by David Letcher, Outreach Chair

Member Gene Ramsey will be hosting two solar observation sessions at the nature center for all ages on Sunday September 4, and on Monday, September 5 each at 1:30 – 4:00. His description includes viewing naturalistic activity on the sun safely through a telescope equipped with a special filter. Observe sunspots, solar flares, prominences, and other solar phenomena as they are available. Learn how these storms can affect the earth as well as other interesting facts about our planet’s closest star. Let us hope for clear skies for these events!

September 30th will see the first of four free classes on astronomy offered by the AAAP at the Nature Center at Washington’s Crossing State Park. Each class will be taught by me with the assistance of Gene Ramsey. The classes are designed for the pre-teen to adult age group. Class size will be limited and registration will be available on a first come, first served basis starting on August 31. To register, call the Nature Center at (609) 737-0609. AAAP will issue a certificate of completion to anyone who attends all four classes.

The classes will be on Friday evenings, September 30 and October 7, 14, 21 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. plus one Saturday afternoon for observing the sun and its sunspots. Each class session will be followed by a visit, weather-permitting, to our observatory for evening observing of the sky.

The topics/themes are as follows:
September 30    Backyard Astronomy
October 7           Telescopes for Amateurs
October 14         The Solar System
October 21         Stars, Star Clusters, and Galaxies

On the star party front, we have been invited to participate at the Upper Freehold Regional PTA’s “Science Night Live” in Allentown, NJ on Friday evening, November 18th. This event will be held at the Newell Elementary School. I’ll be sending a request for volunteers to our membership in the near future.