Big THANKS - to all the volunteers that helped out yesterday. We made a big bang at the Kleb Woods nature center astronomy night yesterday. We doubled (!) our participants from last time in January, over 120 visitor book sign-ins (but that is only the adults). We got a bit of a shock when a scout troop walked up, but we managed to get most of the people a seat (we used the chairs from the lobby and the park offices).
The star party was a blast! It was a great atmosphere in the small Kleb Woods park, between the trees, with a bright clear Orion above us. Clear skies exactly when we needed it. A little bit of luck but also thanks to great preparation by all of you. From dobs to Seestars, livestacking the Horsehead... we brought the universe close up that night. You all blew the lid off. Thank you all for bringing your equipment and managing the crowd!
Khady Ndao wowing the audience with info about the coming eclipse. Fellow Eclipse Ambassador Dan Roy at right
Special thanks to Dan Roy and Khady Adama Ndao; our guest NASA Eclipse Ambassadors. We held a team presentation on the Eclipse, why you need to go, how it works (explained by a real Astrophysicist, how cool!!!), and how to enjoy it safely with Dan's build projects. It was a great show, full of energy and excitement - we are so happy we survived the smart questions from the kids ;-). The pinhole camera building was an absolute hit, many arrived with cereal boxes and left with a NASA approved solar eclipse viewer - what a blast!
Our Kleb Astronomy night is now officially a top visited event for the Kleb Wood park. Our Kleb naturalist is a big fan of our work and we will coordinate with her on the next events to put together, will keep you all posted!
Thank you all again for all the help and support, what an astronomical awesome community!
clear skies!
Matt & Erica