The Charlie Elliott Chapter will be represented tomorrow at the STEM Festival in Savannah by Frank Garner, Dan Schmitt and Theo Ramakers. The three will bring the science of Astronomy and Space Exploration closer to the students in the area around Savannah. We are looking forward to a long but very rewarding day.
Clear skies,
Theo Ramakers

Tomorrow Thursday the Charlie Elliott Chapter is participating in Science Night at Puckett’s Mill Elementary school with a rotation slot, and if the skies allow, with views of the night sky above Dacula. The event runs from 5:30 until 8:00 P.M. If the weather seems OK and you have a spare minute, bring your scope and join Frank Garner and Theo Ramakers. Check the website for more details.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers

Eight Charlie Elliott Chapter members did participate last night in Hightower Trail’s Space Camp. This was the 8th year for the Chapter’s participation. It was a great event with one slot of the rotation programs in the school being provided by Theo. After the completion of the rotation programs, all students came outside to 5 telescopes and looked at the night sky, and Jupiter while Io was getting ready for its transit. Students liked it so much that many of them, after completing their turn to look, went back in line and wait for a second or third time. Thanks to Gretchen Gault for inviting us and Steve Siedentop, John Town, Annette and Pierre Michel, Frank Garner, Jeff Rebitzke and his son and Theo Ramakers for showing such support for this event.

Wednesday we were back at HTE for the second day.  Very interested students and very eager to take a look at the sun.  Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate well with us, so, although some of the students could see what’s happening on the sun, clouds obscured it for others.  I keep hoping that some day someone invents that Cloud filter. We will be back on Friday for the evening Space Camp program.

Tuesday we did the first of a two day solar event at Hightower Trail Elementary in Conyers. Great students and teachers! The students saw the sun, the active region which produced the largest CME impact since 2003 and learned about the satellites that help us study the sun. Back on Wednesday for the second day and Friday for the 8th Space Camp at Hightower.

Despite the storms in the region, we had great meeting with the feature presentation “Push To” presented by chapter member Steven Siedentop, about how to easily locate objects in the night sky using some very cost effective tools, followed by Steve Phillips “This Month’s Sky, January 2012″. Storms prevented the observing session after the meeting.Click here for some pictures.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers

Marie Lott, Frank Garner and Theo Ramakes went to Panola State Park again, this time to show visitors why NASA launched the Stereo Satellites to observe the sun. In fact the Sun did cooperate today and the 47 visitors were able to see the sun in white light and in H-alpha including a few very nice large prominences. We would like to thank Troop 270 from Cordele GA for coming out and take a first hand look at the Sun. There seem to be some real scientists in this group Here the link to the pictures
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers

The Charlie Elliott Chapter has a Solar Outreach event at Panola Mountain State Park this coming Saturday.  The event starts at 10:00 A.M.  Details on our website calendar or the Night Sky Network site.  So if you want to join us bring out your solar scopes or filters and setup a little before 10:00 and let the visitors see what’s happening on the Sun.  Parking is free for our members who attend the event.
Please let me know if you can make it. 
Theo

A great potluck dinner meeting during which we showed the APOD pictures of 2011. Dinner was followed by Steve Phillips’ “December 2011 – Observing 101″. With clear but cold skies, a good crowd made it to the “Jon Wood Astronomy Field”, to observe an ISS pass, the Spy plane and a number night sky objects. A cold but beautiful night sky. Click here for some pictures
Clear Skies,
Theo

Tomorrow 12/5 and Tuesday 12/6 we are at the Clifton Elementary School in Atlanta, to help the students better understand some of the concepts in astronomy.  Originally this event was supposed to be a solar event, but the cloudy and rainy forcast changed the topic of these sessions to be held inside.  Frank and I will do 50 minute sessions for 9 classes to give the students in each class sufficient attention.  We for sure are looking forward to this.