Thu, 10/22/2015 - 22:41
I like the video on the welcome page from a White House webinar where the head of the NSF relates her story about good collaboration with the AAVSO. But I was dissapointed that she didn't say the name of the person who gave her a call in the middle of the night and gave her a heads up to redirect the sattelite. Anyone know who that was? They should have a name. Good job!
Hi: I believe that her name was on the video briefly. Also, is it two minutes long. Or am I missing something. just me I guess. HNL
Hi John,
This morning I finally had a chance to listen to the excerpt from France Cordova's speech at the White House. The AAVSOer to whom she refers as being key in her Ph.D. research was James E. Morgan (MOJ) of Prescott, AZ. Jim was a very active - and truly excellent - observer from the early 1970s to 1991. He contributed nearly 10,000 visual observations of different types of variables, and contributed to many observing campaigns. He was always willing to go outside and check a star in response to a phone call from Margaret Mayall or Janet Mattei (or me when Janet was traveling), regardless of the time, or keep vigil on whatever target(s) needed non-stop attention for a campaign like France's.
France's story is such a good example of the power of a single observation, and of a single person's efforts!
Thanks for asking about "the nameless AAVSOer". It's very nice to think of Jim and recall his valuable contritbutions to the AAVSO and to variable star astronomy.
Good observing, everyone!
Elizabeth Waagen