This was our 9th year of participation in Hightower Trail’s Space Camp. Thanks to Gretchen Gault for inviting us again and thanks to Dan Schmitt, Steve Siedentop, John Towne, Frank Garner, the 4th graders at Hightower Trail were able to learn more about the night sky and see Jupiter with four moons, craters on the moon and the orion nebula. Theo Ramakers gave a presentation inside about the Curiosity rover on Mars and showed the students what happens if an astronaut wants to drink a cup of coffee in the International Space Station. Click the picture to go to the gallery

Telescopes 101 was the topic of the main presentations. Larry gave a great overview and explained how one should setup and align them using his mount and refractor. Several members followed Larry and gave an explanation of their setup. 6 New faces made the meeting even more enjoyable. Jeff Rebitzke received his apron and Chef hat in order to be properly dressed for his presentations when he cooks his comets. The meeting finished with Jon Towne’s monthly “what’s Up“. At the Jon Wood Field the newcomers received a lot of attention in how to use their equipment and also could see what one see through the other telescopes. Click the picture to link to the gallery.

Our second outreach event of 2013 and the weather had to spoil the observing part of the event. The event was done in collaboration with Hand on Atlanta. 25 Students from Oakview attended the event with about 10 additional adults . In the classroom they learned about the Sun, how it works and what it does that affects our life on Earth. They also saw what colors the lights in the classroom created, and first hand observed a simulated moon and star using the glass and morrors of our telescope. Outside they learned how tiny we are on earth compared to the sun and the rest of the sola rsystem. Because of clouds, we had to cancel the Solar observing part of the event. Click the image to go to the gallery.

The Chapter reached out to the vistors of Panola Mountain State Park on Hwy 155. The day started with broken clouds and the attendants had to wait in between times when the sun would show its face. Half through the event everyone went inside for a presentation on the Sun, the impact the Sun has on our lives on Earth and how we study the Sun. Some very good questions showed that individuals were interested. Thanks to the staff at Panola Mountain for asking us to come again this year! Click the image for the gallery.

A great meeting in which we viewed the movie “Forbidden Planet”, followed by a few announcements. Several issues were discussed and Larry showed his final timelapse of the Orionids Meteor shower and we finished with John Towne’s monthly “What’s Up”. Because it was overcast, this time no observing at the Jon Wood Field. Click the image to goto the gallery.

Frank and Theo went to Ison Springs Elementary in Sandy Springs to show the Night Sky to the students and parents as part of their Science Night. This STEM event was well attended and parents, teachers and students also learned a few things about our night sky. It was new moon, so they could not take a look at our close neighbor, but they observed the double star Alberio and learned which one of the stars burns a lot hotter than the the other. Jupiter and four of its moons also received a lot of Wows.
Click the image to go to the gallery.

December 4 and 5th we went to Hightower Trail Elementary School to show the 4th graders what happens on the Sun. They were very surprised to find out how small we are on earth and how huge the sun is and how volatile the sun can be. The group on the 4th was able to observe the sun through our solar scopes, but the 5th it was overcast. We will be back here in January for Space Camp

We had a great meeting in meeting room A at CE, and evening at Jon Wood Field. About 15 attended the meeting which had a late start and ended with John Towne’s “What’s Up”. At the field it got busy. About 10 scopes and two binos showed about 35 individuals what was up in the sky. The group included students/faculty from Chamblee Charter, as well as a group of young Quail hunters, who were camping at CE and had forfeitted a campfire to come and see the stars! A great evening interrupted by clouds around 10 P.M. and netting some meteors. Click the image to go to the gallery.

We received a last minute request to participate in Grayson Elementary Science Night. The clouds just disappeared in time for this event but the humidity was terrible. Despite this, the students and parents were able to see a 2 day crescent moon, a planetary nebula, a globular star cluster and could make out which of the 2 stars of Alberio was the hottest. Click the image to go to the gallery.

6 Chapter members brought scopes out to Loganville Christian Academy to show the students and parents what’s up in the night sky. They were explained what was visible and than had the option to see some star clusters, blue and red stars, the ring nebula, the blue snowball, a galaxy and the second group also saw Jupiter with three of its moons. Some very good questions from the students showing that they knew their material. Click the image to go to the gallery.