Clear skies greeted 79 visitors (including 12 children) to the Cronyn Observatory Open House, Saturday, February 9th, 2013, 7:00 p.m. They were welcomed by graduate students Parshati Patel and Ted Rudyk. Parshati made her digital slide presentation, “Jupiter Rules: Top 10 Reasons Why Jupiter is the Best Planet.”
RASC London Centre members Peter Jedicke and Dave McCarter assisted and graduate student Emily McCullough also dropped by. Parshati reported that she made her digital slide presentation 3 times during the course of the evening and there were still 9 more visitors there when she left around 9:30 p.m.
Ted Rudyk reported that he and Emily remained with the big 25.4cm refractor in the dome until about 11:00 p.m. with about 10 more people coming through. Ted brought his eyepieces case and showed the visitors views of Uranus, with a 13mm Nagler (337X); Jupiter with a 20mm Nagler (219X); the Orion Nebula (M42), with the 20mm Nagler (219X) and OIII filter; and the double star Castor with the 13mm Nagler (337X).
Emily reported that she talked with Peter and Dave and spoke with visitors from other continents about constellations near the end of the night. Peter mentioned that no amateur telescopes were set up as the RASC London Centre’s 25.4cm Dobsonian was not available (in repair) and there was too much snow on the roof patio to set up the Observatory’s 8-inch (20.3cm) Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain. Everybody enjoyed the very clear night of stargazing.
Bob Duff
Higher Education Liaison
RASC London Centre