Once again the NWFAA was glad to support the 2017 Boy Scouts of America Scout-O-Rama. Attendance was down from last year, but the guest observers who did stop by enjoyed beautifully clear skies.
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Dennis Hausch brought his white light filtered iOptron Maksutov and Tom Haugh set up his Lunt Hydrogen-Alpha scope. The Sun was not real active so there wasn’t a lot to view. One minor prominence and a couple of small sunspots was all the Sun could muster.
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The NWFAA made its first visit to Walton Middle School to provide a daytime star gaze for the school’s 8th grade science classes. Unfortunately, early morning fog thwarted the first period classes but as the day wore on the fog lifted, the clouds thinned and the by early afternoon the skies were perfectly clear.
As is usual for our daytime star gazes, Tom Haugh gave the NWFAA’s short solar presentation to a pair of classes and then, for the rest of the period, the students adjourned outside to view the Sun through the telescopes. Since there was a gap in the 8th grade class schedule, the school was able to schedule a pair of 7th grade science classes as well. In total, we hosted 11 classes with about 200 students.
Frank Atchison provided a white light filtered scope; Dennis Hausch, a Hydrogen-alpha scope and Dave Halupowski brought his Unitron refractor and provided a projected image of the Sun. Tom brought his spectroscope to round out the group’s equipment.
 Dennis’ H-alpha scope is just starting to see through the fog. |
 Students view the solar spectrum through Tom’s spectroscope. |
Although the Sun had been clear of sunspots for over 20 previous days, a group formed over the weekend and another set rotated into view just in time for the middle school event. Luckily, there was also a couple of small prominences visible as well.
 Dave demonstrates solar projection through his Unitron refractor. |
 Franks scope displays the newly formed sunspot group. |
We were able to discuss the upcoming total solar eclipse with the teachers to make sure their plans were started well in advance of the August event. We also provided the teachers with an example of eclipse glasses that we purchased in anticipation of the event.
 You had to look carefully, but a couple of small prominences were visible in Dennis’ H-alpha scope |
 Viewing sunspots through Frank’s white light filtered scope. |
We would like to thank the faculty and staff of Walton Middle School for the invite and warm welcome. We look forward to supporting the school’s science night activities in the future.
Our final star gaze of 2016 was sponsored by Eglin AFB’s digital library. The event was minimally successful at best. Even though the forecast was for mostly cloudy skies, it was perfectly clear when we made the go/no go weather call. The club’s response was outstanding considering the extra hoops we needed to jump through to clear base security.
Frank Atchison, Dean Covey, Dave Halupowski, Dennis Hausch, Tom Haugh, Kennedy Odom, Tony Russo and Ken Sharp all supported the event even though the skies had already started to cloud over. We decided to stick around for a while since satellite imagery showed an approaching break in the clouds. Eventually, Ken needed to leave for another event and sure enough, right afterwards, Venus started to peek through the clouds and slowly the skies cleared. Mars was well placed for viewing and the skies were dark enough to easily see M31, the Andromeda Galaxy. However, the weather kept the attendance down to a couple of active duty airmen and one student and his parent. By the time M42, the Orion nebula, rotated into view the clouds had regrouped and brought an end to the evening.
We would like to thank the library for the invite and assistance in gaining access to the base and we look forward to future events there.
Two members of the NWFAA supported Longwood Elementary School’s science night activities with a star gaze. Dennis Hausch set up his telescope and targeted the setting planet Saturn. Ken Leone provided his tripod mounted astronomical binoculars to give the students views of the evenings other planets, Venus and Mars.
The first half hour of observing Saturn was with very light skies and the planet was not visible naked eye. Many guests were amazed that it could be seen in the telescope with the skies that bright. The lines at each telescope were short but there was a continuous flow of guest observers. Once Saturn set behind the tree line, Dennis shifted to the colorful double star, Alberio.
We would like to thank Longwood Elementary School for the invitation and warm welcome. We look forward to supporting the school’s future science activities.
Once again the 1st grade students of Van R. Butler welcomed the NWFAA to their school for a daytime star gaze. This year the schedule called for all the 130+ 1st graders to attend a single presentation on the Sun in preparation for their time at the telescopes. The presentation finished with a lively question and answer session. The students then adjourned to their classrooms to wait their turn at the scopes.
In the meantime, the NWFAA volunteers finished setting up their solar equipment.
Dean Covey brought his Coronado refractor to provide views of any solar activity at the frequency of H-Alpha light. The Sun did present a couple of small prominences and several obvious filaments.
We had two different opportunities to view the Sun in white light. Dennis Hausch brought his filtered Maksutov and Dave Halupowski brought his ancient and honored Unitron refractor to show the students the classical projection method of viewing the Sun. Although there was a small centrally located sunspot it was so small it proved a difficult target to see.
Tom Haugh rounded out the viewing options by providing a spectroscopic view of the Sun.
Class by class the students took their turns at the scopes with a clear sky offering an unimpeded view of the Sun.
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We want to thank the staff and students of Van R. Butler School for the invite, warm welcome and opportunity to share our passion for the science of Astronomy. Thanks go to Marietta Hausch for the event photos.
This year the attendees of the Explore The Outdoors Festival had a 50/50 chance of observing the Sun. The cloud cover was broken enough for us to setup the scopes but not clear enough for everyone to get to see our nearest star. Dave Halupowski setup his Unitron and projected a clear image of the Sun while Tom Haugh setup his H-alpha scope for a different view. We had plenty of people stop by and we handed out quite a few flyers and star charts as well as some photos of the recent transit of Mercury that were donated by a member of the Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association (EAAA).
Hopefully, next year will be free of clouds so all the guests get a chance.
The last Eden Gardens State Park sky view of 2016 was a great event. Frank Atchison, Dean Covey, Tom Haugh and Dennis Hausch all set up scopes in front of the grand old Wesley house.
 Built in 1897 the Wesley house is our most elegant star gaze venue. |
 Dennis adds a light shroud to his 12.5″ Dob. |
We were lucky enough to show our early guests Saturn in the gathering dusk just before it set behind the high tree lined horizon. Venus quickly followed and when it also set, Mars became the obvious target of opportunity. Throughout the evening, other deep sky sites were shown: Epsilon Lyrae, the Andromeda Galaxy and the Ring Nebula to name a few. The skies are dark enough that the Ring Nebula showed a hint of color when viewed through Dennis’ 12.5″ Dobsonian.
 Frank explains how to use the October sky map. |
 Dean aligns his Celestron. |
As the crowd started to thin, high hazy clouds started to interfere and ultimately brought an end to the nights activities.
As usual, Eden Gardens provides one of the darker skies we visit during our public star gaze calendar and we look forward to continuing the star gazes in 2017. Thanks go to our ‘official’ event photographer, Marietta Hausch, for the photos.
The E.O.Wilson Biophilia center’s first Biophilia @ Night event was a great success. The NWFAA supported the event with four observing stations; one at the entrance to the center, one at the beginning of the nighttime trail and two at the end of the trail.
First in line was Dave Halupowski and Kennedy Odom with Dave’s ever popular binocular chair. They also manned a parallelogram mounted pair of binoculars on a tripod. The two were setup on the decking spanning the pond leading up to the visitor center entrance. Needless to say, the younger guest observers enjoyed the rotational flexibility of Dave’s chair.
Next in line was Dennis and Marietta Hausch with Dennis’ 12″ Dobsonian mounted reflector. Since the Biophilia event coincided with International Observe the Moon Night, Dennis’ target was the waxing Moon. He was located at the head of the nighttime trail and at the same time, adjacent to the bonfire destined to heat many s’mores into delicious gooeyness later in the evening. Dennis also handed out numerous NWFAA star gaze schedules as well as October sky charts.
At the end of the trail Tom Haugh and Ken Sharp setup scopes amongst the trees. Early reconnaissance trips to the center were helpful finding locations that had open areas in the tree canopy allowing narrow views of the night sky. Careful positioning allowed Ken to start his scope on Saturn while Tom initially sighted in on Mars. As the evening progressed and each target became obstructed by branches other objects were selected. The hikers were treated to very clear dark skies and we answered a lot of questions about the universe and Astronomy in general.
We had a great time and look forward to supporting the Biophilia Center whenever they call.
The last Topsail Hill Preserve public star gaze of 2016 started with questionable weather and quickly went downhill from there. Although the sky was clear when we made the go/no go decision, it was fairly cloudy by the time Dennis Hausch and Tom Haugh arrived to setup solar telescopes. By the time the scopes were setup, the clouds overhead were broken, so only a few of our early guest observers got to view the Sun. Quickly, the clouds closed in and we had to call the event for weather. By the time we got everything loaded back into our vehicles and driven back onto Hwy 98, there were rain drops on the windshields.
We look forward to resuming our Topsail Hill events next year.
Dennis Hausch was the first NWFAA member to make it through the summer tourist traffic on US 98 and start setting up for solar viewing at Topsail Hill State Park. As each member made it through the gauntlet additional equipment was added to the collection. Dennis and Dean Covey setup white light filtered scopes and Tom Haugh set up a Hydrogen-Alpha telescope. It was fortunate we had three solar scopes. We had 50+ guest observers view the Sun before sunset. That is a record for Topsail Hill.
 Guest observers look for sunspots. |
 Dennis and his filtered IOptron. |
Well before sunset Dave Halupowski unloaded his dobsonian and waited for the Sun to set. As usual Jupiter started the nighttime viewing before the Sun set. As the sky continued darkening Mars and Saturn came into view high in the southern sky. By then club member Robert Sutphen joined us as he made his first trip to a Topsail Hill event. Additional celestial targets viewed were Alberio, the Ring Nebula, the globular cluster M 4 as well as the Milky Way; the skies were that clear and that dark. In addition, the ISS was also visible as it made a low pass across the northern horizon.
 Dave checks out the Sun with Dean’s Celestron. |
 Tom and Dennis share the Sun with the guest observers. |
The estimated attendance was in excess of 80 people, but some of those were returning solar observers. Still this was our best attended Topsail Hill public star gaze. All-in-all a great event.