Clear sky with some clouds, followed by increasing clouds and rain greeted visitors to the Cronyn Observatory Open House, Saturday, September 8th, 7:00 p.m. People did not begin arriving until later and eventually graduate student Tyler Desjardins made his digital slide presentation, The Lives of Stars, twice, before a total of 8 visitors.
RASC London Centre member Richard Gibbens listened to Tyler’s presentation while members Peter Jedicke and Bob Duff, along with graduate student Robin Wing, greeted visitors in the dome. Increasing clouds and impending rain ruled out observing and the London Centre’s 25.4cm Dobsonian and the Observatory’s 8-inch (20.3cm) Schmidt-Cassegrain were brought indoors from the roof patio.
One lady from Chatham brought her 2 young sons, including a 14 year old boy with his 80mm entry level refractor telescope. The 80mm refractor was briefly set up on the roof patio and then brought inside the dome and directed out the door towards the lights on the communications tower in south London. Peter and Bob advised them on using their telescope and what to look for when they were ready to upgrade to a more advanced telescope. The observatory was closed down by around 10:50 p.m. after and interesting evening of astronomy slide presentations and discussion.
Bob Duff
Higher Education Liaison
RASC London Centre