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Promoting Youth in Astronomy and
Helping to Save a
Hobby
By decreasing light pollution and getting youth involved in the
hobby/profession of astronomy, we will help ensure the future of
astronomy as we know it. The Astronomical League is sponsoring a Youth
Activities Committee to help in this area. The American
Association of Amateur Astronomers is supporting the YAC and its
members in their goals.
The Youth Activities Committee has created a new YAC web site.
AAAA members are invited to submit articles and photos to be
published on this web site. The web address is http://youth_in_astronomy.homestead.com/
YAC already has many people writing articles for this new site.
If you would like to look at the member list, it can be viewed on
the YAC web site.
One person who stands out is Kent Blackwell. Kent is a devoted
amateur astronomer who writes about deep-sky objects. We also have a
devoted sponsor in Brain Lula. Brian does the CCD work for the YAC
web site. Both these men do very remarkable work.
YAC Chairman Ryan Hannahoe has been meeting with a state
representative in his own area of Pennslyvania to hold the first
"Youth in Astronomy day" at the Pennsylvania capitol. They
have just started planning this event, which will be held in the
spring of either 2001 or 2002.
Don Savage from NASA and Ryan have been working on a partnership
between YAC and NASA to make the hobby better for all by helping
today’s youth to become tomorrow’s leaders in astronomy.
With of the help of organizations like these and the AAAA, the
YAC can become a very useful source of information for youth
that are interested in the hobby of astronomy.
The Youth Activities Committee will be dedicated to the
memories of Eugene Shoemaker and Clyde Tombaugh, both very notable
men in astronomy. Eugene Shoemaker was co-discoverer with David Levy
of the famous Comet Shoemaker-Levy which impacted Jupiter in 1994.
He and his wife Carolyn discovered many comets using one of the
telescopes on Palomar Mountain in Southern California. He died in a
car crash in 1998. Clyde Tombaugh was discoverer of the planet Pluto
in 1930.
We wish the Youth Activities Committee and it organizer, Ryan
Hannahoe, Clear Skies and a Bright Future.
For more information on the Astronomical League's Youth
Activities Committee, send an
e-mail to Ryan Hannahoe or visit
the YAC web site.
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AAAA Member Ryan Hannahoe Honored by Astronomical
League
The Astronomical League has awarded it’s Horkheimer Award 2000
for Exceptional Service by young astronomers under the age of 19.
This award is sponsored by Jack Horkheimer, PBS TV’s nationally
known Star Gazer.
AAAA member Ryan Hannahoe was named the 2nd place winner of this
year’s Jack Horkheimer Award. He received his award, presented by
AL Vice President Bob Gent, at the annual Stellafane Convention in
Vermont, July 29th, 2000.
Ryan Hannahoe, from Leesport, Pennsylvania, is a member of the
Berks County Amateur Astronomical Society as well as the American
Association of Amateur Astronomers. Ryan serves as his local club's
program committee chair, and entered high school last fall.
Ryan has a passion for astronomy, and he is persistent. A few
months ago, Ryan completed the construction of his 6-inch Newtonian
telescope. Over the past several months, he served as a volunteer
astronomer for public star parties, scout groups and schools. In
addition, he's taught classes on astronomy, observing, and telescope
making. Ryan has won awards from his local astronomy club, and he
has competed in the science fair with his telescope making project.
He has written a paper on telescope making techniques. Among many
other activities, Ryan now serves as the webmaster for the
Astronomical League's 2001 convention web site.
First place winner was Katie Moore, a member of the Flint River
Astronomy Club in Griffin, Georgia.
The deadline for the next Horkheimer Award is March 31, 2001. Any
Astronomical League member under the age of 19 on the date of the
application deadline is eligible to apply. The award is based upon
service to the League or to any League society. For additional
information or applications, please contact Bob Gent, AL Vice
President, 325 Cloudes Mill Drive, Alexandria, VA 22304-3080, or
e-mail: BobGent@aol.com.
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