We will be discussing the pros and cons of different types of imaging optics that can be found throughout the hobby of Astrophotography. Any member can bring in their favorite imaging OTA and share their experiences and images taken with it.
Logging In: To use the web interface, you will need to log in. This is optional and not required unless you wish the manage your subscriptions or read messages/archives through the Groups.io webpage. URL for Groups.IO WEb Interface: https://raleighastro.groups.io/ Enter your email address and then “email me a link to log in”. Nearly instantly you will be sent an email with a link that is valid for 1 hour. The social media login options are also available. Once you are…
The Helpful Menu in the Email Footer The bottom of each email should including something like the following: This offers a range of ways to reply to the individual message. View/Reply Online – This will redirect you to the web interface where you can compose a reply to the email thread Reply To Group – This starts a reply to the thread using your default email client Reply To Sender – Send a reply to the sender of the email,…
Subgroups One feature of the groups.io service is the ability to quickly create new distribution lists. These groups typically inherit the user list from the top level group (announcements), so they are called subgroups. The only requirement for a subgroup is that all members are allowed to join if they wish. All members are automatically subscribed to the announcements list (for club announcements, not discussion) and the members list, [email protected]. The members list is the general chat group. The club…
Introduction to the RAC Email Discussion Groups The Raleigh Astronomy Club communicates primarily through email. The club has email addresses through a service called “groups.io” which act like listserv’s. These lists facilitate club communication. Only members current on their dues are on the distribution list and only a valid email address is required to participate. To use the list, simply send an email to the email address and the service will automatically be distributed to everyone in the group. Messages…
We will be meeting in the usual place in the outside hallway of the Brickhouse Restaurant, Thursday December 21. For this months topic, we will have a brief discussion on plate solving. Plate solving is a technique in which a computer program can identify exactly where your telescope is pointing in the night sky. This allows you to quickly frame photo in whatever orientation you want instead of manually.
Location: NCSU Crafts Center (directions) Date: December 8, 2017 Time: 7:30-9:30pm Abstract: RAC Co-Chair John Sadler will lead a discussion around field power. Portable batteries are needed to run dew controllers at a minimum, and for many, they also power telescope mounts, imaging gear, computers, and more. While some commercial solutions exist, home made solutions are quite typical. Learn what to consider when building the box including the battery, connectors such as the Anderson Powerpole products, amp meters, voltage regulators,…
Our topic for a rundown of available processing programs for astro-imagers will be tentatively postponed for the December Meeting. Instead there will be an open discussion for new materials/questions members may want to present.
Location: NCSU Crafts Center (directions) Date: November 10, 2017 Time: 7:30-9:30pm Abstract: RAC member Matt Lochansky will show how spectroscopy sheds light on the composition and environment of our universe. While human exploration has barely left our solar system, much of our understanding of elements, temperatures, and velocities in deep space have been made through spectroscopic techniques. Amateurs are placing an increasing role in monitoring transient astronomical events and longer term patterns of stellar interactions. RAC Business: After the presentation,…
Our October 27, 2017 Indoor meeting highlight featured our guest speaker, Dr. Russell Philbrick, was a senior at Cary High School and convinced the owners of WPTF radio station to use their antenna to track the satellite. He gave an excellent talk about the history of not only his career but of the history of the Operation Moonwatch. He told the story of how he organized the Cary High School’s moonwatch club and how he got that call at 3:00…
Last week, a good number of our imagers turned their cameras to a very dark sky in southern Virginia and took some great images. There will be a lot of deep space photos to see at this meeting and guests are always welcome. We will be meeting in the hallway behind the Raleigh Brickhouse Sports Bar and Grille at 7pm.
Location: NCSU Crafts Center (directions) Date: October 27, 2017 Time: 7:30-9:30pm Abstract: October marks 60 years since the Sputnik was launched from the Soviet Union. Our speaker, Dr. Russell Philbrick, was a senior at Cary High School and convinced the owners of WPTF radio station to use their antenna to track the satellite. Dr. Philbrick with describe the events leading up to sputnik, the tone of the time, and how we all changed as a result of it’s orbit 60…
The Raleigh Astronomy Club, along with CHAOS, Morehead Planetarium, and Raleigh Parks and Rec will be out at Dorothea Dix park for skywatching! Come out for a great night enjoying the night sky. Tickets are FREE!! When: October 28, 2017, 7:30-10:30pm Where: Dorothea Dix Park Big Field, 101 Blair Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603 Over 1000 guests are expected. More Details and Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/explore-dorothea-dix-park-skywatching-tickets-37250223421 Details: This is an informal session, so you can arrive and leave any time during the two hours of the program. However,…
RAC hosted a pair of outreach events this past weekend. Outreach is a service that our club members provide to our community. RACOBS with Heartwood Montessori: About 50 elementary school age kids and parents joined RAC during their monthly RACOBS session on Friday night to learn about astronomy and get a look through telescopes. We started with a brief safety talk and introduction to astronomy. Afterwards, club members helped show kids a range of objects from a thin crescent moon,…
What is “dithering” anyway? Two nuances that determine good quality images are eliminating camera noise and taming bad sky conditions. “Dithering” is a clever way of toning down these problems before analyzing the images, saving the headaches of removing some noise and bad sky conditions while taking your pictures. To find out more, come out to our usual location at the Raleigh Brickhouse Restaurant this Thursday at 7pm. Imagers are also encouraged to bring their final eclipse photos and any…
