(Updated 2024-12-10)

Recent events:

30 well-behaved very attentive 6th & 7th grades who asked a lot of questions. Accompanied by three adult “aides.” I brought a mounted H-alpha solar scope and a mounted 80mm Orion Short Tube along with 5 pairs of binoculars (2 solar white light) along with an “extra” 90mm f/6.5.

It was a good thing I had a lecture worked out on the theme of Observation/ Imagination. Why?  (1) The setting was a 2nd floor lecture room a long way from the elevator. (2) Tall bushes obscured the view out the windows. So the “observing session” didn’t happen at all: it was a lecture. I’ve given feedback to Sam Chappell about the experience; and I asked to return next year.

  • November 23 – Prairie Ridge Ecostation (Raleigh)
    • Coordinator: Steve B
    • Volunteers: Susan, Dean, Doug, Tony, Blair, Mike, Chris W, Steve B, Amy, Nick (Morehead), and the students from UNC
    • Attendees: 412
    • Recap: Steve B –
The outreach event at Prairie Ridge this past Saturday was an amazing success. We were on the clock to get set up and tear down in a less than ideal area but got it done. Observing conditions started out hazy but cleared up in the first hour. The adjacent classroom building hosted hand-on activities for kids provided by Morehead Planetarium volunteers that was very popular. Despite spending an entire afternoon printing, handouts were gone in less than an hour.
412 attendees observed through at least 8 telescopes. Jupiter, Saturn, Pleiades, and other deep sky objects were observed. Feedback was excellent. Construction is going to begin soon at Prairie Ridge so it is unlikely will be observing there next year.

 

I observed at Apex Friendship Elementary School Tuesday night 12/3, along with honors students from Apex Friendship High School who brought two small refractors. We observed Saturn and Jupiter. At least 120 well-behaved students and parents came outside to observe. The principal, teachers, parents, and students I spoke with were very appreciative. Seeing conditions were excellent despite the street lights, and cloud bands on Jupiter were easily visible. Not sure whether my hands have ever felt colder, though.
Thanks to Rhett and his gang for bringing their telescopes.

 

Upcoming events:

  • December 18 – The Willard Rooftop (Raleigh)
    • Coordinator: Steve B
    • Volunteers registered:
      • telescopes: 1/3
      • floaters: 1/3
  • January 4 – Starry Night Party (Raleigh)
    • Coordinator: Steve B
    • Volunteers registered:
      • telescopes: 0/4
      • floaters: 0/4
      • RAC table: 0/4
  • January 29 – STEAM Night: Githens MS (Durham)
    • Coordinator: Matt L
    • Volunteers needed (registration opens December 30):
      • telescopes/floaters: 3
  • February 1 & 2 – Astronomy Days (Raleigh)
    • Coordinator: Chris C
    • Contact Chris C to volunteer
  • February 8 – Astronomy Night at Joyner Park (Wake Forest)
    • Coordinator: Steve B
    • Volunteers needed (registration opens January 09):
      • telescopes: 5
      • floaters: 3
      • RAC table: 1

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.