(Updated 2025-02-21)

Recent events:

  • January 29 – STEAM Night: Githens MS (Durham)
    • Coordinator: Matt L
    • Volunteers: Matt L, Steve B
    • Attendees: ~100
    • Recap: Matt L –
Steve and I had a good time at Githens Middle School in Durham.  This has become an annual event as exhibitors at their STEAM night.  It was light for the first hour while we set up and spoke to students and families as they went into the school.  We were able to do a little solar observing and then start to see the planets appear after sunset.   Once it was dark enough, we saw Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars across the sky.  Steve and his SCT visited them all, giving students a view of the planet parade.  Matt’s Seestar was able to pick up the Orion nebula early, and continued stacking on it for an hour.  Some families came by and saw how the image got better as the time passed.  We also briefly imaged the Crab Nebula and Andromeda Galaxies.
 
The students and families seemed to enjoy themselves and enjoyed the difference between electronic and visual observing.  After a week of cold weather, this evening, starting at close to 70 degrees, was welcome.  After dark there was a steady stream of students coming by to enjoy a little time under the stars – we estimate about 100 people stopped by to take a look.

 

  • February 1 & 2 – Astronomy Days (Raleigh)
    • Coordinator: Chris C
    • Volunteers: Johnny H, Bob M, Marshall S, Ann M, Eddie H, Dean H, Nick L, Blair G, Willam S, Tony V, Rob P, Liam B, Steve G, Emilia P, Christopher M, Lijoy S, Ollin L, Alec H, Adam P, Steve B, Francis H, Dana B, Jefferson P, Kevin F, Lewis W, Mark S, Thomas J, Chris W, Brian C, Steven P, Jesus H, Joe P, Brian R, Doug L, Mike K, Susan H, Chris C, and others (speak up if you were missed).
    • Attendees: 11628
    • Recap: Chris C –
Big thanks from the museum to all the RAC Volunteers for making Astronomy Days out of this world. Feedback was very positive for all of our exhibits. The final count of visitors was 11,628.

 

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.