Outreach Update

Published in the RSAA Lunations
Vol1 Issue59 1–28 February 2025

January is usually a slow month for outreach, specially with a Sun that sets annoyingly late. In February, we saw our first schools visit for the year, with three coming from NSW and Victoria. March, when the visits start to ramp up as the school year is fully underway, already has 10 schools booked in.

The biggest change over the summer was a move to a new booking system for private groups. Thanks to Cate for leading the charge, the new system makes it a lot easier (and more professional) for groups to book in for private stargazing nights. Most importantly, the administration and finance side is a breeze. Thanks Cate! We received bookings from over 30 private groups in February alone!

Private groups not only are a unique way to engage with different groups (including multiple children birthday parties and marriage proposals!), it is a great revenue stream for outreach to keep school groups cheap and public nights free.

This year, we are running Enlighten again at Mt Stromlo. Last year, we ran it for one night and had well over 2500 people attend (probably closer to 3000). This year, we will run it over two weekends - Friday 28 Feb, Saturday 1 March, Saturday 7 March, Saturday 8 March. Projections will occur inside the Yale-Columbia dome, on the outside of the 74" dome, and inside the Director's Residence Garage. All of the artwork was created by students in an School of Art course in a few weeks - and they all look amazing. Be sure to come up and check them out! Epson has also provide all of the projectors and lenses for free.

Brad Tucker