The HAA rose to the occasion and helped make the Astronomy night at the RGB a success. We arrived at between 5 and 6 and were ready for action by 6:30, in the center of the roundabout in the middle of the park. It was handy to be able to position the scopes close to the cars.

Scopes in attendance ranged from a delightfully simple spherical based-scope with a simple finder, to Jim’s goto with all the bells and whistles. The BWS and the GWS were also there. Unfortunately, water freezes, so i had removed my trusty counterweight from the car, and forgot to put it back, so i was flying without a finder-scope. It took me a few minutes to fish up Mars and the Orion nebula. I need to think of something clear i can put in the bottles that does not freeze at low temperatures… maybe vodka, or maybe not.

About 40 kids and some of their parents came to see the sky in the scopes.

We fished up the Orion Nebula, Mars, Betelgeuse, Sirius, and some star clusters, including the Pleiades. The kids saw a happy face and an elephant.

You know, they were right! I saw the elephant for the first time.

Lines of kids, some so small they needed a boost, had a look through the scopes and then headed back inside for the rest of the night’s presentation.

The skies were remarkably clear for a white square on the CSC, and also remained clear at the zenith till past 9:30 PM.

We reconvened at Kelsey’s after the evening was done.

I think this will be an annual event for our club.

Courtesy of Jackie, here are some photos of the event:

Jim showing off Orion

Awe inspiring

Ann holding court

A future HAA member