RAC Outreach Committee Report – March 2025

(Updated 2025-03-18)

Recent events:

• February 7 – First Fridays with TCL at Three Bear Acres (Creedmoor)
  • Canceled due to weather forecast

• February 8 – Astronomy Night at Joyner Park (Wake Forest)
  • Postponed to March 08 due to weather forecast

• February 15 – Stargazing on Tap Star Party (Cameron)
  • Postponed to February 22 due to weather forecast

• February 19 – The Willard Rooftop (Raleigh)
  • Postponed to February 26 due to weather forecast

• February 20 – Morrisville Community Library (Morrisville)
  • Postponed to February 27 due to weather forecast

• February 22 – Stargazing on Tap Star Party (Cameron)
  • Postponed to March 01 due to weather forecast

• February 26 – The Willard Rooftop (Raleigh)
  • Coordinator: Steve B
  • Volunteers: Dean, Susan, Bill, Blair, Steve B
  • Attendees: ~60
  • Recap: Steve B ~

RAC was back on the Willard Rooftop last Wednesday evening with three telescopes. Skies were basically clear but there was a thin haze which made a lot of typical naked eye objects like the Pleiades hard to see. Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Orion Nebula, and other objects were observed. At least 60 people got a chance to observe. We will plan to be back sometime in April or May.

• February 27 – Morrisville Community Library (Morrisville)
  • Canceled due to weather forecast

• March 01 – Stargazing on Tap Star Party (Cameron)
  • Postponed to March 15 due to weather forecast

• March 06 – Math & Science Night: Washington ES (Raleigh)
  • Coordinator: Steve B
  • Volunteers: Dana, Steve B
  • Attendees: 50+
  • Recap: Steve B ~

Tonight RAC participated in the Math and Science Night event at Washington Elementary School in Raleigh. We set up a table indoors with handouts and set up two telescopes outside the building. Despite severe light pollution we were able to observe the Moon (including Lunar X & V), Jupiter, Mars, and the Orion Nebula. 50+ parents and students stopped by to observe. The school was grateful for our participation.

• March 7 – First Fridays with TCL at Three Bear Acres (Creedmoor)
  • Canceled due to weather forecast

• March 8 – Astronomy Night at Joyner Park (Wake Forest)
  • Coordinator: Steve B
  • Volunteers: Susan, Dean, Bill, Dana, Steve B
  • Attendees: ~50
  • Recap: Steve B ~

Tonight RAC brought 5 telescopes to Joyner Park in Wake Forest for their Astronomy Night event. Despite haze and ~50% cloud cover, we were able to observe the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Pleiades, and the Beehive Cluster. About 50 people got a chance to observe.

• March 13 – Buckhorn Creek ES (Holly Springs)
  • Canceled due to weather forecast