Free Astronomy Magazine March-April 2020

MARCH-APRIL 2020 heard. Joining the chorus locally also helps counter the inevitable ebb and flow of membership some smaller astronomy clubs experience over time, keeping their voice loud. The International Dark Sky Associa- tion, Commission for Dark Skies, and CieloBuio are excellent re- sources for those wanting more in- formation. Bright lights in outreach Moore (Sky At Night). Tombaugh (Pluto). Simmons (Astronomers Without Borders). Burnham Jr. (Ce- lestial Handbook) Bopp, Levy, Love- joy (Comets). Dobson. There are global names in amateur astron- omy, people who have made others say “I want to do that.” Hopefully, you have local “stars” that make similar impacts in your community, just as CNY has its share. Robert “Barlow Bob” Godfrey founded the NEAF Solar Star Party and, upon settling in CNY, made himself and his solar scopes avail- able to local clubs. His star chart contained one star at -26.8 magni- tude and he had no interest in any- thing dimmer. His solar and other astronomy articles were published in several local club newsletters, earning the praise of those respon- sible for content. When he passed, the Kopernik Astronomical Society in Vestal, NY dedicated a plaque in his name. Some may know Robert Piekiel from his 1800-page magnum opus – Celestron: The Early Years. Bob has run observing sessions on New Moon weekends and major events at Baltimore Woods Nature Center in Marcellus, NY for well over a decade. Besides writing books on telescopic topics, Bob also makes himself available to local clubs to lecture on the history, testing, and maintenance of modern telescope equipment. David Bishop of the Astronomy Sec- tion of the Rochester Academy of Science is internationally known for S olar observing session in Baader, H-alpha, and with NASA Night Sky Network resources for the Syracuse City School District in Syracuse, NY. worth reading for those unaware of efforts to make such orbiting dis- plays a reality. If Sputnik taught us nothing else, it is that low-Earth orbit is an excellent place to make the world aware of your brand – an equally inescapable aspect of SpaceX’s Starlink effort. CNY was fortunate to have the dark sky champion Dr. John McMahon, whose actions and emails kept clubs and the community aware of both the science of light pollution and legislation being developed to make New York a darker place to observe – actions he continues to take now from north of the bright lights of New York City. Buying larger aperture telescopes is easier than changing public policy. That said, clubs organize members, organized members make for louder voices, and louder voices get