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.