This page provides a brief summary of all aspects of Rappahannock Astronomy Club and its activities. For more detail, visit the many pages linked from this page.

RAC is a non-profit organization of amateur astronomers located in the Fredericksburg Virginia area, including but not limited to Stafford, Spotsylvania, and King George counties. If you wish to learn more about astronomy and the night sky we invite you to attend our public star parties and monthly meetings, each of which begins with an educational program. Beginners are welcome! Owning a telescope is not a requirement -- but if you have one we'll help you learn how to use it!

One of the most important aspects of RAC is to educate the public about astronomy and to raise awareness of the negative aspects of light pollution. As a result, RAC conducts public outreach events and school lectures by request for schools, parks and other educational and civic organizations. We also conduct merit badge clinics for scouts. We can provide expert advice and instruction on telescopes, accessories, books and star charts as well as how to observe the night sky.

RAC maintains an email network for member communication and a Yahoo group for distribution of current astronomy news. In addition, RAC has a library of astronomy books, DVDs and magazines as well as five loaner telescopes (8" Dobsonian-mounted reflector, 6" equatorial-mounted Orion reflector, 6" alt-az-mounted Celestron reflector, 5" Celestron NexStar 5 SCT and 6" Orion Dobsonian-mounted reflector), a specially designed safe solar telescope and a digital astro-camera.

RAC was founded as the Triangulum Astronomical Society in 1983 by Al Ventura, who placed an ad in the local newspaper asking anyone interested to attend an initial organizing meeting at Mr. Gatti's on Rt. 1 in Fredericksburg. Twelve people showed up, and the club was born. The early days featured meetings at members houses, with stargazing afterwards. The club eventually began meeting at Central Rappahannock Regional Library and even went on field trips to places like Greenbank. The name was changed to Rappahannock Astronomy Club circa 1995-96.

RAC holds a club meeting every month. Meetings usually begins with an educational program followed by a business session. Guests are always welcome.

Programs cover current astronomy topics and range from how to use a telescope to astrophotography to current topics in the science of astronomy. They often provide an excellent learning experience for people who are just getting started in astronomy.

The program is followed by a business session. Guests are welcome to remain for the business session but may not vote on motions. Off-line help for beginners is available during the business session.

Click here for Meeting Minutes

Meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month at 7-9 PM. Except as announced, the club meeting location is:

Visitors are invited to come early and meet club members. The library closes at 9:00 PM so the meeting schedule must be followed:

Up-to-date meeting status is posted in the upper right corner of the Home page.

Monthly meeting dates, locations, speakers and program topics for the entire year are posted on the Meetings page.

RAC holds a star party every month, weather permitting. Members bring telescopes and binoculars and spend the evening observing. The public is invited.

For beginners, star parties are a good opportunity to improve observing skills, and they also provide an opportunity to look through a variety of different telescopes for those in the market for a new instrument.

Visit our Star Parties page for more details.

RAC's mission includes not only promotion of astronomy to the general public but also an educational role.

We are frequently asked to conduct public stargazing events and lectures for local organizations, including schools, state parks, local parks & recreation departments and other educational and civic organizations.

If you would like RAC to conduct an educational star party for your organization or a lecture for your school please use the contact points below.

Visit our Public Outreach page for more details.

RAC is especially active in teaching astronomy to Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. Our scouting coordinator, Glenn Holliday, has conducted many merit badge clinics, and he has developed an extensive curriculum that takes merit badge candidates from the basics to advanced material.

Leigh Gettier, RAC's beginners coordinator, also helps teach clinics.

Visit RAC's Astronomy for Scouts page for more information on RAC programs for scouts.

RAC maintains a lending library of books, magazines and DVDs about the science of astronomy, the night sky, equipment, and how to observe the stars.

All materials are available for member only check out.

Email RAC's Librarian for details.

RAC has loaner equipment for member only use. Instruction is available. Loaner equipment is described on the Library and Loaner Equipment page. Instructions and contact information for checking out gear are also provided.

Loaner gear is available only to club members.

Annual membership is $15 per family.

The student rate is $7.50.

Members are eligible for discount subscriptions to Astronomy and Sky & Telescope magazines (restrictions apply).

RAC maintains a Yahoo group for members, titled rac_group. A key function of the group is to provide an email list server for club members. 

Other content includes news announcements, notices of upcoming events in astronomy, documents and images created by club members and a club calendar of events.

Follow this link to join.

RAC is an affiliate of the Astronomical League. RAC members may also join the AL for an additional $7.50/year. AL membership includes a subscription to The Reflector magazine.

RAC is an associate member of JPL's Night Sky Network. NSN enables visitors to search for astronomy clubs in their area. It also provides calendar services for club event announcements. Finally, NSN provides educational materials to clubs. Visit RAC's page here.