We received an invitiation to come to the Duluth Library again to let a group of Home Schoolers look at the night sky and do some presentations for them inside the library. 159 Attended the event and students, children and their parents learned a little more about the solar system, how big stars can get, Mars, gravity and why at certain times the rings from Saturn cannot be seen from Earth. Outside Kyle Cavin, Jim Lancaster, Frank Garner and Theo Ramakers let them look at the Moon, Albireo, and the Ring Nebula, and explained what they were looking at. It was very cold, but the kids and parents loved it.

CEWC asked us for an evening of stargazing for the ladies and teachers who participated in the Becoming an Outdoor Woman event. We planned for a night at the Jon Wood field but the clouds made this impossible, so we had to revert to plan B: inside presentations. The group that stayed for this was very interested in astronomy and enjoyed learning about astroids, meteorites and were very surprised to see how big stars can get. Outside they were able to catch a glimps of the moon through some clouds, but enjoyed the view very much. Thanks to Dominck Giacobbe, Bob Jacoby, Marilyn and John Edwards, Jim Soboleski (welcome back Jim) for setting up their scopes and thans to Frank Garner and Theo Ramakers for doing the presentations. A great event and I am sure that we will see some of these ladies back in our meetings and at the observing field!!

We did participate in Charlie Elliott’s program “Georgia Becoming an Outdoors Woman”. 43 Ladies did book for the 3 day event and made selections for participation out of 30 different session. We were very happy that 6 of them signed up for Beginner Astronomy and all of them could learn what we do through the CEA display made by Steve Siedentop. Theo Ramakers and Frank Garner did a 3.5 hour session with the ladies and they learned how to setup an equatorial mount and why we use them, they tried to look at the sun through an Ha scope, but the clouds had something else in mind. In the class room they enjoyed three very interactive presentations: Magnificent sky scapes, Observing the Moon and Imaging the unusual.

We were asked again by flint Hill elementary school to come and let the 4th graders look through our telescopes at the night sky. John and Marilyn Edwards, Jim Lancaster, Frank Garner and Theo Ramakers set up their scopes in the back of the school and the students and faculty was able to see some of the nice features of the moon, the quarter phase of Venus, the ring nebula and star clusters. Based on their reactions they really loved the opportunity to see all of this and learn as we explained to them what they were seeing. Thanks guys for a job well done.

The forecast was cloudy, but the library wanted to go ahead, rain or shine. And they were right. The clouds did not come until after the event was over. About 128 individuals participated and learned a lot about our solar system, what the little gravity of the Marsian Moon Deimos really means, and how we get rovers to Mars. Outside we were fighting the bright lights in the parking lot, but most saw the moon. (we had real long lines) and later they saw some double stars. A little limited because the lights and the trees were obstructing some of the nice views. Never the less, a very nice and rewarding evening. Thanks to Dominick Giacobbe, his dad Robert, Jim Lancaster and Theo Ramakers for coming out and let these kids/parents learn and see about the Universe. Lastly not to forget Amy Billings from the GPL who was so nice to invite us again this year. (Click the image for the gallery)

Another well attended meeting and observing session. Dr. Richard Schmude presented his findings of the research he did on the North Polar Cap of Mars. A very interesting subject. John Town presented his always interesting “What’s Up” and Jack Fitzmier did another book review. Theo reported that the MOU was signed by CEA and that we expect constructon of the telescope shed to start very soon. After the meeting it went to the Jon Wood Field where we ended up with 19 telescopes and many visitors from nearby towns as well as participants of CEWC’s Hunting and Learning program came by to learn something and look through the scopes. The imagers were also very active despite the cold. So it was a very successful day for CEA.

Frank Garner and Theo Ramakers went back for the third time this year to Flint Hill Elementary to teach students at the ASAP Program at Flint Hill a little about astronomy and space exploration. While Frank did let the students observe the Sun through our solar scopes and gave them a feel for how small Earth is in the Solar System, Theo gave an update on how we explore and study the solar system with a focus on the Sun and Mars. The kids had a great time!!

A great meeting with great topics.  Steve Siedentop opened the meeting followed by a short update and a call for help in our outreach programs by Theo Ramakers.  Jack Fitzmier gave a short  but very interesting book review of  Dava Sobel’s “Longitude“.   The main presentation was on Astronomical Imaging with a DSLR, a presentation Rich Jakiel also presented at this year’s PSSG.  John  Town finished the program with his usual, but great,  What’s UP which has expanded in a sizeable but very interesting  presentation.  After the meeting it went to the John Wood Field for observing with students from Stone Mountain Middle and two workshops at CEWC!   For pictures click here. 
Thanks to all!
Theo Ramakers

After the meeting everyone went to the Jon Wood Field for observing, and outreach since we expected a large group of students/parents from Stone Mountain Middle, as well as attendees of two workshops at CEWC:  a quilt group and a workshop on deer hunting.  40 students from SMMS had obtained a visit slip at school for the event.  Initially it was cloudy but soon the clouds subsided and all had a great experience looking at the night sky.  Click the image to go to the gallery.

We went back to Flint Hill to let the kids learn some more about our Sun.  Some activities were a lot of fun like walking the Earth to its orbit position based on the scale models.  They learned what happens on the sun and observed some of the activity in the form of filaments and prominences.  They were very excited being able to see all this.  Click on the image below to go to the gallery with some of the pictures.