RAC Meeting Minutes 09 August 2019
Co-chairperson Steve Blake led the meeting at the NCSU Crafts CenterNote: The secretary thanks Mark Lang for recording the minutes in her absence. 33 members, 5 guests attended. “The Dawn of Modern Astronomy” was presented by Dr Don Ellison, Professor Emeritus, NCSU Department of Physics. Dr. Ellison spoke about the revolutionary contribution to modern astronomy by the 1534 publication of “On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres” by Nicolaus Copernicus. Business 1. Treasury report. The report was provided by Treasurer…
RAC Meeting Minutes 12 July 2019
Co-chairperson Doug Lively led the meeting at the NCSU Crafts Center 16 members attended. “Searching for Intermediate Mass Black Holes in Spiral Galaxies with the Help of Citizen Scientists” was presented by Patrick Treuthardt, Ph.D. Assistant Head, Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Dr. Treuthardt gave a brief introduction to the Hubble Classification of galaxies followed by a discussion of spiral galaxy structure as it relates to the mass of the galaxy’s central black hole.…
RAC Meeting Minutes 14 June 2019
Co-chairperson Ann Murphy led the meeting at the NCSU Crafts Center 24 members, 2 guests attended. RAC member Barton Meeks presented “Analemmas”. Barton presented some background information about timekeeping based on the sun followed by his experience and equipment for observing and measuring the position of the sun at local noon for a year which produces the famous analemma. He has used information from the Astronomical League’s ‘Analemma’ observing program. There were lots of questions, and perhaps a few attendees…
RAC Meeting Minutes 10 May 2019
Co-chairperson Doug Lively led the meeting at the NCSU Crafts Center 28 members, 1 guest attended. RAC member Chris Cole presented “Observing & Imaging Solar Wavelengths”. Chris presented his experience and equipment for observin and imaging the sun in white light, Hydrogen-Alpha light and Calcium-K light. There were lots of questions. Business The treasury report was provided by Treasurer Steve Izzo: Current membership: 225 (counting 2 per family membership)Single Members: 145Family Members: 40 Balances $454 in business checking $13,219 in…
RAC Meeting Minutes 05 April 2019
[ My thanks to co-chairperson Ann Murphy for recording the minutes in my absence. RAC Secretary, Phyllis Lang ] Co-chairperson Doug Lively led the meeting at the NCSU Crafts Center. 20 people attende Tonight’s Topic: “Refactors and SCT” by Chris Cole and Mike Keefe. They discussed the aspects of refactors and SCTs BUSINESS Business Meeting: • Planned Business: Financials Expunging people that have not paid dues. Please renew. 100 single memberships currently. Last year only 45 single memberships. This is…
RAC Meeting Minutes 22 Mar 2019
Co-chairperson Steve Blake led the meeting at the NCSU Crafts Center 26 members, 10 guests attended. RAC member Phyllis Lang presented “Seeing Green: Are There Any Green Stars”. While eye physiology may prevent seeing green, 7 stars were discussed as appearing green to some observers. Business Jim Michnowicz is organizing a Messier Marathon on March 30 at Big Woods. He discussed optimal observing order to maximize your chance of seeing all 110 objects. It will be very difficult to see…
RAC Meeting Minutes 22 Feb 2019
25 members, 14 guests attended Co-chairperson Doug Lively led the meeting at the NCSU Crafts Center. RAC member Ann Murphy presented “Getting Started in Astronomy”. Many visitors from the recent Astronomy Days (in late January) attended. Business Our next RACOBS is March 8 (weather permitting! Our next indoor meeting is March 22 at our usual location, NCSU Crafts Center. RAC member Phyllis Lang will present “Observing Green Stars”. The treasury report was provided by Treasurer Steve Izzo: Current membership: 169Single…
RAC Meeting Minutes – 25 Jan 2019
Co-chairperson Steve Blake led the meeting at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. 29 members, 3 guests attended. This meeting was held at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences so that members needing to set up equipment for Astronomy Days could do so before the meeting. Guest speaker Tony Rice presented “Parker Solar Probe”, an overview of NASA’s mission to study the sun. Tony discussed the launch vehicle, the instruments on board the spacecraft and some the science that we…
RAC Meeting Minutes – 30 Nov 2018
Co-chairperson Ann Murphy led the meeting at the NCSU Crafts Center. 75-80 people attended, there were many guests SPEAKER Dispatched from a Dark Universe Dr. Katie Mack presented “Dispatched from a Dark Universe”. Here is the abstract: There’s more to the Universe than we can see – even more than we can ever see. I’ll give a tour of the edges of our knowledge of the cosmos, including where the frontiers are, and what might remain unknowable forever. Come for…
RAC Meeting Minutes – 26 Oct 2018
Co-chairperson Steve Blake led the meeting at the NCSU Crafts Center. 28 members, 4 guests attended. Speaker RAC member Doug Lively presented “Glorious Globulars”, an overview of globular clusters. He included the history of their discovery, current understanding of their distribution and cosmology, how charts indicate them and some favorite Messier globulars. Business Upcoming speakers for 4th quarter include: November 30: Dr. Katie Mack of NCSU, topic to be announced December 14: RAC holiday social and swap meet. Venue will…
RAC Meeting Minutes – 28 Sep 2018
Co-chairperson Ann Murphy led the meeting at the NCSU Crafts Center. 33 members, 4 guests attended. Speaker RAC member Doug Lively presented “Deadly Stars: The Top Ten Ways the Stars can Kill, Maim or Really Really Hurt You”, a professional risk analysis of the various cosmic dangers that may affect Earth. Extrasolar threats were discussed as well as solar ones. There were lots of questions and answers during the presentation. Business Upcoming speakers for 4th quarter include: October 26: speaker…
RAC Meeting Minutes – 24 Aug 2018
Co-chairperson Steve Blake led the meeting at the NCSU Crafts Center. 30 members, 2 guests attended. This meeting had two short topics. “Grazing Occultation of the Moon” by RAC member Mark Lang. Mark discussed the team of RAC members that he organized to view the July 2 occultation of Delta Capricorni by the moon. Some members attempted to image the event which was made difficult by the bright gibbous moon. RAC member Mike Keefe shared some of his video results…
RAC Meeting Minutes – 27 Jul 2018
Co-chairperson Ann Murphy led the meeting at the NCSU Crafts Center 27 member, 5 guests attended Speaker: Shannon Morgan, RAC member and NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Shannon gave an excellent talk entitled “Mars! Dust Storms, Opposition and Observing”. She explained the history and future of Mars oppositions, the dust storm that is affecting the planet during the present opposition, and some pointers the help observe Mars. Business Treasurer Steve Izzo gave a treasury report: $527.19 in business checking $12,521.39 in…
Meeting Highlight October 2017 – 60th Anniversary of Sputnik
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…
