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Four RAC Members, Mike Keefe, Jim McDaniel, Ian Hewitt and Doug Lively volunteered at the NC Museum of Natural Science Museum’s Grand Opening Gala for the Nature Research Center on Fri. April 13, 2012.

Despite the clouds, 12 people and 5 telescopes showed up at Big Woods last night. Joe P, Travis W, Greg B were imaging. Coin P and I were doing visual work and someone whose name I didn’t catch did visual work with a 6″ refractor. Several guests shared views with the visual observers.

On April 9, 2012 the N.C. State University Department of Physics invited an amateur astroimager named Burley Packwood, M.D. to present “Astroimaging: What Technologies Enable Both Professionals and Amateurs to Obtain Such Spectacular Astronomical Images?”  Burley is a retired Radiologist who recently relocated to the mecca of optical observatories, Tuscon, Arizona.  Burley has a dome in his backyard, a 7′ AstroHaven clamshell dome that protects an AP1200 mount and a 5″ Takahashi refractor, SBIG ST2000XM and Adaptive Optical device from…

In this day of multi-mega pixel DLSR’s, dedicated astronomical cameras, and high-tech photo-processing software we often over look one of the cheapest and easily accessible tools in our cosmic recording arsenal: Astronomical Sketching. During our March 9th 2012 meeting, presenter Ian Hewitt taught the club just how easy and effective this useful and often less attempted skill can be to pursue.

In the March Imaging SIG meeting (now the first Friday of every month!), there was a great discussion about processing planetary images with Registax. The group also worked with our own Chris Cole to produce a Mars image from video he had taken the week before.

At the February Indoor meeting, we were treated to fascinating talk by Dr. Carla Frohlich of the NCSU Astrophysics Department.  The topic was the Origin of Chemical Elements and focused on the various nucleosynthesis processes, especially those occurring in core collapse supernovae, that enriched the early galaxy with all the all heavy elements (elements heavier than helium).

It was a very good night of observing on Friday, January 27th! Conditions were mild (for January) and we had about 21 club members and 12 guests attend. Sky conditions were generally good, but the seeing was bit soft for most of the evening. The temperatures started around 56F and dropped to 36F by the time the last members left the site.

In the January indoor meeting Dr Rachel L. Smith, Director of the Space Observation Laboratory at the Nature  Research Center (NRC) presented an overview of her research into solar system evolution to record setting 70 attendees. She also provided  an overview of the astronomy based laboratory at the new Nature Research Center in downtown Raleigh  (opening in April).

On Thursday evening, almost 20 club members went to the IMAX theater at the Marble’s Kid Museum for a special event which featured food, beverages, and two IMAX shows.  The first was preview of the independent non-profit film called Outside-in and the second was the main IMAX feature called Hubble 3D. This was a monthly event called Martini’s to the Max that the museum offers to the public.

December’s observing session officially started at 7:00PM but the gate was opened before that time.  A few RAC members were already there (Jim DellaPenna had opened the gate) along with some visitors. The night was quite pleasant and the temperature was in the Low to Mid 50’s.  There was a ~5mph breeze coming off of Lake Jordan that made it a little chilly but over all it was still comfortable.