Meetings

Location: NCSU Crafts Center (directions) Date: August 24, 2018 Time: 7:30-9:30pm August 24 Indoor Meeting: Grazing Occultation of the Moon & Telescopes Part I – Reflectors Talk Title : “Grazing Occultation of the Moon” Speaker : Mark Lang Description: The August indoor meeting talk will be a short recap of the successful July 2 grazing occultation of the star Delta Capricorni by the moon observed from the Cary Crossroads shopping center. Mark will give an overview of the planning, execution, and…

Location: NCSU Crafts Center (directions) Date: May 18, 2018 Time: 7:30-9:30pm Talk Title : “Mars! Dust Storms, Opposition, and Observing” Speaker : Shannon Morgan Description: Shannon Morgan, who is a Solar System Ambassador, will talk about Mars. This talk encompasses three sections on Mars and its opposition. The first part will be a brief discussion of the current historic dust event and what that means for the rovers. The second part will be about the upcoming opposition and why 2018…

Location: NCSU Crafts Center (directions) Date: May 18, 2018 Time: 7:30-9:30pm Mars at Opposition: Historical context and what to expect RAC Member and Associate Professor of Hispanic linguistics at NC State, Jim Michnowicz Gain some background on the upcoming Mars Opposition. Mars won’t be this close again until 2035, so this is the summer to spend some time on the Red Planet. Look at a brief history of Mars observations, as well as what to expect in the eyepiece during…

Location: NCSU Crafts Center (directions) Date: April 27, 2018 Time: 7:30-9:30pm Abstract: Stephen Hawking and his work: One possible view. Steve Christensen, RAC Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy UNC-Chapel Hill Abstract Steve met Hawking in 1972 and much of his research has been in similar fields, in particular, the nature of black holes. Steve will talk about his interactions with Hawking and his collaborators, his discoveries, and what still needs to be understood related to his work. RAC Business:…

Location: NCSU Crafts Center (directions) Date: March 23, 2018 Time: 7:30-9:30pm Abstract: RAC Member and Co-Chair Ann Murphy will give a lecture on getting started in Astronomy. The lecture talks about some of the things to see in the night sky and how to start looking at them. RAC Business: After the presentation, we will discuss additional RAC business. We will then adjourn for dinner at a Sammy’s Tap and Grill on Avent Ferry Rd.

Location: NCSU Crafts Center (directions) Date: February 23, 2018 Time: 7:30-9:30pm Abstract: RAC Member extraordinaire Mark Lang will demonstrate how the night sky changes over time and how he captures the images using his equipment. His astrophotography catches the motion of objects against the background stars. RAC Business: After the presentation, we will discuss additional RAC business. We will then adjourn for dinner at a Sammy’s Tap and Grill on Avent Ferry Rd.

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,…

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,…

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…

Location: NCSU Crafts Center (directions) Date: September 8, 2017 Time: 7:30-9:30pm Abstract: Club members Michael Carnes and Michael Keefe will be providing an introductory talk on video astronomy. They will over areas such as what is Video Astronomy, benefits of Video Astronomy, what is needed to start and what you can expect from Video Astronomy. Additionally, our speakers will share some recent examples of their work as well as having examples of their equipment. Please join us this Friday evening…

Location: NCSU Crafts Center (directions) Date: August 11, 2017 Time: 7:30-9:30pm Club member and astrophotographer extraordinaire Chris Cole will present on how to photograph the eclipse.   His talk will cover photography with a smartphone all the way to using a CMOS camera (DSLR) through a H-alpha telescope.  We’ll also talk about the different photographing strategies that can make the experience enjoyable. You may have seen Chris featured on WRAL-TV talking about how to image the eclipse. Eclipse Glasses:  All club members…

Location: NCSU Crafts Center (directions) Date: July 14, 2017 Time: 7:30-9:30pm Many RAC members offer their time, expertise, and equipment for astronomy outreach, and partner with other organizations to help make skywatching sessions for the public a success. Join Morehead Planetarium educators and coordinators of the NC Statewide Star Party (the biggest statewide star party for the public in the universe?) for a discussion of skywatching with the public in the Triangle. During this meeting, you’ll get to have some…

Location: NCSU Crafts Center (directions) Date: June 9, 2017 Time: 7:30-9:30pm RAC members Mark and Phyllis Lang will give a report on this year’s Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF). NEAF is held each April in Suffern, NY, and is the largest astronomy equipment trade show in the world. Join Mark and Phyllis for a vendor’s view of the show. Also, learn about the Webb Deep-Sky Society – what it is, what they do and how to join. After the presentation, we…