15 replies to this topic

[Steve Fisher]

Even on a cold winter night I felt the urge to do a little public outreach. I had checked earlier in the month with the mall management and tonight looked like it might clear.

It only stayed clear for about an hour but those who stopped by had a tremendous view of Jupiter.

I'm sure to do this again.

Outreach at the mall

[David Knisely]

Our Astronomy Club did this at our local Gateway Shopping Center (Lincoln, Nebr.) starting way back in 1962 and running for over 15 years before Hyde Observatory was built. We always had at least a few people who would stop by for a look at the moon, planets, or double stars from our location on the open gallery mall. It is a good way to get people "hooked". Clear skies to you.

[magic612]

Nice outreach Steve! Looks like you had quite a few people stop by even in the short time you were there.

[Jason B]

Very nice!

[David Pavlich]

Nothing like a big refractor to attract attention! Very nice.

David

[Steve Fisher]

Thanks guys! It was fun and worth the time to set up and tear down. It was 26° and I was amazed at the people in shorts and without coats.

Looks like the weather turned for the worse last night while I was there and is not expected to improve for at least a week. (yeah right like you can believe a weatherman)

[Skylook123]

What a great memory of the holiday season for the young folks. Great event!

[dsohunter]

Very awesome. Did you ask them to turn the lights off?

[Steve Fisher]

Very awesome. Did you ask them to turn the lights off?

No but believe it or not the tree did go off for about a half an hour. One of my observers found the plug had come out on that great big tree. He got a nice round of applause when he plugged it back in.

[Drakkith]

I've thought about doing the same thing at the mall around here! I just need to get a scope that doesn't completely lose collimation when I slew to a target.

[Ziggy943]

Steve,

26° a bit too cold for me. Nice video presentation. Good job.

[Steve Fisher]

I had some "toe warmers" and lots of layers. It really was not bad at all. Of course there was NO wind. That might have made it unbearable.

I can't wait to do it again.

[Doc Willie]

Our club was going to do an event at a mall, but about 4 different entities all wanted proof of insurance with their name on it, at about $100 a pop.

PFFFFFFfffttttt. No event.

[George N]

Our group has been doing ‘outreach’ in front of a Barnes and Noble a few times a year. We set up a 5-inch refractor and/or an 8-inch Dob and show people going into the book store the moon and planets, and we provide hand-outs. The store management loves it, even allowing their sales people to come out to view.

Recently a professional astronomer from Cornell University agreed to give a presentation in the store’s meeting room as a part of our event. He had a standing-room only group of about 60 people!

[CoolHobieCat]

The public library and Books-A-Million seem like logical places to do sidewalk astronomy. Anyone silly enough to be interested in books is surely gullible enough to want a peek through a telescope.

[ebusinesstutor]

We do ours in a popular busy park downtown. Lots of walk by traffic and out list of interested people is now over 450. So we get a good turnout.