In September, the National Science Foundation awarded a five-year grant to extend the RECON citizen science astronomy network across the entire western United States! During the months of October and November, RECON project leaders Marc Buie and John Keller will be traveling on four week-long road trips to visit over 30 targeted communities north and south of the pilot RECON network.

Our first trip was the week of October 6-10.  Over the course of the week, we met with over 20 teachers and administrators from twelve schools and community college campuses in Nevada, Arizona, and California:

• Beatty High School
• Indian Springs High School
• Green Valley High School in Henderson
• Foothill High School in Henderson
• Boulder City High School
• Mt. Tipton School in Dolan Springs
• Mohave High School in Bullhead City
• River Valley High School in Mohave Valley
• Laughlin Junior/Senior High School
• Needles High School
• Mohave Community College – Bullhead City
• Mohave Community College – Lake Havasu

At Beatty High School, Boulder City High School, and Needles High School, we also had the privilege of presenting the project to a total of approximately 100 students. Throughout our visits and presentations, we were most impressed by the enthusiasm for the project expressed by the teachers, administrators, and students we met.

We also had the pleasure of presenting to roughly 30 amateur astronomers during three local astronomy club meetings:

• Las Vegas Astronomical Society
• High Desert Astronomy Club
• Lake Havasu Astronomy Club

Below are some quick snapshots from this first of four recruitment trips.  Stay tuned for updates from our second road trip through Central Washington October 20-24!

Hoover Dam from the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge

Along Route 66 in Kingman

Double rainbow during return from Bullhead City to Kingman

Old Trails Bridge outside of Needles, California

Looking back over Searchlight, Nevada and Dolan Springs, Arizona during flight home