Larry, Frank and Theo spend Saturday afternoon and early evening transporting the 16″ scope Larry had been baby-sitting to the JWF. It was assembled and checked for proper operation. Come to our next meeting to see this beauty that Larry rebuilt a few years ago. Many hours went into this project and it is an excellent scope. Thanks Larry, and now we all can take a peek through this great scope during our observing sessions at CE. Click the image to link to the gallery.

Marie and Tim Lott represented the Chapter at the STEM Festival for DeKalb County at Perimiter and Piedmont college in Clarkston. An interested crowd learned about astronomy and because of the cloudy weather, got to see the sun for a total of 7 minutes. Despite this, a very successfull event.

We reached out to the community in offering Comet watch events at Lake Varner in covington on Saturday and Sunday. The events were announced in 5 local news papers. Saturday evening was clouded out but on Sunday there were some clear skies in the west. However, despite a number of binos scanning the sky and the horizon we were not able to locate the Comet through the Atlanta air polution. Despite this I kept shooting images, a total of 48. And guess what? My camera caught the comet on about 9 images, so the session was not a complete waste. Click here for a link to the animation of the comet setting and click the image for a larger version.

Clouds are moving in which would block any possible sightings of the comet tonight when it is very low on the horizon. So I keep my fingers crossed that it might clear up later today. We will be at the lake anyway. If we cannot see the comet, we will show Jupiter and the Orion Nebula overhead if the clouds are not too thick.

4:00 P.M. update: with the current cloud cover we will not be able to see the comet. However, we will be there to answer any questions, or for those who did not see this update.
Clear Skies,
Theo

A beautiful day to have an astronomy meeting. About 20 people attended the meeting, with one new face. (We like new faces) Theo reported on last month’s outreach events, and the events planned in the communities for March around Comet C/2011 L4 PanSTARSS. During the meeting an award ceremony was held to recognize those who had participated in 5 or more outreach events during 2012. 8 Individuals received the certificate and the NSN Pin, giving more than 900 hours of volunteer work, driving more than 11,500 miles to participate in 83 events. Marie re-introduced us again to the Virtual Telescope and the meeting finished with Jon Towne’s great presentation of “what’s Up“. After the meeting we had a whopping 20 telescopes and binos on tripods on the Jon Wood Field to observe the night sky. (Click the image to go to the gallery)
Clear skies, theo

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.

We did an all day outreach event for Stone mountain Middle School. Mrs. Hill’s students came to Charlie Elliott on September 15th to see the night sky through boken clouds, but today they learned about the Mars Science Laboratory, studied some planets with their moons, and observed the Sun through our solar scopes. Great teachers and students. They will be back at the Jon Wood Field on October 20th to look at more stars!!!!

Eventhough it was very cloudy yesterday afternoon, about 79 attended the East Newton Elementary School’s Star Party at the Jon Wood Field at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center. The clouds must have seen this, because a lot of them moved out. This school did visit us in the spring and they liked it so much, they came back for more! They were rewarded with views of craters and mares on the moon as well as the “Straight Wall”, Saturn, Mars and Alberio. Thanks to Mrs Julie Thompson for requesting the event and to all the students and parents to come out, not to forget the 9 Charlie Elliott members for bringing their scopes out and let the group see the night sky

Tonight we are hosting a star party for the 4th graders of East Newton Elementary school at the Jon Wood field at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center. Come on out and join us by taking a look at Saturn and Mars before they will disappear in the Western sky.
Clear Skies,
Theo Ramakers