NorthWest Florida Astronomy Association

The NWFAA regularly supports both Boy And Girl scout education programs. So when we were contacted by a Boy Scout troop for help with Astronomy merit badge requirements, we were happy to oblige. Troop 97 is from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, but luckily, we didn’t have to head west. They were coming east to Topsail Hill State Park for a summer camping trip.

We had a good turnout of club members each bringing a scope for use by the scouts.

• Dean Covey
• Walter Dunn
• Tom Haugh
• Dennis & Marietta Hausch
• Dave Halupowski & Kennedy Odom

Tom (in engineer’s cap) explains how to use the sky maps.

Dean discusses the optics of his 8″ Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain.

Thirty-five scouts and leaders were at the star gaze but not all the scouts were Boy Scouts. There were several American Heritage Girl scouts and their leaders as well.

American Heritage girls keeping notes about the dobsonian telescope Dave brought.

Dennis demonstrates the steps necessary for telescope alignment.

We set up fairly early allowing close examination of our equipment and procedures. Although the sky was fairly clear the atmosphere was quite heavy with haze due to the proximity to the gulf. These conditions kept us from viewing dim objects but did not hamper bright ones, starting with the red giant star Arcturus well before sunset.

• Arcturus
• Mars
• Alcor & Mizar – although hazy, the atmosphere was quite steady (Mizar A & B were easily visible).
• Castor & Pollux
• The Big & Little Dipper – constellation recognition.
• Polaris
• Spica
• Omega Centauri – the haze really washed out the cluster, but it was visible over the southern treeline.
• Vega

Eventually, Jupiter crept over the southeastern treeline but by then most of the group had headed back to the campground and we packed up and headed home. Once again we need to thank Marietta Hausch for her event photography.

Although this was not our fist visit to Walton Middle School, it was our first Science Palooza Day event. We spent the whole day with telescopes setup outside the school and were able to provide 200+ eighth grade students multiple safe views of the Sun.

Marietta & Dennis Hausch provided a white light filtered view of the Sun. Dean Covey set up his Hydrogen-Alpha scope to show the Sun in that frequency of light and Tom Haugh set up his spectroscope to view the Sun’s spectrum.

Dennis discusses the white light filtered Sun.

Dean explains Hydrogen-Alpha.

The day started out clear but as the morning wore on clouds started to creep into view and began to interfere with the observations. But, as the day continued, the gaps between the clouds started to widen and by the end of the day it was mostly clear. Luckily the clouds never completely blocked the sky so even though some had to wait a bit, everyone got to view the Sun using all three instruments.

Tom explains the information available in the solar spectrum.

All 3 instruments gainfully employed.

Unfortunately, the Sun, being in a minimum activity phase provided nothing other than a boring featureless surface. In fact, the only excitement of the day was when the school sprinkler system came on. Telescopes and equipment were quickly removed from the observing field and the situation was relayed to the school staff. The sprinklers were turned off and the rest of the observing sessions went on without incident.

Some equipment still needs rescued.	Students discussing the situation.
Starting to dry out.	Sprinkler recovery complete. Tom briefs the next class.

We would like to thank the staff of Walton Middle School for the invitation and for the great lunch that was provided. We had a really good time and hope to get invited to next year’s Science Palooza Day.

Once again the NWFAA support of Valparaiso’s Saturday-in-the-Park celebration started early so traffic was clear for the start of the 5K Run/Walk. Our intrepid early risers were Dennis Hausch, Dave Halupowski and new association member Walter Dunn.

Dennis with his dual mounted telescopes.

Walter and Dave discuss Dave’s scope with one of our guest observers.

The sky was clear giving an excellent view of the 42% lit Moon in Dave’s telescope. Walter’s and one of Dennis’s scopes sported white light filters to provide a safe view of the Sun. Unfortunately, the Sun was not cooperating and the visible surface was featureless. Dennis’ other scope was a Hydrogen-Alpha scope and there were a couple of very small but short lived prominences that were visible throughout the day.

Walter and Dave with Dave’s small dobsonian mounted telescope.

A guest observer takes a look at a Hydrogen-Alpha view of the Sun.

We had 70+ guest observers take advantage of the clear sky and we handed out lots of our 2019 state park public star gaze schedules.

Unfortunately, the skies did not cooperate with Florosa Elementary School’s science night, so we were not able to set up telescopes to view the setting Sun. We did come prepared though and set up a display amongst the other science stations. We focused a refracting telescope at an image of Saturn that was set up way down the hallway. This provided an hands-on station allowing the students to exercise the focuser and view the inverted image the scope provides.

NASA Solar System Ambassador Tom Haugh also displayed a model of NASA’s airborne observatory SOFIA as well as a video showing the modification of the aircraft and one of the recent missions it participated in.

Even though we didn’t get to view the Sun, we do consider the event a success as 337 students got a brief hands-on introduction to Astronomy.

This year’s “How to use your new telescope” event drew one more scope than last year. This year we had 4 telescopes and their owners come to the Emerald Coast Science Center. Norm Dingle, Dennis Hausch and Tom Haugh were on hand to assist and advise our guests.

Three of our guests went away with a better understanding of their equipment and how to use it. We even received help from one of our guests. The finder on one of our guests’ small refractor didn’t work due to a dead battery. Another of our guests had a spare and quickly donated it to the cause. Thank you Richard.

Unfortunately, one guest only received a diagnosis of a recently purchased second hand scope. Missing parts and a jammed flip mirror need to be addressed to return the scope to full service.

There was a short period of time that the skies were somewhat clear and the scopes were quickly taken outside and used to view the Orion Nebula, Sirius and Mars.

Once again we need to thank the Emerald Coast Science Center for hosting our event.