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Lucile Miller ObservatoryOpportunities for Scouts, Astronomy Merit Badge for Boy Scouts and Scouting Service Projects available at the observatory. We can also handle Girl Scout requirements.E-mail Us Here |
Page Updated
Click Here for the CURRENT Astronomy Merit Badge Requirements
Download the CURRENT Astronomy Merit Badge Workbook - PDF File
Download the CURRENT Astronomy Merit Badge Workbook - Microsoft Word Document
These links courtesy of www.Meritbadge.com
If anyone has links to Girl Scout Requirements, please send them to us.
We have an Eagle Scout Service Project available! - Sorting and cataloging a huge collection of recently donated astronomy teaching materials. Click Here!
Service Projects for Scouts and Groups At Miller Observatory
Here's a list of things that need to be done at the observatory along with the estimated number of persons and hours required. Currently, there is nothing available on the scale of an Eagle project, but that could change. The observatory will supply the materials. Groups should provide some tools and equipment. We can easily modify these projects to accomodate scouts needing 6 hour projects for Star and Life Ranks. Visit here often, as this list will be updated.
| Project | Number of People | Estimated Hours Per Person |
| Paint and mark sundial stones | 1 | 1 |
| Scrape and paint small areas of metal stairs and railings | 2 | 2 |
| Replace several landscape timbers in amphitheater | 2 | 1 |
| Sand, prime and paint 12 folding metal chairs | 4 or more | 3 or more |
| General weed pulling and brush trimming, Monthly, April to October | 4 to 8 | 1 to 2 |
| Prep and paint the telescope building | 4 | 4 |
| Prep and paint the storage building | 4 | 4 |
| * Prepare ground, build forms and pour concrete pad for small telesocpe #1 | 2 | 3 |
| * Prepare ground, build forms and pour concrete pad for small telesocpe #2 | 2 | 3 |
| * Prepare ground, build forms and pour concrete pad for large telesocpe | 3 | 4 |
| * Prepare ground, build forms and pour concrete pad for amphitheater projection pad | 2 | 3 |
| * Once concrete pads are in place, dig shallow trenches for electrical conduit, install conduit, backfill trenches | 4 | 4 |
| Remove old compost pile, level the area, sew grass | 4 | 3 |
| Early Spring: Landscaping, plant shrubs, mulch, sew grass | 4 | 4 |
Leaders, contact Jeff Whisenant at visitlmo@catawbasky.org if you are interested in the above projects
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Potential Eagle Project
Last year, the Lucile Miller Observatory acquired the astronomy teaching materials of the late Dr. Newton G. Sprague. Dr. Sprague taught at Ball State University and was associated with several projects in the 1960's with the Jet Propulsion Lab in California.
The teaching materials of Dr. Sprague include thousands of 35mm slides, volumes of lecture notes, mounted photographs and images, films, audio tapes, video tapes and many other items. Most astronomical subjects are covered. Most items are grouped together but there is no index or order to the materials.
Our goal is to carefully sort the materials, matching the lecture notes with slides and photos, and to catalog and cross reference the materials for long term storage and future use. For instance, if we need pictures or information about Jupiter we want to be able to find it in the collection. Individual slides do not have to be cataloged but complete lectures and presentations must be identified. We will provide a computer program to track data and manage the collection.
The nature of this project requires that all work be done at the Lucile Miller Observatory in Maiden. The Eagle candidate should be able to suggest ways in which we can sort, document, label, store, and catalog the data, he should be able to recruit help, and divide the work into sections. Observatory staff members will work very closely with Scouts as we expect the task of matching lecture notes to pictures will be massive!
It is hoped that the entire collection can be completed with several weekends of work. If the task proves to be worse that we anticipated, we would consider it of great benefit if even a small portion of the collection was completed. We have a great deal of flexibility here and will gladly work with the candidate.
The observatory will furnish all archive, storage, and labeling materials. If you have a Scout who would prefer a mentally challenging Eagle Project as opposed to a physical one, this project can fill the bill.
After these materials are cataloged, we have another potential Eagle Project where the candidate will design and produce video, CD and DVD presentations. If you have a budding Steven Spielberg, this would be great.