It was the April 2017 Southern Star Astronomy Convention put on by the Charlotte Amateur Astronomers Club, when a scheduled speaker for the convention cancelled at the last minute.

I’m not a member of the Charlotte Club, but had helped them over a few years to fill speaker positions at Southern Star.

A new speaker was needed…and really quick!

The Charlotte club officer in charge of Southern Star contacted me about finding a new speaker and asked if I could help in finding “the perfect” person to fill this now vacant position.

A solution, as I already had someone in mind:

I knew that Sue and Alan French were attending NEAF at that time. So, I called Sue via cell phone, and asked if she would talk to Al Nagler and see if he was interested in being a speaker at Southern Star.

Al was indeed interested and both he and his wife graciously accepted the invitation. 

Al gave a fabulous presentation concerning “everything anyone would want to know” about eyepieces.  I don’t think anyone would know more about the science of eyepieces than Al Nagler. The presentation, to say the least was extraordinary, and so much so, I even took notes.

An article By Al Nagler featured in S&T Magazine concerning telescope magnifications and related calculation as following:

How to Choose Your Telescope Magnification

Al Nagler and his wonderful wife: Absolutely…two great people!

I was able to talk with Al and his wife for extended periods during the event. I also enjoyed eating lunch with them in the Wild Acres cafeteria.

Photo as following: Al signing my “1000+ The Amateur Astronomer’s Field Guide to Deep Sky Observing” by Tom Lorenzin at the April 2017 Southern Star Astronomy Convention in Little Switzerland, North Carolina:

My copy of 1000+ still in use…even as the night of (April 13th 2024)

Magazine Advertisement as following of a Tele Vue Pronto sitting atop a “1000+” Sky Atlas:

Al Nagler and Tom Lorenzin were friends and had a personal and business relationship. Tom owned and used a Tele Vue Pronto, which he had high praise.

When the Sky Tour object locator was added to Tele Vue mounts, Lorenzin’s 2000+ database was used.

Tom Lorenzin signed my 1000+ on the evening of the 1993 Vernal Equinox. We had planned for a Messier Marathon, in a field, just west of Boiling Springs, NC. This group included Tom, Tom English, Bob Eskridge, myself, and a couple others.

Unfortunately, clouds came in unexpectedly and we had to cancel. However, we went back to the Williams Observatory on campus of Gardner-Webb University, where we talked, shared observing stories, and laughed and laughed until well after midnight.

Tom Lorenzin passed away of a heart attack on August 23, 2014, at 67 years of age.

Tom’s Obituary: Be sure to open the link inside the obituary for photo’s and more information about Tom Lorenzin.

Tomm Lorenzin ’92

Sky & Telescope Article from years past:

A Challenge: Master observer (Tom Lorenzin) with the employ of an all manual control Dobsonian, versus a skilled observer using a fully computerized C-14. Who could be the first to locate all of the Messier objects, and win the marathon?

Best I remember it was pretty much a tie, but unfortunately I no longer have the article, and that was “maybe” 30 years ago. (?)

See my signed 1000+ by Al Nagler and the late Tom Lorenzin pictured below:

It was at an astronomy event in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, during the early 90’s. This astronomy meeting was known as “The Regional Gathering of Amateur Astronomer’s.” Tom Lorenzin was one of the speakers at that meeting, and he said: we have a master pencil sketcher in our group today.

I actually couldn’t figure out who Tom was talking about….but found out he was talking about me! Who? Me?

To be around Tom Lorenzin in that meeting was a bit intimidating, as I’d just began my serious systematic approach to amateur astronomy…that being better documented notes, and with more care given to my pencil sketches.

That recognition by Lorenzin at that meeting (circa early 90’s) caused me try even harder and attempt to become a better pencil sketcher. A photo from that meeting as following:

Tom Lorenzin, second from the right wearing shorts, and me…to his right side with the blue shirt.

We should all be more like Tom Lorenzin: Say positive things to those less experienced, compliment someone for their efforts and they will most likely become better amateurs. However, this could apply to anything in life. Build people up…don’t tear them down.

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