NRC) and includes the “Moon Challenge.”
Scale of the Universe:
This unmanned exhibit will be adjacent to Modeling Cosmos. This web based,
interactive exhibit allows the visitor to zoom into the smallest, theorized
measures such as the Plank length or width of a quantum string all the way
out to visible universe.
Age, Weight & Jumping on Other Planets!:
Using an excel spread sheet, demonstrate the age and weight of museum
visitors. Then provide them with a printout to take home with them. Also
will provide examples of everyday objects and analogues of their weight on
other planets. Visitors can also see how high they could jump on other
planets.
Exoplanets:
Visitors will learn about:
* Known exo-planets and their characteristics.
* Detection methods (radial velocity, light curves, Kepler)
* Amateur detection efforts
* Have an opportunity to play with a Lego Orrery and light sensor
showing how the Kepler mission searched for exoplanets
* The Drake Equation; we’ll even have an interactive app that allows
visitors to solve this equation using their own values for the variables in
Drake’s equation.
* The Constellation Orion:
* This exhibit will be unmanned but provide a representation of the
constellation of Orion, illustrating that the stars that make up this
constellation are not on a fixed, flat plane but rather in 3 dimensional
space at various distance from our perspective here on Earth.
Floaters:
Move from exhibit to exhibit as needed to cover gaps in the schedule or
covering for others taking breaks.
This is a great chance to help the club, interact and get the public excited about astronomy and to even show off your telescope and hobby. Please consider volunteering. Please ask any of the officers if you have questions.
