Are you looking for something to do with your kids that’s also educational? Do you have a forgotten telescope? Would you like to know what’s in the sky tonight? Oh, and it’s FREE?
Then you’ll want to attend RAD (Richmond Astronomy Day) at Dorey Park on Saturday November 1.
Schedule
Room Map
Speakers
Door Prizes
The Richmond Astronomical Society (RAS) will be partnering with Henrico County for this fun day learning about telescopes, stars, comets, meteors, and all that stuff.
- Water bottle rockets. Kids can launch their own, and there will be a coloring table for the younger ones.
- Take your own picture of the Moon. We have a way to attach your phone to a telescope, and you can take your very own photo.
- Astrophotography gallery-Images from club members. Are you curious about how to get started?
- Solar observing-if the Sun is out, we’ll have telescopes set up for SAFE viewing of the Sun.
- Star Troopers. Cosplay appearances from the 501st Legion, a worldwide Star Wars costuming organization comprised of and operated by Star Wars fans.
- Demonstrations on the use of telescopes-yes, you can bring your own, whether it’s working or not, and we’ll have club members inspect it and help you get it working again, or show you how to use it.
- Presentations on Preventing Light Pollution and American Indian Astronomy.
- Evening skywatch. We’ll have telescopes set up for observing the Moon, planets, and stars.
- Door prizes awarded every hour. Win a pair of binoculars, an astronomy book, or one of several other astronomy related prizes.
The daytime session hours are from 11 AM to 6 PM, and the evening will run from 7 PM to 11 PM. The address is:
Dorey Park Recreation Building:
2999 Darbytown Road
Henrico, VA
RAD Schedule
| Start Time | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | Indoor activities | Varina Room and deck |
| 11:00 AM | Solar observing | Front lawn (In front of the main entrance) |
| 11:00 AM | Water bottle rockets launching | Rocket Field (To the right, as you’re facing the front entrance) |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch | “On your own” |
| 1:00 PM | Lighting Matters: An Introduction to Light Pollution and Night Sky/Nightscape Conservation, by Laura Greenfield | Henricus Room |
| 2:00 PM | The Science and Beauty of Native American Astronomy, by Kim Kenny | Henricus Room |
| 4:00 PM | The Sky Tonight, by Terry Barker | Henricus Room |
| 7:00 PM | Evening observing | Water rocket field (on the right, as you face the entrance to the building) |
Dorey Park Recreation Center Floor Layout
Speaker Information
Laura Greenleaf
Title and description
“Lighting Matters: An Introduction to Light Pollution and Night Sky/Nightscape Conservation”
Artificial light at night is essential to our lives, communities, and society. But indiscriminate over-lighting and badly designed lighting degrades ecosystems, imperils wildlife, wastes energy, and fails to deliver on promises of improved safety and security while also eroding our own health. What do we lose when we obliterate the stars from the night sky and darkness below it? This presentation will explore the causes and consequences of light pollution, explain the basics of responsible outdoor lighting, deliver good news about nightscape conservation, and equip the audience to bring back the night beginning at home. Because every day needs a night.
Bio
Laura Greenleaf has led the Virginia chapter of DarkSky International (formerly the International Dark-Sky Association) for twelve years. She has delivered more than forty DarkSky presentations over the years, supported innumerable advocates in their own communities, aided dark sky park efforts, and assisted policy initiatives. For the past year she has coordinated the Virginia Responsible Streetlighting Coalition. Laura is a Virginia Master Naturalist and a lifelong conservation advocate who currently works part-time for Friends of James River Park as an invasive plant management specialist. She grew up in the northern Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Valley and lived in the northern Piedmont until moving to Richmond in 2007. This change in her own habitat ultimately led to her passion for light pollution reduction. Her favorite Virginia night sky is Highland County’s where she, her husband, and now 17 year old son spend time as often as possible.
Kim Kenny
Title and description
“The Science and Beauty of Native American Astronomy” shows how knowing Astronomy was a matter of life and death to Native American Cultures. Astronomy wasn’t a hobby, it was vital for survival for the over 300 major tribes from Canada to South America. Then the religious to Native Americans: They believed they came from the stars and will return to the stars. I cover their science, tools and stories through their constellations, then tie in the science that we know today.
Bio
At age 14, Kim sold his 200 Matchbox cars and bought his first telescope. He graduated in 1977 from Fuqua High School in Farmville, and received his degree in communications in 1980, then worked at WSVS Radio from 1979 – 1986 as Program Director.
He married his college sweetheart, Margaret, in 1981, and they were volunteer DJ’s for monthly dances supporting Nottoway Co. Youth from 1985 to1997.
Kim started the Crewe Astronomy Club in 1998 with 12 programs per year at Virginia State Parks. Their Charter: An Astronomy Youth Outreach Program.
He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Old Dominion University.
Kim retired in 2017 and built the Crewe Observatory on their farm.
In 2023, Kim received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Virginia State Parks for 25 years of science programs at over 25 park locations.
In 2023, wrote the program: “The Science Behind the Star of Bethlehem” with over 750 hours of research for Parks, Churches and Groups.
In 2024, he wrote the program: “The Science and Beauty of Native American Astronomy”.
2025 sets a new CAC program record with over 50 scheduled programs covering Virginia State Parks, Public Libraries, Boy & Girl Scouts, 4-H Clubs, Private Groups, Churches and Home School Networks.
Door Prizes
Celestron 7×50 astronomical binoculars (2)
Book: 100 Things to See in the Nght Sky
Book: Nightwatch
Book: Binocular Highlights
Wall Calendar: 2026 The Univers
Star Projector: Galaxy Night Light
Gift Certificate: Galaxy Restaurant