My "Old School" Astronomy Stuff circa 1970

Here's a small collections of what got me interested in astronomy. All are circa 1970.



My first planisphere. 1969 $1.00 I still use it today.



The book on the right I bought the same day as my first telescope. $1.50. The "Sky Observers Guide" was purchased on August 5, 1971 for $1.25.



15th Edition of Norton's Star Atlas was purchased in 1970 for $6.50. Boy did this seem way over my head at the time (and much still is...). It did however motivate me to want to learn more with the hope that I could understand it some day.



This guide was purchased in 1970-71 for $5.95. It's filled with photographic star atlases. It did get me to try some night sky film photography. I had my own photography dark room at the time.



H.A. Rey's "The star" was awesome to look at as a kid. The best book I think for kids getting started in astronomy. $6.95 at the time. Money well spent!

"Stars sand Universe " Book was $3.50.

Sky and Telescope was $0.75 at the time at my local bookstore. $8.00 for a yearly subscription in 1972.



Below is a picture of my two "Norton's Star Atlas". On the left the 15th Edition, 1969 and on the right the 20th edition, 2004. Below, ( in honor of my astronomy buddy-Richie Smith from Sparks, NV) are a close up from charts 13 of the constellation Lyra. On the right is the 2004 version(bland and boring) and on the left is the 1969 version--- "Old School Rules...Way Cooler"!

"Wilson Star Search" June 13, 2009

Congratulations to Steve Smith for making our presence know up north in Niagara County along the shores of Lake Ontario by initiating the “Wilson Star Search” at Krueger Park in Wilson, NY. Although I understand the 1^st event was clouded out, his second event on June 13, 2009 was a great success. A front came through that concerned all of us but it quickly cleared and provided our visitors and the “BAA Astronomy Road Show Crew” with a beautifully clear and pleasant evening. BAA members in attendance were Steve Smith, Rick Guerin, Gary Flagg, Frank Pirrone, and me! All 20+ visitors were very interested in astronomy, many have scopes of their own and all were delighted as their eyes feasted on the “Astronomical Buffet of Celestial Wonders” we served up for the evening! Steve even set up a table of astronomy and BAA related information. We’re all looking forward to coming back Steve!

"BAA Astronomy Road Show Crew" for the evening:

This is how to take a picture of your astro buddies so as to not affect their dark adapted night vision!


We finished the evening with a peak at a beautiful waning gibbous Moon and gazed upon the spectacular "Gaseous Goliath Jupiter" and it's "Paparazzi of Galilean Groupies" around 2AM. What a way to end the evening! Arrived home in Hamburg around 3AM after the 55 mile trip.

"Starlights, Drinks, and Bites" at Buffalo Museum of Science June 6, 2009

This yearly event is always fun to participate in and once again it did not disappoint! The “BAA Astronomy Road Show Crew” and all our visitors enjoyed themselves in spite of the cloudy conditions that prevailed throughout most of the night. Another great crowd attended this year and estimates were in the 500+ range. Although the clouds rolled in about 45 minutes prior to one of the highlights of the evening-- the Moon’s occultation of the star Antares, we were able to provide a few glimpses of a full moon with Antares approximately 10’ to the east and some very brief views Saturn. All were wowed by the awesome views while they lasted.

I also had my traveling movie theatre on the roof which we projected various astronomy themed movies on to as well as some live night time video images of the spectacular Buffalo skyline architecture observable from our vantage point. You need to do this sometime if you weren’t there this night.

To add a little drama to the evening we even had a fireworks display after the baseball game at Coca Cola Field which was off in the distance. I was there just hours before volunteering for "Family Fun Days" which is a big fund raiser for my wife's agency- "WNY United Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse (http://www.wnyunited.org/).

As always a few adult beverages always seem to relieve a little bit of the sting and disappointment of cloudy skies and somehow enhance the experience! We hope to see you at next year’s event.

I got home around 1 AM after a long fun and rewarding day!

2009 Astronomy Outreach Synopsis

Here's a quick overview our outreach activities to date minus our most recent event "Starlights, Drinks, and Bites" at the Buffalo Science Museum on May 6, 2009. I will post photos soon. These slides were presented at our Club meeting last night. I may have even recruited some new members, as well as old members to come join the fun!