RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes

April 12, 2024

Co-Chair Dana Bostic hosted the meeting in-person at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, as well as virtually using the Zoom platform.

22 meeting participants attended in-person, 22 attended via Zoom.

Presentation: How do Galaxies Grow and Evolve

“The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made recent news, with fascinating observations of distant galaxies whose sizes, shapes, and heavy element abundances puzzle many astronomers. Dr. Shull discussed these observations and what they suggest about galaxy formation and evolution over the last 13 billion years.”

Speaker: 

Dr. Michael Shull

Bio (provided by the presenter):

“Dr. Michael Shull is Professor of Astrophysics and past-Chair of the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He received a B.S. in Physics from Caltech and a Ph.D. in Physics from Princeton University (1976). After working as a researcher at UC Berkeley, he joined the CU faculty in fall 1977. In 2019, he also became Adjunct Professor of Physics & Astronomy at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Dr. Shull’s research is in theoretical astrophysics and space astronomy. His research interests include studies of gas between the stars and galaxies, exploding stars (supernovae) and galaxy formation. He has been a frequent user of the Hubble Space Telescope to study quasars, galaxies, and gas between the stars and galaxies.”

Business:

Member Milestones

We had a lively discussion on the recent Solar Eclipse and members different experiences during this awesome event. Whether you stayed in the Raleigh area (@79%) or traveled around the country, this Solar Eclipse made quite an impression!

Outreach Committee Update by Outreach Chair Steven Blake

Previous Event updates:

  • March 23rd: FL Galaxy Nights (Tappahannock, VA)
  • April 5th: SWSP at 3 BA

Upcoming Events:

  • April 13th: FL Galaxy Nights (Sumter, SC)
  • April 17th: The Willard Raleigh
  • April 18th: Imaging Meeting (2024 Eclipse Images)
  • April 25th: Gathers Middle School STEAM Night
  • April 27: Astronomy on Tap Star Party Cameron
  • May 3rd: First Fridays with TLC at 3BA
  • May 4th: RAC Class (Topic TBD)
  • May 8th-12th: RACATOA at Staunton River State Park
  • May 11Th: Artspace Galactic Family Day
  • May 16th: Imaging Meeting (Topic TBD)
  • May 17th: Prairie Ridge Ecostation Star Party
  • May 24th: Indoor Meeting: “How to Catch a Gravitational Wave”

Treasurer’s Report by Steven Izzo (presently by Dana Bostic)

Membership – 579 total.

  • 361 single memberships
  • 133 family memberships with 85 secondary members

Balances:

  • Business checking: $682.87
  • Savings: $28,453.26
  • Special purpose checking: $0.62

Astronomical League Report by AL Co-Ordinator Dean Herring

AL Awards:

●Doug Lively: Solar Eclipse Observing Challenge Silver Award (Certificate) for the October 14, 2023 Annular Eclipse.
●Al Hamrick: Globular Cluster Observing Program Award (Certificate and Pin)
●Dean Herring: Hα Solar Observing Program Award (Certificate and Pin)
Webmaster Report:
  • no updates

Loaner Scope Report by Rob Parsons

Updates:

●Removed: Meade ETX-105 (4” Maksutov)
●Added: Celestron Omni 150 XLT (6” Reflector)

Current Status:

  • Equipment:     Out       Repair     Available
  • Cassegrains      9            0               0
  • Dobsonians       8            1               1
  • Maksutovs         2           0                0
  • Refractors          1            0               1
  • Reflectors.          2           0                0
  • Binoculars.          1           0               3

Education Report

  • May 4th: RAC class TBD

Key Holders Report

  • No updates

Social Media Report

  • no updates

Imagining Report:

  • Update for Chris Cole

A/V Committee Report:

  • no update

The club is trying out some new venues for the after meeting social gathering, This month they went to The Alamo Drafthouse, next month it may be a new place. Come join us for some fellowship and fun!