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RTMC Astronomy Expo

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The RTMC Astronomy Expo was one of the major gatherings of amateur astronomers in the United States for five decades, from 1969 to 2019.

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42-725: Founded by Clifford W. Holmes and the Riverside Astronomical Society, the RTMC Astronomy Expo began in 1969 as the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference at Riverside City College in Riverside , California . It consisted of a series of lectures about astronomy and telescope making with a competition for quality and innovative telescopes. In 1973 it was moved to a dark-sky site near Idyllwild and in 1975 it

84-544: A 6–12 independent study program. The Riverside Community College District , RCCD, serves 6,500 students at their Moreno Valley College campus. The city is also the location of one of the twenty-six Chapman University campuses. In neighboring Riverside, students may opt to attend RCCD's main campus, Riverside Community College , the University of California, Riverside , La Sierra University or California Baptist University . California State University, San Bernardino

126-740: A swap meet, astronomy clubs and other organizations, and vendors demonstrating and selling astronomical products. The Expo promoted family activities with swimming, canoeing, horseback riding, archery, wall climbing. Extensive hiking and mountain biking trails were also available. On 12 October 2019, the Board of the RTMC announced that 2019 was the last year that the Astronomy Expo will be held. The RTMC also produced an early autumn star party called Nightfall in Borrego Springs, CA . Nightfall

168-634: A vote of 4–1, a resolution christening the eastern half of the city (roughly from Lasselle Street to Gilman Springs Road) "Rancho Belago", a pastiche of Spanish and Italian words. The city council's resolution includes the 92555 ZIP Code within the boundaries of the area, as reported by the Press Enterprise newspaper. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 51.5 square miles (133 km ), of which, 51.3 square miles (133 km ) of it

210-669: Is a city in Riverside County, California , United States, and is part of the Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario metropolitan area. It is the second-largest city in Riverside County by population and one of the Inland Empire 's population centers. The city's population was 208,634 at the 2020 census . Moreno Valley is also part of the greater Los Angeles area . The city derived its name from

252-556: Is another popular school for city high school graduates. Moreno Valley has three public libraries . The heavily traveled routes of State Route 60 (locally called the Moreno Valley Freeway ) and Interstate 215 both pass through the city. Metrolink offers commuter rail transit via the Moreno Valley/March Field station, located just west of the city limits. Monday through Friday service

294-552: Is currently commanded by Sheriff's Captain Joel Ontiveros, who also functions as Moreno Valley's Chief of Police. The city of Moreno Valley contracts for fire and paramedic services with the Riverside County Fire Department through a cooperative agreement with CAL FIRE . 7 paramedic engines and a truck company provide both fire and paramedic services to the city. American Medical Response

336-650: Is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km ) of it is water. Moreno Valley is located at a geographic crossroad. To the east lies the San Gorgonio Pass and Coachella Valley ; to the south are Lake Perris , Perris , and the San Jacinto Mountains ; to the north are the San Bernardino Valley and San Bernardino Mountains . To the west lies neighboring Riverside . It is relatively close to Ontario International Airport. One of

378-487: Is located in Moreno Valley. Some private schools exist, including the local Valley Christian Academy, established in 1979, and Calvary Chapel Christian School, which serves students Kindergarten to twelfth grade. There is also growing number of charter schools within Moreno Valley area including Excel Prep Charter School – Inland Empire, a K–6 school, Riverside County Educational Academy, and Audeo Charter School,

420-493: Is maintained entirely by charity. The letter had lights installed on December 3, 2005, to celebrate Moreno Valley's 21st anniversary of its incorporation. The completion of the repairs of heavy damage to the letter, due to extreme rain the year before. The mayor at that time, Bonnie Flickinger, has said that the citizens liked it that way and that the council would try to get it to light up regularly. Between December 2, 2009, and December 6, 2009, Moreno Valley, along with Edison lit up

462-590: Is provided on the 91/Perris Valley Line connecting the Moreno Valley area with Riverside and Downtown Los Angeles to the north and Perris to the south. The Riverside Transit Agency provides local and express/commuter bus services. There are two hospitals in Moreno Valley: Moreno Valley is served by its own regional station of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for law enforcement. The sheriff's station

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504-748: Is still held by the Riverside Astronomical Society on the weekend in October that corresponds with the new moon. In 2007, the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference, Inc. announced a fall event to be held in Pasadena named the Pacific Astronomy and Telescope Show (PATS). This annual event was held annually 2008 thru 2012 at the Pasadena Convention Center and focused displays by commercial vendors, astronomy clubs and other organizations as well as talks and workshops. The first PATS

546-718: Is the RCC Marching Tigers , which includes the Fantasia Winter Guard, which has won several Winter Guard International awards, a Fall Marching Band, a Winter Drum Line, and a Spring Pep Band. The student newspaper is Viewpoints . The college is home to the School for Nursing. In 2016, RCC opened the Henry W. Coil Sr. and Alice Edna Coil School for the Arts on University Avenue and Market Street, adjacent to

588-523: The 1992 Los Angeles riots with steady growth. Between 2006 and 2007 alone, Moreno Valley saw a 13% increase in its Black population. Also in the same time period, Latinos became the majority of over half the population, especially a large Mexican-American and Mexican population. There are several business strips catering to Spanish-speaking clientele and Latin American cultures. There were 43,381 households, out of which 54.0% had children under

630-609: The Riverside County Sheriff's Department Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, the Center for Teaching Excellence at Stokoe, and the Rubidoux Annex in Rubidoux . RCC is also home to Gateway to College, a charter school that serves those returning to high school seeking diplomas as adults. RCC maintains programs in liberal arts and science , athletics , and performing arts and vocational education . The school band

672-591: The Serrano and Cahuilla were in the area. The late prehistoric Luiseño and Cahuilla were semi-sedentary, meaning that they wintered in villages, then spread out in family groups during the spring and summer months to harvest seeds and acorns. Spanish scouts blazed a number of trails in the area, including the Anza Trail , which runs through the Edgemont area of present-day Moreno Valley. When California

714-930: The music industry . The college's marching band performed at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California on January 1, 2010, and at Bandfest at Pasadena City College . The Riverside City College Tigers compete in the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) and Southern California Football Association, which operates within the California Community College Athletic Association . The college currently fields nine men's teams and nine women's teams. The athletic facilities include Fran Bushman Tennis Courts, Riverside Aquatics Complex, Samuel C. Evans Complex , Wheelock Gymnasium and Wheelock Stadium . Moreno Valley, California Moreno Valley

756-663: The Warren Estes Memorial Award for "Best Use of Simple Materials and Technique" in making telescopes, and the Clyde Tombaugh Award "Creative Innovation in Telescope Design". To better reflect the evolution of amateur astronomy, the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference was renamed the RTMC Astronomy Expo in 2003. Each year the scope of activities continued to grow and evolve and had lectures, workshops, extensive beginners activities,

798-530: The age of 18 living with them, 61.6% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.9% were non-families. 11.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.6 and the average family size was 3.9. In the city, there were 36.8% under the age of 18; 10.5% from 18 to 24; 29.5% from 25 to 44; 17.7% from 45 to 64; and 5.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

840-693: The city manager, the city attorney, and city clerk. The current City Council consists of: In the state legislature , Moreno Valley is in the 31st Senate District , represented by Democrat Richard Roth , and in the 60th Assembly District , represented by Democrat Corey Jackson . In the United States House of Representatives , Moreno Valley is in California's 39th congressional district , represented by Democrat Mark Takano . Moreno Valley's primary and secondary education needs are fulfilled by two school districts:

882-400: The city was $ 14,983. 14.2% of the population and 11.6% of families were below the poverty line . 18.1% of those under the age of 18 and 9.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. The most common ancestries in Moreno Valley are German, English, Irish, Italian, and Nigerian. The most common non-English languages spoken in Moreno Valley are Spanish and Tagalog. According to

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924-451: The city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: Moreno Valley incorporated in 1984 as a general law city . It currently uses the council-manager form of government. The city is divided into four council districts, each of which elect a representative to the city council. The mayor is directly elected at-large. The council chooses one of its members to serve as Mayor Pro Tem. The council also selects

966-489: The city. The majority of the sites are milling stations - where chaparral seed was the dominant milling activity. Rock art, consisting of pictographs , and petroglyphs are present - though most of the petroglyphs in Moreno Valley consist of boulders with "cupules", or cup-shaped holes pecked into them. Spanish scouts initially came across descendants of the Shoshone , and Luiseño tribes; although other groups, such as

1008-589: The college assumed total control of the Magnolia property. Today, Riverside City College is part of the greater Riverside Community College District which enrolls about 21,000 students each semester. Students may earn an associate degree , transfer to a four-year college or university , or earn a career certificate . In addition to the campus located in downtown Riverside, there are campuses in Moreno Valley and Norco . Separate education centers include

1050-433: The construction of new houses and businesses, leading to a push for the area to incorporate as a city. Although similar measures had failed previously in 1968 and 1983, the measure to form the city of Moreno Valley was approved by the area's voters in 1984. On December 3, 1984, the communities of Edgemont, Sunnymead, and Moreno united along with nearby areas to form the general law city of Moreno Valley. The first city council

1092-539: The disposal of those who see fit to take advantage of the newest educational facility. The school board realized that the benefits of such a school would be great and according to their March meeting voted to establish such a college. – Anonymous, 1919 The junior college expanded from the Riverside Poly campus and in 1924 constructed the first two buildings of the campus quadrangle in 1924. When Riverside Poly re-located to its own campus on Victoria Avenue in 1965

1134-521: The historic White Park. The school is the home of the college's music program, including the internationally renowned RCC Chamber Singers, and the RCC Jazz Ensemble. The school combining classrooms, studios, and digital media labs, built around a state of the art concert hall designed with adjustable acoustics. The new school serves around 1,000 students preparing for careers in vocal or instrumental performance, music education , and careers in

1176-720: The letter in celebration of the city's 25th anniversary. Several Eagle Scout projects have been dedicated to maintaining the "M". Moreno Valley has a mild semi-arid climate ( Köppen BSh ), with Mediterranean characteristics. The summer temperatures average in the high 90s, though many days reach well above 100°. The racial makeup of Moreno Valley was 36,546 (18.9%) non-Hispanic White , 34,889 (18.0%) African American , 1,721 (0.9%) Native American , 11,867 (6.1%) Asian , 1,117 (0.6%) Pacific Islander , 51,741 (26.8%) from other races , and 11,061 (5.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 105,169 persons (54.4%). The Census reported that 192,811 people (99.7% of

1218-1094: The majority of the city is in the Moreno Valley Unified School District , while a portion is in the Val Verde Unified School District . A part of the city's territory extends into the San Jacinto Unified School District . The former serves approximately 35,000 students, the bulk of the city's children, and has 35 schools, including five high schools : Moreno Valley High School , Canyon Springs High School , Valley View High School , March Mountain High School, and Vista del Lago High School. Val Verde District serves part of southern and eastern Moreno Valley, in addition to parts of Perris , Mead Valley , and unincorporated areas. It serves about 13,000 students and maintains 12 schools; one of its high schools, Rancho Verde High School ,

1260-417: The most visible geographical features in Moreno Valley is Box Springs Mountain . This mountain at the northwest end of the city rises over the city, providing a concrete landmark. The section of the mountain that faces the city has a large letter "M" constructed upon it. This was built privately at the encouragement of the city council, which argued it would foster unity. The letter is located on public land and

1302-524: The north. The area first acquired its current name, Moreno Valley, at this time, referring to Frank Brown ( moreno is Spanish for "brown" or "brunet"). In 1899, the city of Redlands won a lawsuit in which the city claimed eminent domain over the Bear Valley water. The resulting loss of service forced most of the area's inhabitants to move. By 1984, the population was 49,702 (compared to 18,871 residents in 1970). The state economic boom fueled

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1344-653: The population) lived in households, 471 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 83 (0.1%) were institutionalized. There were 51,592 households, out of which 28,586 (55.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 29,000 (56.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 9,990 (19.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 4,191 (8.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3,627 (7.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 375 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 6,094 households (11.8%) were made up of individuals, and 1,611 (3.1%) had someone living alone who

1386-453: The population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 68,948 people (35.7%) lived in rental housing units. During 2009–2013, Moreno Valley had a median household income of $ 54,918, with 19.5% of the population living below the federal poverty line. Latinos replaced the once majority White non-Hispanic population in the 1990s. Moreno Valley has increasingly become a destination for African-American families from Los Angeles County, after

1428-497: The same site as the Riverside Polytechnic High School (Riverside Poly). Originally known as Riverside Junior College and later as Riverside City College , the school changed its name to Riverside Community College in the mid-1980s. In 2008, the board of trustees renamed the institution back to Riverside City College . With the opening of school next fall, Riverside's Junior College will be at

1470-428: The small community of Moreno, which became part of the city of Moreno Valley when the city was incorporated in 1984. Frank E. Brown, one of the founders of the community of Moreno in 1882, declined to have the town named after him, but to honor him, the town was named Moreno, Spanish for brown . The Moreno Valley area was first inhabited 2,300 years ago. There are at least 200 prehistoric archaeological locations within

1512-410: Was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 47,387, and the median income for a family was $ 48,965 (these figures had risen to $ 55,604 and $ 57,385 respectively as of a 2007 estimate ). Males had a median income of $ 38,620 versus $ 26,492 for females. The per capita income for

1554-405: Was 28.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males. There were 55,559 housing units at an average density of 1,079.3 per square mile (416.7/km ), of which 33,393 (64.7%) were owner-occupied, and 18,199 (35.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%. 123,863 people (64.1% of

1596-423: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.74. There were 43,181 families (83.7% of all households); the average family size was 3.99. The population was spread out, with 62,496 people (32.3%) under the age of 18, 23,563 people (12.2%) aged 18 to 24, 53,726 people (27.8%) aged 25 to 44, 41,446 people (21.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 12,134 people (6.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

1638-565: Was admitted to the United States as a state in 1850, Americans began to move into the area. The Tucson -to- San Francisco route of John Butterfield 's Overland Mail Company passed through it. Some farmers began to occupy the area, relying upon water from Frank E. Brown's Bear Valley Land and Water Company. Beginning in 1883, the company collected and pumped water from Bear Valley in the San Bernardino Mountains to

1680-476: Was also elected in 1984. It was composed of Bob Lynn , Judith A. Nieburger, Steven Webb, J. David Horspool (first Mayor Pro Tem), and Marshall C. Scott (first Mayor). The city seal and motto were adopted the following year. In November 2008, DHL announced it was leaving the U.S. market and would shut its operation associated with March Air Field in January 2009. On February 13, 2007, the city council passed, by

1722-507: Was held September 13–14, 2008. The 2013 event was cancelled. PATS was designed to complement the ongoing RTMC Astronomy Expo. Riverside City College Riverside City College ( RCC ) is a public community college in Riverside, California . The college is part of the Riverside Community College District , as well as the larger California Community Colleges System . RCC first opened in 1916 at

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1764-601: Was moved to its last home near Big Bear City . It was held on the three-day Memorial Day weekend. In 2010, it was held in May on the weekend that corresponded with new moon to allow amateur astronomers the best viewing conditions. Due to low attendance the date was moved back to the Memorial Day weekend in 2011 The organization annually presented the Clifford W. Holmes Award for "Major Contribution to Popularizing Astronomy,

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