The centerline of the Tornado warning yesterday afternoon went straight over CEWC. I went out this morning to check and see if there was any damage to our Scope building. No damage at all Rusty told me Saturday afternoon that they were setting up a second Gate. I have added pictures where the North side of the field has two openings and a wooden frame is added on the side of the East side of the field. Lastly there is a little outhouse next to the scope building. Don’t know if that will stay or will be removed.

This was the 5th year we went to Morgan County Middle School in Madison to show the students of the Astronomy Club what is happening on the Sun. We did the relative size and disatance activity, explained to them what actually happens on the Sun, so they knew what they had to look for when they looked through the Solar Scopes. Some very bright kids who did appreciate the opportunity to learn about our nearest Star.

Middle Ridge Elementary had their “Night under the Stars”. They were lucky as the weather gave a break in the icy cold snap that plagued us the last few days. We had 4 scopes at the ball field including the one of Chad Foster the organizing teacher of the school. Students and parents saw a variety of celestial objects such as Mars, the Ring Nebula, the Double Cluster, Alberio, the Pleades, the Andromeda Galaxy, and a globular cluster M15 and other like objects. A great evening for those that came out in the cold to learn more about “what’s up there” and those that showed it.
Clear Skies, Theo

The Garden Club wanted us to reach out with stargazing, or an inside program, for as group of their members, as they visited CEWC for a two day program. Unfortunately the skies were cloudy so we had to resort to an inside presentation. We showed them the same program we show their teens in the summer. We discussed what we see when we look at planets when they make their way through the Solar system on their way around the Sun, we showed them how we took Curiosity to Mars and what the effect of gravity is in space. Discussions about meteorites and asteroids completed the 1 3/4 hour program. Thanks to Frank and Theo for doing this event.
Clear Skies,
Theo