Updated 2024-05-23

Recent events:

  • Apr. 24 – The Willard Rooftop (Raleigh)
    • Coordinator: Steve B
    • Volunteers: 3 telescopes (Matt, Chris, Bill), 1 floater (Steve)
    • Attendees: 30-40
    • Recap: After a rainy afternoon, the clouds cleared an hour or so before sunset. We were able to see Jupiter and Uranus briefly after sunset. Orion nebula, globular, and open clusters were also viewed, along with a beautiful near-full moon rising over downtown Raleigh. No luck observing Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks in the light haze near the horizon. The hosts and attendees were very appreciative.
  • Apr. 25 – Githens Middle School STEAM Night (Durham)
    • Coordinator: Matt L
    • Volunteers: Matt
    • Recap: I (Matt) was out at Sherwood Githens MS yesterday from 4:30-7:30pm for their STEAM night.  About 10 families made their way over to my RAC table.  Being a daytime event, I had my dob pointed at a grove of pine trees and we studied some pinecones.  We talked about RAC and I answered plenty of general space type questions. It was not the most well attended, nor organized, event… but always glad to be present when the opportunities allow!
  • Apr. 27 – Astronomy on Tap Star Party (Cameron)
    • Postponed due to weather forecast
    • Rescheduled to June 29
  • May 3 – First Fridays with TLC at Three Bear Acres (Creedmoor)
    • Canceled due to weather forecast
  • May 11 – Artspace Galactic Family Day (Raleigh)
    • Coordinator: Steve B
    • Volunteers: Annelies, Tony, Jacqueline
    • Attendees: 111
    • Recap: Annelies –
      We had a great day at Art Space today! Expert Tony joined me with his solar telescope. I brought my M1 Polaris with solar filter. Member Jacqueline was able to help as a floater and a new friend by the name of Maria was very helpful and inviting people to use solar glasses before guiding them to the scopes. We might have a new young member! Maria seems very interested in joining RAC.
      Per my experience thus far, I found it challenging to find the sun! An exercise in patience and determination finally bore solar fruit, however. It was a partly cloudy day today too so that complicated my hunt for the sun.  All worked out though!
      We had more than 111 people come through! We enjoyed sharing with so many people! Great location right there by Artspace, especially with G-5 solar storm! And photos from my 3AM excursion to capture the aurora borealis at Falls Lake this morning! People loved that!
      Perhaps next time, we can have some RAC cards to give away. We didn’t have anything representing the club other than us and our scopes.
  • May 17 – Prairie Ridge Ecostation Star Party (Raleigh)
    • Postponed due to weather forecast
    • Rescheduled to July 13

Upcoming events:

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.