RAC

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes December 16 2022 Co-chairperson Naveen Malik hosted the meeting in-person at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, as well as virtually using the Zoom platform. 20 participants in-person, 12 participants via Zoom, 5 participants via Facebook. RAC Announcements by co-chairperson Naveen Malik Upcoming meetings/events: December 23 – RAC Observing Meeting (RACOBS) (cancelled) January 7 – First Fridays (Saturday) Under the Stars with TLC (Three Bear Acres) January 11 – The Willard rooftop January 13 – RAC…

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes November 11 2022 Co-chairperson Mike Keefe hosted the meeting in-person at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, as well as virtually using the Zoom platform. 12 participants in-person, 16 participants via Zoom. Presentation: “Avoiding Armageddon” by Matthew Funke, NASA Solar System Ambassador Business RAC Announcements by co-chairperson Mike Keefe Upcoming meetings/events: November 17 – RAC Imaging Meeting November 19 – Skywatching at White Deer Park November 25 – RAC Observing Meeting (RACOBS) December 1 – RAC…

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes October 14 2022 Co-chairperson Anastasia Vail hosted the meeting in-person at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, as well as virtually using the Zoom platform. 16 participants in-person, 15 participants via Zoom. Presentation: “Astronomy at Glacier National Park” by Doug Lively, RAC ALCOR and NASA Solar System Ambassador Business RAC Announcements by co-chairperson Anastasia Vail Upcoming meetings/events: October 20 – RAC Imaging Meeting October 20 – Public Night at Morrisville Library October 24-30 – Staunton River…

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes September 9 2022 Co-chairperson Mike Keefe hosted the meeting in-person at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, as well as virtually using the Zoom platform. 22 participants in-person, 23 participants via Zoom. Presentation: “The Milky Way, Our Home Galaxy” by Dr. Patrick Treuthardt Dr. Patrick Treuthardt is an astrophysicist and current Assistant Head of the Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. His research focuses on the shapes, structures, and underlying…

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes August 19 2022 Co-chairperson Naveen Malik hosted the meeting in-person at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, as well as virtually using the Zoom platform. 23 participants in-person, 15 participants via Zoom. Presentation: “Curiosity’s 10th Anniversary” by Ken Brandt and Doug Ellison. Ken Brandt is director of the Robison Planetarium and Science Center in Lumberton, NC and a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador. Doug Ellison is a member of NASA JPL’s Mars Science Laboratory team and became…

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes July 8 2022 Co-chairperson Anastasia Vail hosted the meeting in-person at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, as well as virtually using the Zoom platform. 14 participants in-person, 21 participants via Zoom. Presentation: “Zooinverse and Beyond: Citizen Science From Preschool to PhD” by Kerry Vail. Business RAC Announcements by co-chairperson Anastasia Vail Upcoming meetings: July 14 – Imaging Meeting: Galaxies M81/M82 July 22 – RAC Observing Session (RACOBS) August 19 – RAC Indoor Meeting: Curiosity’s 10th…

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes June 10 2022 Co-chairperson Mike Keefe hosted the meeting in-person at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, as well as virtually using the Zoom platform. 18 participants in-person, 20 participants via Zoom. Presentation: “Star Parties: What to Expect and How to Make the Most of Your Observing” by RAC members Mike Keefe, Doug Lively, and Jim Pressley. Business RAC Announcements by co-chairperson Mike Keefe Upcoming meetings: June 10 (tonight) – Club officer elections June 16 –…

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes May 13 2022 Co-chairperson Ann Murphy hosted the meeting in-person at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, as well as virtually using the Zoom platform. 23 participants in-person, 27 participants via Zoom. Presentation: “Where Do Galaxies End” by Dr. Mike Shull, Univ. of Colorodo, Dept. of Astrophysical and Planetary Science, and UNC-CH Lecture summary: Observational and theoretical evidence for the enormous sizes of galaxies, some extending 1 million light years in radius, is discussed. What we “see”…