This was the second event the Eglin Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol participated with us as a group. In November 2015 they attended our Eden Gardens State Park star gaze. This time club member (and NWFSC Professor) Tony Russo, acting in his capacity as college liaison, received permission for the squadron to tour the college observatory.
The night of the tour Tony led the 20 cadets and leaders up into the dome room and briefed them on the 18″ Centurion telescope and associated hardware. They then assembled in the classroom where Tom Haugh gave them a presentation on the current and future scientific programs and efforts being conducted by observatories in the Florida panhandle.
After a question and answer session everyone headed outside to where other club members had their personal telescopes set up for an evening of observing. Supporting the star gaze portion of the event were:
- Dean Covey
- Walter Dunn
- Dave Halupowski
- Dennis & Marietta Hausch
- Ken Leone
- John Walker
After a period of nighttime observing the squadron loaded up and headed back to Eglin. We look forward to our next event with Eglin’s CAP cadets.