Announcement: (updated 1/31/08)
2009 Stellafane Convention will be held August 13-16 (Thu-Sun)
Check out the newly updated
www.stellafane.org for details
Announcement: (updated 10/7/08)
ALCon 2009 to be hosted by the Amateur Observers' Society of New York!!
It will be held at Hofstra University on Long Island, NY
from Aug 2-9, 2009 www.alcon2009.org ...see the
Member News
section for more info.
Announcement: (7/3/08) Mike Mattei wins NERAL 2008 Walter Scott Houston Award!
MIKE MATTEI with his Schupmann Telescope (click to enlarge)
Mike Mattei has been an active observer for many decades and a member of
ALPO and AAVSO. He worked at Harvard Observatory's Agassiz Station (now
Oak Ridge Obs.), and met his future wife (Dr. Janet Akyuz Mattei 1943
-2004) at AAVSO. He became very active in optics and amateur telescope
making, and later went professional, specializing in the fabrication of
aspherical optics at Space Optics Research Labs, and Optical Systems and
Technolgy Inc (O.S.T.I.). There he worked on optics for space
exploration such as an Ultraviolet Telescope for Goddard Space Flight
Center. Eventually Mike was asked to join the staff at Lincoln Labs to
work on special Government 'Star Wars' projects using Laser Imaging
Optical Radar Systems. He also worked at MIT's Wallace Astrophysical
Observatory. He taught courses at University of Hawaii and spoke at
local club events Mike is possibly best known for his hundreds of
nights teaching beginners the art and craft of mirror making at the
ATMoB workhop in Westford, Massachusetts. He still works full time at
Lincoln Labs, and continues to spend his nights searching for Novae for
the AAVSO in his home-built observatory in Littleton, MA.
We are very pleased to give this award to this innovative,
self-educated man who took the time to pass on his knowledge to so many
amateurs, while he worked alongside many professionals and researchers
in astronomy.
The following is written on the plaque
that will be presented at Stellafane on Saturday, August 2, 2008. (Mike will be at Stellafane to accept it!)
In
Recognition of his many years of service to amateur and professional
astronomy
as an active member of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO),
his
contributions to ALPO’s publication ‘The Strolling Astronomer’ as well as
his
Observations and Drawings of Mars for the Association of Lunar and Planetary
Observers,
his professional work at Harvard Observatory’s Agassiz Station & MIT’s
Wallace Astrophysical Observatory,
his 7-inch
Schupmann Telescope which won first prize in advanced optics at Stellafane,
his outstanding professional Optical Work at Lincoln Labs, Space Optics, and
O.S.T.I.,
his Optical and Mechanical Accomplishments building Telescopes, Optical
Shops and Observatories,
his legacy of work in Astronomy Education, including his courses at the
University of Hawaii,
and in particular his many years of teaching Amateur Telescope Making at
Haystack Observatory
in Westford, MA at the headquarters and workshop of the Amateur Telescope
Makers of Boston
we hereby present this Award to
Mike Mattei
Presented
this day, August 2, 2008 at Stellafane
In fond remembrance of Deep Sky Observer,
Science Writer and ATM Historian,
Walter Scott Houston.
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