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the North East Region
of the Astronomical League


NEWS FLASH!
NERAL to honor JOHN BORTLE and SAMUEL STORCH at Stellafane!

Announcement: (7/13/10)
JOHN BORTLE wins NERAL 2010 Walter Scott Houston Award!

It is our great pleasure to announce that this year's WALTER SCOTT HOUSTON AWARD of the North East Region of the Astronomical League (NERAL) is being awarded to JOHN BORTLE of Stormville, New York at this year's Stellafane Convention in Springfield, Vermont on Saturday evening, August 7, 2010.

John is probably best known for the "Bortle Dark Sky Scale" to categorize light pollution.  He has been to about 40 Stellafane Conventions, and has been extremely active in the AAVSO not only with his observations, but also as the editor of their newsletter for many years.  He is also known for his Comet Digest in Sky & Telescope magazine, and has contributed a great deal of data on comets to International Comet Quarterly.  As a prolific observer, author and astrononomy educator and lecturer who knew Scotty Houston, we are very happy to present this award to this man who carries on Scotty's work so well.
 

 

JOHN BORTLE

 

The following is written on the plaque that will be presented at Stellafane on Saturday, August 7, 2010.
(John will be at Stellafane to accept it!)

In Recognition of his 30 years of dedication and service to amateur and professional astronomy
as the editor of the AAVSO Circular,
his “Comet Digest” columns in Sky and Telescope magazine,
his contributions to International Comet Quarterly,
his legacy of work in Astronomy Education, particularly as a lecturer on comets,
his long time fervor for observing over 190,ooo variable stars and more than 350 comets,
and in particular for his February 2001 article in Sky and Telescope
introducing the astronomical community to the now famous “Bortle Dark Sky Scale”
categorizing the degree of light pollution,
we hereby present this award to
John E. Bortle
Presented this day, August 7, 2010 at Stellafane
In fond remembrance of Deep Sky Observer,
Science Writer and ATM Historian,
Walter Scott Houston.

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Announcement: (7/13/10)
SAM STORCH wins the NERAL Special Service Award!

This year we learned that a very valued person to the North East Region would be moving to Florida by the end of the Summer.  So we decided that we should recognize his contribution to the North East before he leaves.  SAM STORCH, another astronomy icon often seen at Stellafane, will be receiving the NERAL SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD for his work in Astronomy Education.  With his lectures at New York City's Hayden Planetarium and the Edwin P. Hubble Planetarium in Brooklyn, Sam has guided the careers of so many astronomy students and has pointed some of them to professional careers in astronomy.   His services as as Vice-president and newsletter editor of the Astronomical Society of Long Island, and as the Secretary of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society have been substantial.  So to Professor Storch, we say we will miss you very much here in the North East, but your service to astronomy in our region will not be forgotten.

 

SAM STORCH

 

The following is written on the plaque that will be presented at Stellafane on Saturday, August 7, 2010.
(Sam will be at Stellafane to accept it!)

In Recognition of his 35 years of service as the Director of
The Edwin P. Hubble Planetarium in Brooklyn, NY,
his 30 years of giving live programs at the Hayden Planetarium in NYC,
his 3 decades of service as VP and editor of the Monthly Bulletin
of the Astronomical Society of Long Island,
his 20 years as Secretary of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society,
his work as an Adjunct Professor in Physical Science at Nassau Community College,
and in Recognition of his Contribution to Amateur and Professional Astronomy
as an Esteemed Astronomy Educator who has provided inspiration
to his many students as well as the general public,
we hereby present this Special Service Award to
Samuel Storch
Presented this day, August 7, 2010
at the Stellafane Convention
on Breezy Hill
Springfield, Vermont, USA

On behalf of the North East Region of the Astronomical League, we are very pleased to give these awards to these two distinguished colleagues in astronomy, John Bortle and Sam Storch. 

Congratulations to you both!
 
Very sincerely,
 
Maryann Arrien
Chair: NERAL
The North East Region of the Astronomical League
845-528-7420
 
NERAL Regional Representative: Susan Rose
NERAL Secretary: Alan Rifkin
NERAL Treasurer: Richard Roberts


Announcement:
The NERAL Annual Business Meeting will be held at Stellafane
Saturday, August 7th at 5:00pm under the Food Tent.
The public is welcome to our meetings.
 
2010 Stellafane Convention will be held August 5-8 (Thu-Sun)!
Check out 
http://stellafane.org for details!


 

 

 
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