Charlie Elliott Chapter’s Outreach program

The Charlie Elliott Chapter has been a member of the Night Sky Network, a NASA sponsored outreach program for astronomy clubs, since 2006. Our participating members have been trained by NASA project personnel in educational seminars on subjects related to astronomy and space exploration. We use many hands-on demonstration tool kits, some of them provided by the Night Sky Network, to make astronomical concepts much easier to understand.

This page gives you an overview of some of the activities and tools we use to educate the individuals in your group in astronomy and space exploration.

Observe the Night Sky
In this segment, which is performed at night at a dark observing place and using powerful green lasers, we point out various constellations in the night sky visible at the time when the event takes place. We will tell stories about them some of them are mythological in nature, others are more fact oriented. We than will give the participants an opportunity to see, if the seeing conditions allow us, various night sky objects such as, open and globular star clusters, emission, reflection and planetary nebulas, double stars and other interesting objects. We will explain in detail what the object is one is looking at, and answer any questions. When the moon is out and causes too much light pollution for the previous objects, we will observe the moon with its craters, riles and mountains instead.

Observe the Sun
This event takes place at daytime. Preferably in the morning hours when the temperatures are still lower and the atmosphere is still a lot more stable than later in the day. We will let participants observe the Sun in white-light and H-alpha telescopes which are specially build for this purpose and are safe for the eyes. Never try to duplicate this at home with your own scope or binoculars if they are not specially made for this, because this will result in loss of your vision. Participants will see the sun and sunspots in the white light telescope and get a view of the sun in the red H-alpha spectral line emitted by the fusion of hydrogen on the sun. This will allow one to see the structure of the surface of the sun, as well as nice filaments, and prominences.  Some days there are many and big once, others there are a few or none. In addition, we will demonstrate the relative sizes and distances of objects in our Solar System. Large posters and to-scale models of the planets makes this a real nice experience, all compared to the relative size of the sun. We also will explain the resulting space weather, created of the activities on the sun and how that effects our life on earth. An explanation why NASA launched the two Stereo telescopes closes the discussion on the Sun

Glass and Mirrors
We astronomers use telescopes to get a closer look at the objects in the sky. We will demonstrate how telescopes work and actually build two telescopes from components the participants can take a close look at, and yes, even touch the glass with their fingers , a refractor and a reflector. Once they are familiar with the components, they will build the telescopes on a stick and observe an artificial moon and star and realize that what they see with the unaided eye, is different than what they see through a telescope. For many a real “eye opening” experience

Asteroids and Space Rocks
We will present an overview of asteroids and meteor(ite)s and explain where they are located in the Solar System, what they consist of and show relative sizes and distances between asteroids. We than will explain the properties of Meteorites and using a number of “Rocks”, ask the participants to analyze each stone and determine if it is a “Space Rock” or not. And YES, they will analyze some real meteorites.

A Flight through the Solar System
This activity requires a projector and screen in a classroom setting. We will take your group on a mission through the solar system. We will fly from earth to different planets by accelerating time, and take a close look at the different planets and some of their moons. We will see what space travelers will actually see when they look at other objects from their vantage point and might see multiple moons of different sizes and forms passing by a planet, or see a very distant sun when we visit some of the outer planets.

Astronomy and Space Exploration Related Presentations
These activities are made in a classroom setting and require a projector or large screen display. We will make formal presentations about specific events or objects related to astronomy and space exploration. This might include presentations about the sun, space weather, the moon, or specific NASA missions. Or we can show movies about these missions and events. A few of our members are NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassadors and as such have received special training from NASA to present this material.

Special Wildlife camps for schools and individuals organized by Charlie Elliott’s DNR personel
These special overnight camps for schools and other organizations, including “The Outdoor Discovery School” are organized by personel of the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center. Our chapter can be part of the program for your group with solar presentations/observing and nightsky presentations and observing. For these programs please contact Julie Duncan julie.duncan@dnr.state.ga.us at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center.  Please click here for Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center’s website for mor information: http://www.georgiawildlife.com/node/694?cat=7