CHARLIE BATES SOLAR ASTRONOMY PROJECT MAKES BIG DONATION TO LOCAL
SCHOOL
On May
20th, 2010 Executive Director and Chief Astronomer of The Charlie Bates
Solar Astronomy Project, Mr. Stephen W. Ramsden, presented Mr. Tom
Sewell and his kids at Hopewell Middle School in Alpharetta, GA with this
brand new Meade ETX90EC computer guided telescope complete with heavy duty
tripod/carrying case and the upgraded Autostar goto computer which will
allow the students at Hopewell and Mr. Sewell to study the night sky any
time during the year with high quality equipment. This donation was
made possible by a previous in kind donation by Keith Davidson of the
Atlanta Astronomy club.
The
Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project is a non profit (501c3) solar
astronomy outreach program in Atlanta, GA which maintains and operates
several of the finest, observatory quality narrowband telescopes available
today. These Solar Scopes are specially designed to study magnetic
features on the Sun like Solar Flares, Prominences and Active regions.
The project remotely sets up these scopes at several dozen schools
and youth group functions each year so that young adults and faculty may
become more aware of the processes that govern the Sun's energy output and
how it affects the Earht's climate and communication or aviation on our home
planet. In 2009 45,000 kids benefitted from the program and Mr.
Ramsden plans on doubling that this year.
The CBSAP has a yearly budget of over $80,000 and is funded almost entirely
by Mr. Ramsden as a tribute to a long time friend and fellow air traffic
controller-Mr. Charlie Bates-who passed away a few years ago.
Gracious support is also provided by the finest labor union on Earth- THE
NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION-we guide you home... If you would
like to support the project you may make a tax deductible donation at
www.charliebates.org or click this
link info@charliebates.org to
obtain more info or to schedule a totally free visit for your group.