RAC – Page 10 – Raleigh Astronomy Club

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…

December Indoor Meeting: Swap Meet

Meetings

NOTE: DIFFERENT LOCATION!!! Location: Covenant Christian Church: 2911 SW Cary Parkway, Cary, NC 27513 (on the right just after you pass the ‘YMCA’ on the left)Date: December 14, 2018Time: 7:30-9:30pm Swap Meet! Bring your own table, chairs are provided. Bring any gear to swap or sell. RAC Business:After the presentation, we will discuss additional RAC business. We will then adjourn for dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings

Using the Calendar

RAC Member Help

Non-Members: To use the calendar, you do NOT need to be logged into the site. Non-Members can see all calendar entries except private club events and outreach events not open to the general public. Membership is not required to register for most events. Exporting the Calendar: Currently, there is no functionality to export the entire calendar. However, by registering for individual events per the directions below, a calendar file will be sent to your email for each event, individually. Using…

Updating your Profile

RAC Member Help

It is very important to keep your profile up to date. Your profile data is shared with the Astronomical League and may be accessible within the club. To Update Your Profile or change your password: 1. Log into your account using your account email and password. If you forgot your password, click here 2. Scroll down the members page and find your profile information, see Fig-1. 3. Update the information. Please ensure an up to date address is provided. 4.…

RAC Meeting Minutes – 30 Nov 2018

Club Reports

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…

Resetting Your Password

RAC Member Help

Your old username and password will not work with the new website (Dec 2018). To reset or recover your password: 1. Click the “members” link along the menu bar. 2. Click the button to “Request Password” 3. The screen will change and request your email address. Use your account email address (the primary address you used when you signed up) If you are not sure about your email account, you will need to contact the treasurer or webmaster 4. A…

November Indoor Meeting: Dispatched from a Dark Universe

Meetings

Location: NCSU Crafts Center (directions) Date: November 30, 2018 Time: 7:30-9:30pm Talk Title : “Dispatched from a Dark Universe” Speaker : Katie Mack 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 the Big Bang, stay for the possibility of the ultimate destruction of all of reality!…

RAC Meeting Minutes – 26 Oct 2018

Club Reports

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…

October 26 Indoor Meeting: Glorious Globulars

Meetings

Location: NCSU Crafts Center (directions) Date: October 26, 2018 Time: 7:30-9:30pm Talk Title : “Glorious Globulars” Speaker : Doug Lively Doug will give an intro to globular star clusters 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.

RAC Meeting Minutes – 28 Sep 2018

Club Reports

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…

September 28 Indoor Meeting: Deadly Stars

Meetings

Location: NCSU Crafts Center (directions) Date: September 28, 2018 Time: 7:30-9:30pm Talk Title : “Deadly Stars: The Top Ten Ways the Stars can kill, maim or really really hurt you” Speaker : Doug Lively 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.

RAC Meeting Minutes – 24 Aug 2018

Club Reports

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…

August 24 Indoor Meeting: Grazing Occultation of the Moon and Telescopes Part I: Reflectors

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…

RAC Meeting Minutes – 27 Jul 2018

Club Reports

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…

July 27 Indoor Meeting: Mars! Dust Storms, Opposition, and Observing

Meetings

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…