Club Reports – Raleigh Astronomy Club

2026-07-24 RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes

Attendance In-person: 20 Zoom: 14 Date: July 24, 2026 Co-Chair: Dana Bostic Meeting Presentation: Meeting Topic: The Biome Above Our Heads: Why Space Debris Requires Our Attention. Speaker: Shriyans Dwivedi Meeting Description: Space debris is a growing problem in our orbital environment. It can harm the infrastructure we have spent over half a century building, which allows us to use technologies imperative to our everyday lives, like GPS and cross-continental communication networks. It poses a severe threat to our future…

2026-06-26 RAC Indoor Meeting

Club Reports, Meetings

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes 6/26/2026 Attendance In-person: 33 Zoom: 5 Date: June 26, 2026 Co-Chair: Blair Groden Pre-Meeting Social: Food was served. People socialized. It was a good time had by all. Meeting Presentation: Meeting Topic: What If Our Moon Didn’t Exist? Speaker: Ron Monti Meeting Description: Life on Earth would be very different (and might not be possible at all) if it were not for our Moon. From the tides to the Earth’s rotation and tilted axis to tectonic plate activity,…

2026-05-29 RAC Indoor Meeting

Club Reports, Meetings

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes 5/29/2026 Attendance In-person: 19 Zoom: 7 Date: May 29, 2026 Co-Chair: Dana Bostic Special Announcements: Budget Announced. See Treasure’s Report below for details. Officer Nominations announced. Nominations will be accepted up to the June 26 indoor meeting vote. Please get them in as soon as possible to be added to the ballet. Current Nominations: Co-chairs: Dana Bostic, Blair Groden, Susan Herring Treasurer: Steve Izzo Secretary: Ann Murphy Still time to nominate someone for an Officer position. Next Meeting: Approve…

2026-04-10 RAC Indoor Meeting

Club Reports, Meetings

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes Attendance In-person: 26 Zoom: 7 Date: April 10, 2026 Co-Chair: Susan Herring Meeting Presentation: Meeting Topic: Indoor Meeting: Double Feature – 35th Anniversary of The Hubble Telescope Landing of Artemis on Earth Speaker: Michael Keefe is a Finance/Accounting professional by day and an amateur astronomer by night, where his real passion lies. Bio: Mike’s been an active member of the Raleigh Astronomy Club (RAC) since 2006, observing the night sky since 2003 but his interest in space was sparked…

2026-03-27 RAC Indoor Meeting

Club Reports, Meetings

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes Attendance In-person: 25 Zoom: 11 Date: March 27, 2026 Co-Chair: Blair Groden Meeting Presentation: Meeting Topic: Indoor Meeting: Which Way Is Up? A whimsical presentation about frame of reference and location Speaker: Alex McConahay Bio: Alex McConahay has been an amateur astronomer for the last three decades with the Riverside (California) Astronomical Society. He has held nearly every office in the club, was on the Board of RTMC Astronomy Expo, the organizer of the Nightfall Star Party, and…

2026-02-27 RAC Indoor Meeting

Club Reports, Meetings

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes Attendance In-person: 23 Zoom: 15 Date: February 27, 2026 Co-Chair: Susan Herring Meeting Presentation: Meeting Topic: PiFinder — From Idea to Observing Companion Speaker: Richard Wolff-Jacobson Bio: Richard is a software engineer and hobbyist designer with a passion for astronomy, vintage electronics and unusual form factor computers. He’s been observing the night sky for over 30 years with various commercial and home-built scopes, but still often feels like a beginner. Meeting Description: This talk shares the story of how the…

2026-01-09 RAC Indoor Meeting

Club Reports

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes Date: January 9, 2026 Co-Chair: Dana Bostic On-going Action Item: Need comments from club members about any updates to web pages or if a webpage is obsolete and needs to be deleted. See Webmaster Report for more details. Action Item: 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…

2025-12-12 RAC Indoor Meeting

Club Reports

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes Date: December 12, 2025 Co-Chair: Dana Bostic On-going Action Item: Need comments from club members about any updates to web pages or if a webpage is obsolete and needs to be deleted. See Webmaster Report for more details. Action Item: Astronomy Days Registration Has Begun (raleighastro.org) – Go to the Calendar and register for your shift(s). Deadline for volunteer sign-up: Jan. 2nd Action Item: The Outreach Committee is looking for volunteers to coordinate events and assist at…

RAC Meeting Minutes – November 14, 2025

Club Reports

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes Date: November 14, 2025 Co-Chair: Blair Groden hosted the meeting which was held at the NCMNS in Raleigh. On-going Action Item: Need comments from club members about any updates to web pages or if a webpage is obsolete and needs to be deleted. See Webmaster Report for more details. Important Announcement: The room will change due to the elevator being repaired. Be on the lookout for a room change. Meeting Presentation: Meeting Topic: Indoor Meeting: David Shives…

Meeting Minutes – October 10, 2025

Club Reports

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes Date: October 10, 2025 Co-Chair: Susan Herring hosted the meeting which was held at the NCMNS in Raleigh. Action Item: Need comments from club members about any updates to web pages or if a webpage is obsolete and needs to be deleted. See Webmaster Report for more details. Important Announcement: The room will change due to the elevator being repaired. Be on the lookout for a room change. Meeting Presentation: Meeting Topic:“Glacier National Park After Dark:…

Meeting Minutes August 15, 2025

Club Reports

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes August 15, 2025 Co-Chair Susan Herring hosted the meeting which was held at the NCMNS in Raleigh. Link to outreach committee report for August. https://raleighastro.org/blog/2025/07/31/rac-outreach-committee-report-july-2025/ Recent events: July 12 – Second Saturday with TLC at Three Bear Acres (Creedmoor) Canceled due to weather forecast July 26 – Stargazing on Tap Star Party (Cameron) Coordinator: Dana Volunteers: Susan, Dean, Dana, Blair, Alan, Yvonne Recap: 45+ people attended Press coverage: Lee: Raleigh astronomers delight daytime stargazers at James Creek Cider House August 1…

Meeting Minutes July 11, 2025

Club Reports

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes July 11, 2025 Co-Chair Dana Bostic hosted the meeting which was held at the NCMNS in Raleigh. Thank you to everyone who came early for the pre-meeting social. A good time of fellowship was had by all and plans are underway for the next one! Upcoming Events: July 12 – 3BA – CANCELLED July 26 – Stargazing on Tap Star Party (Cameron) Coordinator: Steve B Volunteers registered: solar telescopes: 4/5 floaters: 1/3 August 1 – First…

Meeting Minutes June 13, 2025

Club Reports, Meetings

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes June 13, 2025 Co-Chair Dana Bostic hosted the meeting which was held on Zoom. No in person meeting! Upcoming Events: The Willard Rooftop – June 18 RACOBS – June 27 RAC indoor Meeting – July 11 Second Saturday with TLC @ 3BA (Creedmoor) -July 12 James Creek Solar Viewing – July 26 Tonight’s Presentation: Speaker: Tony Rice Topic: Space Weather Prediction: Dedicated forecasters at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, CO work 24/7 to protect…

Meeting Minutes May 9, 2025

Club Reports, Meetings

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes May 9, 2025 Co-Chair Dana Bostic hosted the meeting Upcoming Events: Weatherstone Elementary School – May 15 May Imaging Meeting – May 15 RACOBS – May 23 “Getting Started with Your Telescope” (RAC Class) – May 24 Sanderson High School – June 2 Next Indoor Meeting – June 13 The Willard Rooftop – June 18 RACOBS – June 27 Tonight’s Presentation: TOPIC: Perspectives on Distance Speaker: Chuck Allen – Astronomical League President Business: Current Officers Co-Chairs:…

Meeting Minutes April 11, 2025

Club Reports, Meetings

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes April 11, 2025 Co-Chair Naveen Malik hosted the meeting Upcoming Events: April 12 – Girl Scout Camp Graham (Henderson) April 14 – Martin MS Solar Science (Raleigh) April 16 – The Willard Rooftop (Raleigh) April 25 –Stargazing with Sagan: A Journey Through the Cosmos (Durham) April 26 – Artspace Arts on the Block (Raleigh) May 2 – First Fridays with TLC at Three Bear Acres (Creedmoor) May 15 – Weatherstone ES (Cary) Tonight’s Presentation: TOPIC: Searching…