Sydney asked her dad Mark (one of our members) if they could build a telescope.  They are doing just that and have set up a web site to chronicle their adventure here.  Mark has also set up an email address for comments/suggestions:  sydney.telescope.blog@gmail.com.   It looks like they are going to have loads of fun with [...]

As we all know, astronomy is an extremely weather-dependent activity (unless you happen to have a space telescope at your disposal).  As such, most astronomers have an interest in the weather and many of us have gained quite a bit of expertise in gauging weather conditions for a night of viewing.  What better subject to [...]

SMV Skywatch: The last skywatch at the Science Museum of Virginia was very well attended.  As Terry Barker noted in his March 20th post on the event, our skywatch coincided with an event at the museum associated with the 2010 FIRST Robotics competition.  Bus after bus of participants rolled into the museum parking lot.  Many [...]

Astronomical Events for 2010: Wow!  The calendar is already filling up with astronomical events for the year.  Thanks to Betty Wilson we have a list of some of the more notable upcoming events.  Betty discussed these during her presentation at the regular RAS meeting in March.  (Image by David Medici) ___ ___ ___ ___ March [...]

Last Skywatch: Thanks to everyone who helped out with the last Skywatch at the Science Museum on Friday, February 19.  I understand that the event was well attended as was the January skywatch.  After I sent out the call for additional telescopes, I got a fantastic response from the members which is very much appreciated!.  [...]

Last meeting: Thanks to John Barnett for the informative presentation on the Aphelic Opposition of Mars and thanks to Bill Dickinson for allowing John to show us his outstanding images of the planet.  I know I learned a lot.  Even though I missed viewing Mars around the opposition, it still is quite a nice view [...]

Thanks and good wishes for 2010: Thanks to everyone who attended and who assisted with our 60th anniversary dinner in December.  By all accounts it was a great event.  The Holiday Inn served us good food, Jim Condon with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory presented a fascinating talk and Gary Cowardin and John Barnett helped [...]

John Barnett will be hosting an open house at the RAS Ragland Observatory on Thursday, April 22, starting at 8:00 PM.  The 8.5 day old moon will be in Cancer, near Mars and the Beehive cluster. Saturn will be high in the east.  Watch the Richastro Yahoo Group or check back at this site for weather [...]

New board of directors and new officers: At the last regular meeting of the Richmond Astronomical Society, the board of directors for 2010 was elected.  Many thanks to Chris McCann and Jeff Pike for assembling the slate of board nominees for 2010.  Many thanks as well to the outgoing board for their outstanding service in [...]

RAS 60th Anniversary dinner: Please mark your calendars for the evening of December 4.  We will be holding our 60th anniversary dinner at the Holiday Inn on Staples Mill, near the intersection of Staples Mill and Broad St.  Please plan to attend and bring your spouse or significant other.  Bill Jeffries has invited Jim Condon [...]