[Chaos-l] Statewide Star Party

[Steve Andrews]

Marbles Kids Museum worked out very well.  They were great hosts, and I'd
definitely go back there anytime.  Downtown Raleigh is a challenge for
finding unobstructed views, but we did it!  From about 4:30 until 6:45, I
had a steady flow of families wanting to look at the sun through a visible
light filter at about 50x.  I had printed a picture of what the sun looked
like that morning from Spaceweather. Com, and I think that simple visual aid
really helped folks understand what they were looking at.  

 

Mickey (Morehead Planetarium) arrived with her star maps and she did great
keeping people informed and entertained while they waited patiently for
their turn at the scope.  It didn't hurt that there was a hot dog stand next
to us, and that was also a popular spot.  Museum staff had exhibits for
demonstrating light pollution nearby, so there was a variety of things for
visitors to look at, eat, and listen to.

 

Around 7:30, it was dark enough to begin observing Jupiter and its moons at
100x.  There were still a lot of folks around, and I think  I heard even
more "Wows" than before.  A few parents wanted to know how to pick a first
scope for their kids, and I pointed them to some good resources for getting
started.

 

All in all, we had a very good, and interested crowd.  I didn't keep track
(too busy!), but there were dozens, perhaps a hundred or more, who visited
the museum's astronomy exhibits and were able to take a peek through my
scope.  All before 8:30!  

 

Steve Andrews

 

 

 

 

From: chaos-l-bounces at rtpnet.org [mailto:chaos-l-bounces at rtpnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jayme Hanzak
Sent: Saturday, April 06, 2013 9:36 AM
To: CHAOS
Subject: [Chaos-l] Statewide Star Party

 

OK, so the first Statewide Star Party is in the record books. 

 

We had about 30-35 people show up at Little River Park in North
Durham/Orange. We had four telescopes and five CHAOS members. As usual it
was great fun.

 

How did everyone else do? Send a report and say who was there from CHAOS. I
know that  we had at least 13 members out in the field yesterday. Probably
closer to 20. That is amazing.

 

Great job Amy and Mickey! And a great job for all of the CHAOS and RAC
members who were out there sharing the Heavens with public.

 

Jayme

 

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