Just over a month ago, we announced that the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit had won our 2010 Out-of-this-world Award for public outreach. Ruben Gutierrez, the group’s president, recently let me know how they’re doing, and how they’ve put the award money to good use.

The Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit mascot “Astro the Lion” greets visitors during the group’s National Astronomy Day festivities, accompanied by their Astronomy magazine Out-of-this-world Award certificate for all to see. // Ruben Gutierrez photo
On May 7, 2011, the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit (SBAU) not only celebrated National Astronomy Day, but also held our much-anticipated debut of the UC2 (You See Too) wheelchair-accessible telescope viewing system. Thanks to the Astronomy magazine Out-of-this-world Award, we completed construction of the UC2, including a full range of accessories such as a set of wide-angle eyepieces, a variable polarizing Moon filter, two per-code wheelchair accessible signs, and a dew shield. There’s even a laser and telescope-mounting bracket equipped with a remote switch, which the viewer can use to see where in the sky the UC2 points!

The SBAU is very grateful to Astronomy for selecting our club this year, and under the extraordinary leadership of club Outreach Coordinator Chuck McPartlin, and talented members such as UC2 designer Jim Williams, the SBAU will continue with its motto of “Come See The Stars With Us.”

UC2 (You See Too) designer Jim Williams is all smiles on the day that his years of hard work finally came to fruition in a practical, and portable, wheelchair-accessible telescope viewing system. // Ruben Gutierrez photo