International Astronomy Day

Come help the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Okanagan Centre celebrate International Astronomy Day! On April 21st, 2007 from 9:30-5:30pm at Orchard Park Shopping Mall, Dilworth Entrance, members of the club will be on hand to answer your questions about the Universe. Along with many informative pamphlets, there will be a wonderful video showing spectacular views of the Cosmos. See the plans for the Okanagan Observatory. Enter the free draw to win a Beginner’s Observing Guide. Buy a ticket for the raffle; First Prize – An 8” Skywatcher Reflecting Telescope, Second Prize – a Pair of 8x42 Bushnell Binoculars, Third Prize – A Club Membership.

For more information email outreachkelowna@shaw.ca.

History

2007

Vernon - Wayne Willett

Anyway, not as busy but fun none the less, for Hugh Carter, Bryan Kelso, Jim Kanester and Wayne Willett. Thanks to all members who attended to help out, including Terry Adrian, who dropped off the club's 10" scope earlier, and Sharon MacKenzie who was "around" doing Space for Space stuff. Also thanks to Kevin Aschenmeier of OSC for running the Planetarium show, and to the OSC for providing us with a venue.

Clear dark skies,
Wayne Willett,
OC VP Vernon.

Kelowna - Guy Mackie

Another great day of astronomy appreciation!

Thanks to Colleen we had a super display table at Orchard Park Mall
with so many brochures, books, videos, pictures, posters and raffle
tickets crammed into those two tables that if one other piece of
astro paraphernalia touched down, the whole thing would have
collapsed to the Schwarzschild radius. On my shift at the display
table I was very surprised, motivated and encouraged by the number of
people that came out to buy raffle tickets, not so much because they
wanted to win the prize but because they wanted to support the
concept of a public observatory. Really nice to see that community
support in the flesh.

The rumours of the death of the night-time observing session at Knox
Mountain (clouds and rain on occasion) were much exaggerated, but
sufficient to dissuade the public to stay home for the most part. We
have decided that between 50 or 60 people came out to look through
the 8 or 9 scopes and binos set up, a disappointment in some
respects, but still an opportunity taken and exploited to our
fullest. After the umbrellas were folded and tarps drawn back, the
rest of the evening provided the Moon, Saturn and Venus,... a few
times we could put together a constellation and during one break
Grant put us on the photon trail galactic light seeping out of Leo.
We can only take what nature and the hockey schedule will give.

I have posted a group photo of most of the Knox Knights to the Yahoo
photo section in folder AstroDay07. Left to right: David Counts, Guy,
Lynn, Brad, Dorothy Counts, Grant, Jim T, Collen, Dave C and Zoli
(Jim Failes came up later). The City of Kelowna required reflective
vests make their presence known. Display table volunteers (that I am
aware of) not in the photo are Richard and Monica.

I = inspired
A= appreciative
D= dedicated

Guy

2006

Vernon – Wayne Willett

A pre IAD viewing evening was held at Kidston Elementary School in Vernon at 9:00 pm Friday May 5. Club members Sharon MacKenzie, Hugh Carter and Wayne Willett provided 10" and 12" reflector telescopes for some of Sharon's students and their parents, with views of Jupiter, Saturn, the Moon and a pass over of the ISS being observed between heavy bands of clouds until the clouds finally took over the night sky shortly after 10:00 pm.

International Astronomy Day activities were held at the Okanagan Science Centre in Vernon with about 30 young people and parents attending. Club members Hugh Carter, Jim Kanester, Sharon MacKenzie, and Wayne Willett answered questions and provided information on Astronomical displays that included RASC brochures, various Astronomy books, globes of Venus, Earth, the Moon and Mars, Solar System charts and posters, a continuous Astronomy DVD presentation, various telescopes set up indoors and focused on terrestrial objects (trees & hydro transformers) through the windows, as it was completely clouded over all day and evening, a slide picture presentation, a working Solar System Orrery, and a Planetarium show put on by the Okanagan Science Centre's Kevin Aschenmier. Three door prizes drawn were provided by the RASC Okanagan Centre, and included an RASC 2006 Observer's Handbook, an RASC Beginners Observer's Guide, and a Night Sky Planisphere. Attendees asked many questions and showed great interest in the astronomical presentations and displays, and a good time was had by all. Hopefully clear skies will prevail next year.

Kelowna – Guy Mackie
Orchard Park Mall

Against all odds, and certainly contrary to the weather forecast we had fairly good observing conditions for most of "our" special day. I started tent wrestling in gusting winds at about 9am. Decided to go for a half-reefed terrestrial tent, and had the PST (solar scope) set up and providing great views of solar prominences by 9:30. There were many fine streamers and several long
loops of star stuff to amaze the viewer, really a special thing to get to share this with our club scope. Only one sunspot was visible with the "other" filtering method, but when it was declared to be "half the size of Earth" it drew a few worthy "wow's" as well.

Inside the Mall Colleen had an eye-catching display table that drew lots of interested visitors. A large screen TV with looping astro-videos, prize draw, resource materials, a plethora of pictures and well-informed volunteers promoted the Astronomy Day message in a most complete way!

The evening observing started off at 6pm with quite a few eyepiece guests. We had Colleen's scope trained on the Sun and myself pointing a rental 8" at the Moon, and the skies and crowds looked promising. Encroaching clouds kept us from seeing Saturn, and diminishing crowds finally sent us packing. Thanks to all the volunteers and Colleen for making Astronomy Day 2006 a super
success.

Participating volunteers: Colleen, David, Dorothy, Dave Collins, Grant, Guy, Jim T, Jim F, Monica and Neil

For 2002, we celebrated International Astronomy Day at the Volunteer Show that took place on Sunday, April 21st at the Kelowna Curling Club (551 Recreation Ave.). A great time was had by all that attended and a big thank you goes to all of the OK Centre members that volunteered their time to help.