RAC – Page 6 – Raleigh Astronomy Club

August 12, 2022: Perseid Skywatching at Dix

Date: August 12, 2022 Time: 9:00 – 11:00 pm (and later) Location: Dix Park, Raleigh, NC Volunteers: Steven Blake, Johnny Horne, Mike Keefe, Barton Meeks, Ann Murphy, Emily Ann Kolvitz, Matt Lochansky. Lijoy Samuel. Tony Verdone, Frank Westmoreland, Richard White, Chris Wittum Event Attendees: 4000-5000 Overview: The weeks leading up to the event were showing very strong registration. With beautiful weather, they all turned out for the event. The storm front passed ealier in the day leaving temps in the…

Meeting Minutes July 8 2022

Club Reports

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…

June 15, 2022: Stars for Ft. Bragg

Public Outreach

Date: June 15, 2022 Time: 9:00 – 11:00 pm Location: Smith Lake Recreation Center, 5144, Smith Lake Rd, Fort Bragg, NC 28310 Volunteers: Steve Blake Dana Bostic (author) Steve Goodman Mike Keefe Barton Meeks Bob Muzzi Rob Parsons Ed & Joan Radomski Chris Wittum Matt Lochansky did all the upfront work, but was unable to attend. Event Attendees: 104 Overview: This site is at the Smith Lake Recreation Center for Fort Bragg. It is just across the lake from Simmons…

Q2 Leadership Meeting Minutes June 13 2022

Club Reports

Q2 2022 RAC Leadership Meeting Minutes June 13 2022 Attendees: Steve Izzo, Naveen Malik, Dana Bostic, Barton Meeks, Anastasia Vail, Steve Blake, Ann Murphy New business/topics: Fort Bragg Outreach event (Wed. June 15). Dana Bostic is the event lead. Matt Lochansky will provide event details to Dana. Extreme heat predicted. Departments/Committees: Treasurer Membership – 399 total 269 single memberships 77 family memberships with 77 secondary members (53 registered) Balances Business checking: $811.56 Savings: $23324.06 Special purpose checking: $293.32 ALCOR renewal…

Meeting Minutes June 10 2022

Club Reports

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 –…

June 4, 2022: Mini Star Party at Three Bears Acres

Public Outreach

Three Bears Acres with Triangle Land Conservancy Date: June 4, 2022 (This was the rain date, originally June 3) Time: 8:30 – 11:00 pm Location: Three Bears Acres, Creedmoor NC Volunteers: Dana Bostic Rob Parsons Chris Wittum Ann Murphy Matt Lochansky Ana Vail did all the upfront work, but was unable to attend. Event Attendees: ~30 Overview: This site, the former site of Three Bears Acres in Creedmoor (Granville County), was recently acquired by the Triangle Land Conservancy. To my…

Meeting Minutes May 13 2022

Club Reports

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”…

Meeting Minutes April 22 2022

Club Reports, General Interest

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes April 22 2022 Co-chairperson Anastasia Vail hosted the meeting using the Zoom platform. 26 participants Presentation: “Mobile Machines on Mars!” by Ken Brandt. Lecture summary: We will hear the latest updates about robots currently exploring Mars as well as an overview of the Martian “big picture!” Speaker: Ken Brandt is director of the Robeson Planetarium and Science Center, a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, and was recently appointed to the board of directors of the North Carolina…

April 8, 2022: Public Observing at Prairie Ridge Statewide Star Party

Public Outreach

Prairie Ridge Statewide Star Party Date: April 8, 2022 Time: 8:30 – 11:00 pm Location: Prairie Ridge Ecostation, Raleigh NC Volunteers: Steven Blake Doug Lively Chris Wittum Brian Reasor Tony Verdone Frank Westmorland Event Attendees: 176 Overview: We setup near the research building closest to the parking lot, with good views > 15 deg elevation in all directions. Viewing conditions were party cloudy until ~9:15PM, at which point a cloud layer from the southwest moved in. Only the Moon was…

April 1, 2022: Public Observing White Deer Park

Public Outreach

Aspiring Engineers Public Observing at White Deer Park Date: April 1, 2022 Time: 7-9pm Location: White Deer Park, Garner NC Volunteers: Steven Blake Nick Helmer Jossilin Lochansky Matt Lochansky Ann Murphy Rob Parsons Tony Verdone Event Attendees: ~75 Overview: We had a good night with clear skies. Temps were in the 60s much of the evening. We set up on the field by the Nature Center with a decent view towards from the NW to S, then to the SE…

Meeting Minutes March 11 2022

Club Reports

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes 11 March 2022 Co-chairperson Mike Keefe hosted the meeting using the Zoom platform. 36 participants RAC Announcements by co-chairperson Mike Keefe Upcoming meetings and events: March 17 – Imaging Meeting March 25 – RACOBS March 28 – April 3 – Staunton River Star Party April 8-9 – Statewide Star Party April 8 – RACOBS April 14 – Imaging Meeting April 22 – RAC Meeting Presentation: “Electronically Assisted Astronomy (EAA)” by RAC co-chairperson Mike Keefe Business Treasurer’s…

Meeting Minutes February 11 2022

Club Reports

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes 11 February 2022 Meeting was held at Morehead Planetarium in conjunction with CHAOS. Meeting chair was Amy Sayle. Co-chairperson Ann Murphy was the RAC host. 103 participants, 51 indicated RAC affiliation Welcome & tonight’s plan & COVID-19 policies by Amy Sayle Morehead Planetarium, Statewide Star Party hosts, CHAOS and RAC leadership were introduced. CHAOS Announcements by Jayme Hanzak Staunton River Star Party registration is open via email (see instructions at http://chaosastro.org/starparty/). Dates are March 28 –…

Meeting Minutes 28 January 2022

Club Reports

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes 28 January 2022 Co-chairperson Mike Keefe hosted the online meeting using the Zoom platform. 47 participants RAC Announcements Upcoming Events Astronomy Days schedule/events Feb 5 – Skywatching Session at Prairie Ridge – CANCELLED Feb 11 – Next RAC Club Meeting at Morehead Planetarium – Statewide Star Party Feb 17 – Imaging SIG meeting Feb 25 – RACOBS Mar 2 – Stargazing on the Willard Rooftop, Downtown Raleigh Mar 11 – RAC Club Meeting (TBD) Mar 17…

2021 Q3 RAC Officers Meeting

Club Reports

Attendees: Steve Izzo, Ann Murphy, Barton Meeks, Mike Keefe, Doug Lively, Anastasia Vail, Matt Lochansky, Steve Blake In Person Meetings discussion: Steve Izzo Recent Delta surge is making return to indoor meetings soon less likely. Options for meeting venue: Craft Center: Easier parking, easier getting in and out, closer to food. But smaller. Visibility of screen is poor. Beyond 10-20 people it is tough to see. NCMNS: Museum has better facilities for streaming. Parking in the surface lot off of…

Meeting Minutes 10 December 2021

Club Reports

RAC Indoor Meeting Minutes 10 December 2021 Co-chairperson Ann Murphy hosted the online meeting using the Zoom platform. 22 participants Presentation: “Imaging Showcase” led by RAC member/Imaging Group Leader Chris Cole Business Astronomy Days update by Doug Lively January 29-30, 2022 at NC Museum of Natural Sciences. This year’s theme is Venus. Planning for an in-person event. Masks will be required for all staff & volunteers. An associated star party will be held on Saturday February 5 at Prarie Ridge…