Telescope Observations And Life Events

Posted July 17th 2025

From “Deep-Sky Wonder’s” By Sue French:

“Moving back to Omicron and dropping 2.7º south-southwest takes you to a golden 7th magnitude star. It ornaments the eastern side of Webb’s Wreath, a little-known asterism first mentioned in the 4th edition (1881) of Thomas Webb’s observing guide “Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes.”

My 105mm scope at 68x reveals 13 additional stars, magnitudes 11 and 12, outlining 11′ x 7′ oval leans northeast and is dented inwards at the bright star.”

RA: 18h 02m Dec. +26 18m

6-09-01: Telescope 105 mm Apochromatic refractor; 610 mm focal length, and a 9 mm Nagler eyepiece for a magnification of 68x.

Pencil Sketch by Sue French as following: The following sketch was made using my 105 mm refractor with the employ of a diagonal.

Images by Mario Motta:

Using my 32-inch telescope, I imaged Webb’s Wreath in RGB and Lum, subtle colors. The images as following present the Wreath with north is at the top and west to the right.

The following image identifies very faint galaxies inside and around the wreath.

Can you still spot the galaxies in the following image?

Observer’s: Keith Rivich and Larry Mitchell

Location: ~10 miles SE of Leakey, Texas

Telescope:  25-inch f/5 Newtonian

SQM-L:   21.3

Seeing:  4 of 10  (Seeing pretty much was limited to around 300x, however, could occasionally go higher.)

Transparency:   10 of 10   

Webb’s Wreath itself is a worthy target. My 20 mm Nagler eyepiece framed the wreath quite nicely looking a bit like a lop-sided potato. Larry was going to check GAIA to see if any of these stars may be related. Except for the 7th mag star the rest look suspiciously similar. 

UGC 11097: 

This galaxy was just out of the frame in the (Mario Motta’s image) but I used it as my star hop base, so I will go ahead and mention the observation. Easy to see at mag. 14.5 with a pretty high surface brightness. Its 1.2′ x .3′ nearly N-S elongation was obvious being brighter in the center and tapering off towards the ends of the arms. A couple of 15th mag stars bracket the galaxy.

PGC 61289 (MCG +4-42-22)

This is the brightest of the galaxies in the Motta image. As suspected at mag 14.6 it was quite easy to see, appearing as a very small oval glow. A mag 14 star sits just off the galaxies northern edge.

2MFGC 14178 (in the image as PGC 1768412)

As suspected this one was tough and fun. When the field first slid into view I strongly suspected I could see some elongation at the right spot. Looking at images there is a 15th mag star just 20″ east of the core of the galaxy, which is depicted as a 14th magnitude “non-star” in Megastar. These two “stars” could easily mimic the elongation I was seeing. I bumped up power to 650x and during moments of good seeing I could distinctly see the arm of the galaxy opposite the 15th mag field star. I called Larry over to take a look and he was seeing what I was seeing. As a bonus he knew nothing about the galaxy before looking. 

For the fun part of the observation we put Larry’s NVD into the scope. He had it mated to a 27mm eyepiece so the magnification was quite low. We suspected the NVD devise should work as the galaxy is infrared bright, and we were right. The 15th mag field star was dramatically reduced in brightness so the galaxy, though tiny, was just visible as a complete edge on spiral. The dark lane visible in high res images was not visible to us. 

LEDA 1772537 (in the image is listed as a PGC):

As suspected nothing. Nada. Not even a sparkle!

UN-NAMED FACE ON SPIRAL:

We couldn’t see anything of the galaxy, no surprise there, but we could see the 17.5 mag star that sits on the NE edge of the spiral. 

Observer: Roger Ivester (North Carolina)

The following pencil sketch was made using a 10-inch f/4.5 EQ Newtonian with an 11mm eyepiece, apparent field of 82º. Magnification: 104x and field-of-view of 0.79º which was a perfect framing for the asterism.

As a follow-up on the four galaxies in and about Webb’s Wreath, they were partially featured in Stephen O’Meara’s column in the May issue of Sky & Telescope (p. 12).  Keith’s and Larry Mitchell’s earlier observations of PGC 61289 and PGC 1768412 with Keith’s 25″ were discussed in the article.  O’Meara also mentioned the two fainter galaxies within the Wreath itself “most likely require even larger apertures to detect.”  One of these is PGC 1772537, an E- or S0-type, and the other is a spiral not catalogued in LEDA (PGC).

The following is a Cloudy Nights post by expert big scope “visual” observer, Steve Gottlieb

Larry Mitchell also included Webb’s Wreath and its galaxies in the Texas Star Party’s “Advanced Observing” list, just a week ago.  When Larry came over last Thursday to observe on Jimi Lowrey’s 48″ f/4.0, he requested to look at Webb’s Wreath again to search for the two dim galaxies within the Wreath.  Also observing with Jimi and I were Stephen O’Meara, Brent Archinal (from Lowell Observatory), and Doug McCormick (from Houston).

When we observed these galaxies at the end of the observing session, the background sky was jet black in the eyepiece (excellent contrast) and the stars pinpoint at 610x. The unnamed face-on spiral (NED lists the infrared designation WISEA J180231.28+262057.6) was immediately seen as a faint, very small glow, perhaps 10″ in diameter.  Although it was fairly easy to see, the visibility may have been enhanced by a faint star at the NE edge.

PGC or LEDA 1772537 was easy to pinpoint, as it lies at the midpoint of a mag 10.8 star 40″ SW and a similar star 40″ NE (two of the main stars in the Wreath).  At 610x it was very faint and quite small, perhaps 5″ diameter, but definitely non-stellar. I may have just been seeing the core region of this galaxy.  Checking later, I noticed that HyperLeda lists a B magnitude of 17.93 ± 0.50 and NED list a single redshift at z = 0.192.

So, there’s two things interesting about LEDA 1772537.  It lies precisely along the Wreath, and if the redshift is accurate, the light of this E or S0-type galaxy has been traveling for 2.4 billion years! (using H₀ = 70).  

Steve Gottlieb

After being a serious “visual” observer for ~40 years and having had more than 12 telescopes, I’ve come to the conclusion:  A 6-inch f/6 Newtonian just might just be the perfect amateur telescope. It offers enough aperture to see hundreds and hundreds of deep-sky objects and with reasonable portability. The 6-inch also offers more than twice the light gathering capability of a 4-inch refractor, and at signitifcantly less cost.

I had a 6-inch Criterion RV-6 almost 50 years ago, but life got busy and sold it. However, I have always regretted selling that telescope. So, in 2018, I bought another 6-inch, but this time with an f/6 focal ratio. The Criterion RV-6 was an f/8. I like the f/6 much better as the optical tube is not as long, and the shorter focal length allows for lower magnifications and wider fields of view.

I also have a 4.5-inch f/8 Newtonian that was given to me last year (March 2025) by a friend. I like this telescope as when using, it reminds me of my 4.25-inch f/10 EQ Edmund reflector. This was my first “very own” telescope, which opened the world of (serious) amateur astronomy to me in the spring of 1977. And I’ll never forget that spring night in 1977 when I first saw galaxies M81 and 82 with this telescope. My notes read: “In my mind, I was now a real amateur astronomer.”

For use with a more portable and transportable mount I use a Vixen GP, which is lightweight, but very sturdy.

Observer’s Challenge Reports For The Years 2009-2024: All 185 Monthly Reports Are Included For Future Reference Use.

Photographs From Days Past Of Ivester Family And Events: Volume One

Photos by Kerri Adams: I reviewed all of the photo files and selected as best as I could, only a few as following that might be interesting to all. Roger Ivester

Following photo: Velus Ivester (August 7th 1877-October 28, 1966) and wife Rebecca (Mar. 27, 1891 – Oct. 6, 1965)

First wife: Zula Edwards Ivester (Dec. 24, 1879 – Nov. 14, 1919)

Veterinarian in the buggy, who Carl Ivester interned with to become a practicing Veterinarian.

Twins (?) ….one of which would train Carl or mentor, to become a Veterinarian. Carl did a “multi-years” apprenticeship with one of these men.

F.V. Ivester and unknown person. The beginning of a store that would serve the Upper Cleveland area for many years.

Velus trading two older AC tractors for two new CA Allis-Chalmers Tractors. (Circa ~1954/1955). All of my older brothers were in this photograph, sitting on the tractors. I’ve heard this photo was in the Shelby Star.

(Note: Text and identifications precede the photographs in all the following)

F.V. Ivester and wife Cleo: The store in later days (as shown) became more than a store, but a meeting place for everyone in the local area. Any local news happening? This was the place to find out.

There was always a Shelby Star available in the store for anyone to read. The store was heated by a large coal burning heater with the coal pile very close outside.

On cold wintry days with snow or ice…seems that almost everyone would want to go to the store for serious discussions, such as, how bad the weather was. It was very important to get the thoughts from others. 

However, the real reason: Everyone just wanted to get out and drive in the snow or ice. Snow and ice always seemed to bring out the kids in most all adults…all the while, pretending they hated it.

Photo 2:

Photo 3: Possibly Ruth Adams as a child? Unknown person holding her. The smaller building was where wheat and grain was stored. The building to the right was an addition to the “old log barn.”

More about the building, and other buildings and barn later…

Photo 4: (Again, photos follow the text)

Reunion event at Kistler’s during Christmas 1955, in front of what was then known as “The Hut.” The Hut was were so many events happened when I was a kid growing up. The MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) met…seems it was on Thursday nights. And we would have a big Halloween event each and every year in the hut!

Kistler’s Church and the hut: Glenn Johnson who played Santa Claus on the night of our yearly Christmas plays. I thought he was the real Santa Claus, however, as I grew older, it occurred to me it was Glenn!

I’ve always said: “When you find out there is no Santa Claus, life is never the same…and not for the good.”

The Christmas play was in the church sanctuary in an empty corner, which now has a pew, or maybe the piano. Normally F.V. would remove his pickup wooden railings to use for the Nativity scene. He would also supply a few bales of hay for the manger area. We would begin practicing, normally a week or so after Thanksgiving.

69 years later: The following photo was made Sunday August 4th 2024, inside “The Hut” but now called the Fellowship Hall.

All of the following photographs and information are from the early to mid-90’s:

Photo 5: Ruth Adams and family

Photo 6: Donnie and Linda Ivester

Photo 7: Ruth Adams and family

Photo 8: Richard and Mary Ivester

Photo 9: Shelley and Boyd Ivester and Judy

Photo 10: Ronny, Pam, and Jason Ivester

11: Frances and Ruth Ivester

12: Gloria and Steve Ivester

13. Debbie and Roger Ivester

14. Carolyn and Jim Ivester with family

15. Michael Mauney and daughters

16. Skeet and Frances Ivester: (Remember: Photos follow text)

Skeet was always the best dressed man at Kistler’s Church.

17. Jerry and Boyd Ivester

18. Carl and Tyner Ivester (and others who I don’t know)

19. Janet and daughter

20. Gail Ivester and (?)

21. Boyd Ivester, Ruth Adams and Danny Mauney

22. I think we know all who are pictured below. Too many names to list.

23. Danny and Suzette Mauney and daughter.

24. Glenda and Chris with son Christoper, and also Nancy Daves.

Jim Mullaney is coauthor with Wallace McCall of “The Finest Deep-Sky Objects” (Sky Publishing) and “The Cambridge Double Star Atlas” and also the “Cambridge Atlas of Herschel Objects” which were both coauthored with celestial cartographer Wil Tirion.  Jim’s last two books are “Celestial Harvest” (Dover) and “Celebrating The Universe” (Hay House).

Articles by James Mullaney as following:

Don’t Forget The Finder! Date: June 21st 2024

The most embarrassing moment in my more than 60 years as an amateur and professional astronomer came one morning in the early 70s.  As the tour guide at Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Observatory, I was speaking to a group of 60 schoolchildren in the dome of the famed 13-inch Fitz-Clark refractor. 

My topic solar safety: how dangerous the Sun is to look at without a proper filter, whether it be with the naked-eye and especially with binoculars or a telescope.  I was near the top of the observing ladder projecting the Sun’s image onto a screen across the room.  As I was speaking, a little boy kept calling out my name:  “Mr. Mullaney, Mr. Mullaney, Mr. Mullaney.”  He was definitely running my spiel and finally in frustration I shouted down the ladder at him WHAT!  He said “Mr. Mullaney, your jacket is on fire!”  Sure enough, I hadn’t capped the 4-inch finder and it focused the Sun right onto my jacket – which was now smoldering. 

The Finest Deep-Sky Objects DSO at Mount Palomar:

Thirty-three years ago, my wife and  I were privileged while on our honeymoon to be given a behind-the-scenes private tour of the Palomar Observatory facility.  In the control room for the 200-inch Hale reflector was a dogged-eared copy of the Sky & Telescope reprint of  “The Finest Deep-Sky Objects” by Wally McCall and myself.  The story-line is that no one ever looks through the 200-inch except for research purposes since time is very valuable on the scope.  But apparently someone – maybe several someones –  had been using our showpiece list to look at between “takes.” 

Can you imagine seeing the Orion Nebula, the Hercules Cluster, or the Sombrero Galaxy at the prime focus of this huge Big Eye?  (BTW – while on the floor of this mammoth instrument I actually hugged part of the mounting!)

Sir William Herschel used a magnification of 6,000x !

Sir William Herschel, the greatest observer and telescope-maker in history. He made and used the largest telescopes in existence up to his famed “40 foot” (48-inch aperture) but his favorite was his “7-foot” (6.2-inch aperture) speculum-metal mirror with which he discovered Uranus. 

While he used relatively wide fields (for that time period) and low powers (generally 400X or less) for his legendary sweeps of the heavens. However, for the Moon, planets and double stars…the unheard of magnifications of over 6,000 times were sometimes employed ! 

Despite his fame, many “or most” doubted his claims regarding the magnifications he sometimes used.  W.H. Stevenson actually measured 48…yes 48 of Herschel’s eyepieces and found that indeed his claims were valid. 

Focal lengths as short as 0.2-inches to just over 0.01-inch were found!  How Herschel ever managed to make them is somewhat of a mystery.  (He actually used 6,450x once on Vega and also again on Gamma Leonis.)

No Star Diagonal?  Ouch!

With the exception of reflectors, most of the classic observers of the past used refracting telescopes. I really don’t know when star diagonals first appeared, but all of the early observers were viewing “straight through” their scopes. 

For low declinations this wasn’t so much an issue but for objects high in the sky, or overhead, it was a neck and back breaker.  And this didn’t just apply to amateur observers, but professionals alike.

E.E. Barnard (Yerkes 40-inch), Aiken (Lick 36-inch) and Lowell (24-inch) all worked without diagonals.  In the more than 40 years I used the superb 13-inch Fitz-Clark refractor (see my the great lensnapping piece below) at Allegheny Observatory I never used one.

One of the problems is the mirror image views, of standard star diagonals, which plays havoc for measuring double star position angles among other issues. There are now, of course, correct image, known as “Amici Prism Diagonals” but early observers didn’t have them.

The most shocking example came to me when I realized that my dear friend and one of the greatest observers of all time, Leslie Peltier, never used a diagonal to make his more than 120,000 variable star estimates for the AAVSO. He used his 2-inch spyglass, 4-inch Mogey refractor, 6-inch comet seeker or his 12-inch Clark refractor. However, Peltier used only the 4-inch and 6-inch scopes for comet seeking, as well as variables.

A Mystery Surrounding NGC 6826 Better Known as: “THE BLINKING PLANETARY“

Wally McCall and I first called attention to the strange behavior of the planetary nebula NGC 6826 in Cygnus in a letter to “Sky & Telescope Magazine” and was featured in the August 1963 issue. 

As seen in the 13-inch Fitz-Clark refractor at Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Observatory, it has a bright central star surrounded by an obvious nebula.  Staring directly at the star itself, the nebula disappears – but changing to averted vision the nebula reappears nearly drowning out the central star itself!  Alternating between direct and averted vision results in a striking blinking effect, so we named this object the “Blinking Planetary.”  We’ve seen this effect in scopes as small as a 2.4-inch refractor and as large as a 30-inch refractor.  A few other planetaries exhibit this behavior, but none anywhere to the degree as this one.

Now here’s the mystery: 

My idol Sir William Herschel (who discovered this object), nor his son Sir John nor any of the early classic observers like Smyth or Webb apparently ever noticed the blinking.  Has something changed in the nebula itself to shift its emission lines into a part of the spectrum where the eye is most sensitive since its discovery? Jim Mullaney

MAKING THE PHOTON CONNECTION

Roger, I feel sure that most of your readers are aware that the photons which we see by have a strange dualistic nature…they are both waves and particles.  This means that when you observe a celestial wonder such as those Roger writes about on this site with your telescope, you are getting photons within your eye.  

Think about it…particles that were once inside of the galaxy you are viewing have traveled across the vastness of space and time and ended their immense journey on the retina of your eye.  You are in direct physical contact with what you are looking at! 

As the poet Sarah Teasdale said:  “I know that I am privileged to be witness of such majesty.”

Stargazing Simplified: What to See in the Night Sky

The “Great Lensnapping”

Roger, I don’t know how many of your readers have heard of the “Great Lensnapping” that happened at the original Allegheny Observatory in Pittsburgh in the late 1800s.  

My beloved 13-inch Fitz-Clark had it’s objective lens stolen and held for ransom.  At the time, it was the third largest in the world!  (Now it’s the third largest in the current Observatory.)   

Samuel Pierpont Langley was director at the time and refused to pay anything, as no telescope in the country would then be safe from theft.  He finally met the thief at a hotel in a Pittsburgh suburb – the thief agreed to return it if Langley didn’t prosecute.  He subsequently found it in a waste basket at that very hotel.  

The lens was pretty well scratched up and Langley sent it to Alvin Clark for refinishing.  Thus the dual name Fitz-Clark.  As I’ve stated before, it is without question the finest visual telescope I’ve ever seen or used bar none!

To read more and see a photo of the famous 13-inch Fitz-Clark refractor, see the following link:

https://sites.pitt.edu/~aobsvtry/fitzclark.html

This is the telescope that Wally McCall and I used for our visual sky survey in the mid-60’s that resulted in the Sky & Telescope series The Finest Deep-Sky Objects and its eventual Sky Publishing reprint that went through three printings.  My personal total eyepiece time logged using this amazing instrument over many years was some 10,000 hours!   It clearly showed markings on several of the Galilean satellites and spiral structure within Jupiter’s Great Red Spot.  One of the “discoveries” we made using the 13-inch was the “Blinking Planetary” in Cygnus (NGC 6826) which has become a favorite showpiece at star parties and public viewing sessions. 

“The Finest Deep-Sky Objects by James Mullaney and Wallace McCall”

“On Public Nights at Allegheny Observatory, when the dome of the 13-inch refractor is crowded with visitors, all anxious to look at everything in the sky, a handy finding list of impressive objects is invaluable.”

These words prefaced our short list of celestial showpieces published in the December, 1962, issue of “Sky and Telescope”.  We now present an expanded version, intended as a roster of the finest star clusters, nebulae, and other deep-sky objects, for the convenience of amateur astronomers with telescopes of all sizes.  It is the result of our five-year visual survey of the heavens north of –40º declination.

Supplemental and change to an original post from about three years ago: July 7th 2024:

A few nights ago (July 2nd) while observing some asterisms, star images were ragged and would not properly come to focus. It was exhibiting the classic problems of pinched optics. The telescope had worked fine over the years, but I’d never taken the mirror out of the tube. However, on this night when the problems began, it was in the mid-80’s. Really hot!

So, the next day I removed the mirror and discovered that the clips were indeed tight. After a mirror wash, I reinstalled with care.

Using the corner of a sheet of notebook paper as a gauge:

I used a sheet of notebook paper to carefully slide between the mirror clips and the mirror, before lightly tightening the dual screws on each of the clips. This insures that the mirror has room allowance for expansion with changes in temperature, especially on hot summer nights.

Then using a Cheshire collimator and a follow-up using an artificial star (Christmas ball about 100 feet out in the backyard) and a bright sun. Everything was ready for another night sky observing session.

Defocusing a star both inside and outside of focus, presented almost identical and very smooth rings. A good mirror, especially for a mass-produced telescope. This OTA was made in Taiwan, which is producing some really good products these days.

Taiwan has taken over the very “high-end carbon fiber” bicycle market. And I’ve been told by some race engine builders, Taiwan has some fine and very modern CNC metal working machinery…possibly some of the best in the world. A $50,000 race engine cannot use substandard parts, and many race engine parts now come from Taiwan.

Now back to my 6-inch Newtonian:

I’ve always liked Newtonian’s because of their simplicity, and most amateurs will agree that a “good” 6-inch can be a very versatile instrument. Good for both visual (and with an f/4 focal ratio) excellent for imaging.

With the extra purchase of a nice quality 8 x 50 finder and stalk, a 13-inch Vixen narrow-rail dovetail to allow better balance of the telescope, and an extra ~10 pound “Vixen brand “counterweight.

An essential product for all Newtonian’s: A set of “Bob’s Knobs” for adjusting the secondary mirror. I’ve been pleased with this telescope.

The sky was very stable in the very morning hours, as I was anxious to see how the telescope who perform. My first test was the double-double as it was in good position. Very nice! I then tested with a few other stars, using both very high magnification and then observing some asterisms with low magnification. All looked good.

What a difference using the corner of a notebook paper edge under the clips, and then lightly tightening the mirror screws made. So, I took the telescope and mount back into the house with a smile, and ready for my first cup of coffee. Then it was time for an early morning bicycle ride. Life is good! 🙂

My second telescope in the late 70’s was a Criterion RV-6, which was really a step up from my 4.25-inch Edmund EQ Newtonian. Life got busy and I sold the RV-6 and then took a five year hiatus, or maybe more from amateur astronomy.

Becoming a “very serious student” of amateur astronomy with a 10-inch f/4.5 EQ reflector in February 1992. The 10-inch became my most used telescope with about 2,500 hours at the eyepiece as of 2024. Then in 1997 purchasing a 102mm refractor, and a 6-inch f/6 Newtonian in January of 2017. Then an 80mm f/5 refractor as a birthday gift from my youngest son.

When I first became interested in amateur astronomy during the late 60’s and 70’s, the 6-inch reflector was definitely the most popular telescope for the backyard observer.  

I really missed having a 6-inch Newtonian, especially for certain deep-sky objects, and portability. So, I saw an advertisement for the 6-inch f/6 Newtonian OTA and bought it. I’m glad I did as it performs well, especially for objects requiring low magnification and wide-field views. And this telescope allows for portability and ease of set-up, as compared to my 10-inch solid tube Newtonian, especially on those nights when time is limited.

The optical tube assembly: Purchased from OPT (Ocean Pacific Telescope)

6-inch OTA, f/6 with a 2-inch Crawford style focuser, a 6 x 30 finder (I replaced with an 8 x 50) and it also included tube rings, designed for a narrow-Vixen style dovetail.  An excellent quality telescope in all aspects.

The original dovetail was too short for proper balancing, but I found a unique way to utilize. I flipped it over or upside down which made for a nice carrying handle and for setting up on the mount.

A nice combination as following with a GoTo mount, and with an 80 mm f/5 refractor piggybacked.

 

If you’ve never attempted this faint galaxy cluster, give it a try this October or November. I’ve never been able to see this small group of galaxies from my suburban backyard, with a 10-inch Newtonian.

I’ve seen this galaxy group with a 14.5-inch from a dark-site, but unfortunately without observing notes or a pencil sketch. Unfortunately, on that night it was freezing cold with a 15 mph wind, and my hands were freezing!

Image credit: Mario Motta using a 32-inch telescope:

One of the best articles I’ve ever read concerning the calculation of “everything” involving telescope eyepieces….as following:

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-equipment/choosing-your-telescopes-magnification/

I was fortunate to meet Al Nagler a few years ago at the Southern Star Astronomy Convention in Little Switzerland, North Carolina.

Al gave a great presentation concerning eyepiece designs and calculations, based in-part on the above link.

The story:

There was a cancellation by a scheduled Southern Star participant, the last minute. I knew Sue French and Alan were at NEAF. So I called Sue via telephone, asking if Al Nagler was there, and if so would he be interested in giving a presentation for the convention.

Sue called back and said Al was “indeed” interested. I got things worked out with the Charlotte Amateurs and plane tickets for both Al and his wife…and the rest is history.

      I became acquainted with Gus Johnson in about 2009 and as time has passed, we became good friends.  Shortly afterwards, he became a regular contributor to the Observer’s Challenge report.  

     Gus has never used a computer, so it has always been necessary for me to call him via telephone, to receive his observation notes each month.   However, this has never been a problem for me, as I have always enjoyed our conversations over the years.   

     In 2018, Gus sent me his autobiography that he had typed himself.  Yes, Gus still uses a typewriter.  It was my plan to turn his “typewritten” story into a Word document, and then post on my blog site.  However, I could never seem to get started.  So in November 2019, I put out an email, asking if anyone would be interested in helping me tell the story of Gus Johnson “in his own words”.

       A few weeks passed, and I received an email from Nina Craven of Massachusetts.  Nina offered to convert the typewritten notes by Gus into a Word document. And she did a fabulous job!  Both of us decided that his story should indeed be in his own words.  Thank you Nina for your work!    

     Many of you may not know who Gus Johnson is, or his accomplishments and contribution to the world of astronomy.    Roger Ivester 

The following information is from wikipedia:  

SN 1979C was a supernova about 50 million light-years away in Messier 100, a spiral galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices. The Type II supernovawas discovered April 19, 1979 by Gus Johnson, a school teacher and amateur astronomer.^[2] This type of supernova is known as a core collapse and is the result of the internal collapse and violent explosion of a large star. A star must have at least 9 times the mass of the Sun in order to undergo this type of collapse.^[3] The star that resulted in this supernova was estimated to be in the range of 20 solar masses.^[1]

On November 15, 2010 NASA announced that evidence of a black hole had been detected as a remnant of the supernova explosion. Scientists led by Dr. Dan Patnaude from the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, MA evaluated data gathered between 1995 and 2007 from several space based observatories. NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission, as well as the European Space Agency‘s XMM-Newton, and Germany’s ROSAT all participated in the examination.^[4]

The researchers observed a steady source of X-rays and determined that it was likely that this was material being fed into the object either from the supernova or a binary companion. However, an alternative explanation would be that the X-ray emissions could be from the pulsar wind nebula from a rapidly spinning pulsar, similar to the one in the center of the Crab Nebula.^[4] These two ideas account for several types of known X-ray sources. In the case of black holes the material that falls into the black hole emits the X-rays and not the black hole itself. Gas is heated by the fall into the strong gravitational field.

SN 1979C has also been studied in the radio frequency spectrum. A light curve study was performed between 1985 and 1990 using the Very Large Array radio telescope in New Mexico.^[5]

More information from Chandra:  

https://chandra.harvard.edu/chronicle/0410/sn1979c/

A BRIEF “ASTROBIOGRAPHY” OF GUS E. JOHNSON

     In late 1938 I was born, and lived in Vanergrift, Pennsylvania, which is short, about 40 miles north-east of Pittsburgh.  We lived on the bluff overlooking the Kiski River and the Pennsylvania Railroad;  trains soon became a big interest of mine that continues to the present, especially steam-powered trains.

     From I know not where I acquired an interest in classical music, which also is still a big interest after 68 years.  I learned to play violin and organ, though not very well.

     One clear starry night I recall, when living on that bluff, but to no avail, as my parents knew next to nothing about stars (or music).  The news media reported a bright comet, but I didn’t see it.  It scared me.  I wasn’t keeping notes then so that comet’s name is gone from me.

     In 8th grade, at the Lincoln School in Vandergrift, I chanced upon an article in the classroom encyclopedia, about Mars, with an artist’s version of what Mars looked like as seen from one of its moons.  I think that is what sparked my interest in astronomy.  I read many books on the subject, well, not really many since school libraries had few on astronomy.  Somehow I learned of “Sky and Telescope” magazine.  I still have my first issue , for January 1954, and nearly every issue since then.  Some 1200 issues take a lot of space, and other magazines I have saved in great numbers.  My house is badly a-clutter! 

     Around 1953 I got my first telescope, a hand-held 8 x 30 spyglass.  The optics were good, but hand-held, it was of little use astronomically.  About 1954 I was in high school, where I found that I knew more about astronomy than my general science teacher (9th grade).  She loaned me a larger telescope, of 15x to 40x, but hand-held.  Soon I bought a similar telescope and tried to mount it using a very flimsy music stand, so by the time vibrations died down the object under observation often had drifted out of the field, so I tried some other contrived mounts.  I got a few observations with it like of Venus and Mizar and the moon.  Saturn’s rings were visible, though tiny.

     My father passed away in 1951, and then my mother in 1961.  In 1954 she remarried and we then moved to Castle Shannon, a suburb of Pittsburgh.  I attended a high school in Mt. Lebanon, about 2 miles away, where there was a pretty fair library and more astronomy books.  The librarian acquainted me with the autobiography of John A. Brashear, which I have read numerous times, he being an excellent telescope builder and astronomer at Allegheny Observatory.  His book is a joy to read.  He, as a beginner who worked at a steel mill, had built himself a 5-in. refractor and a 12-in. f/10 reflector.  

     I was inspired to get a real astronomical telescope, and seeing an ad in “Sky and Telescope” I got a 3 ½ in. Skyscope, base priced at $30.  It had ¼ wave optics, and that was adequate to give fairly good views, at 35x and 60x.  A 2.4-in. f/15 Unitron refractor followed, then a Cave 6- in. f/7.8 Newtonian, which really did wonderfully on deep sky and high resolution planetary observing.  Suburban skies were light polluted but sometimes I could use high powers.  My stepfather had a cabin in the woods at Deep Creek Lake, in western Maryland, where skies were fairly dark.  Many trees obstructed the horizons, except to the north and northeast.

     My father’s name was Gus E. Johnson like myself.  My mother’s was Maryon.  My stepfather was Floyd Crouch; he passed away in 1957, as I wrote, my mother passed away in 1961, after which I moved from the Pittsburgh suburb to Deep Creek Lake.  I now have an 8-in. f/6 Orion reflector and a very handy 4 ¼-in. f/7 reflector from Three B Optics, from Mars, PA (They advertised “Mirrors from Mars”) and their optics were very good.  Alas, as with Cave, no longer in business.  Three B’s head optician was Bill Herdman.

     With so many surrounding trees I didn’t get very many observations.  One memorable observation was made, perhaps my only sighting of M51’s spiral arms was from that home.  I remember once carrying (no vehicle) my 55 lb. 6-in. at least a quarter mile so I could see into Scorpius.  I’d get set up on the road then a car would come with its bright lights and I’d have to move the telescope. I think I made that ordeal only once.  When I observe I like to have a writing desk beside the telescope, and along that road I couldn’t have that.

     In around 1973 I got married.  The house was too small so we moved around 24 miles away to Aurora, W.VA. to a sort of  “farmette”, a couple acres, but with good sky access.  My wife didn’t like me out observing, much discord, and a divorce came, a costly one; then I couldn’t afford a good house, so I got this rather dumpy one back near Deep Creek Lake.  It has some NW sky then a fairly low horizon NE through SW.  I can’t quite see Omega Centauri, but just up over the hill it can be seem dimly.  Gamma Velorum can be resolved from that site too, with a 40mm Unitron finder at 12x.  From my home site I can reach Theta Eridani, resolving with a 2.4-in. at 21x.  Those three are my most southern objects.

     More regular observing came with my joining the American Association of Variable Star Observers (the AAVSO).  Besides observing long period variables, like Mira, I observed some galaxies, looking for supernovae, though probably not too seriously at first.  On April 18, 1979 I invited the pastor of my church to join me observing, for he had an interest in astronomy.  I took him on a “tour” of the Coma-Virgo Galaxy Cluster with my 8-in. and Leland Copeland’s “Coma-Virgo Land” chart from the Feb. 1955 “Sky & Telescope”.  The pastor’s name is David Long, now a missionary in Botswana.  Anyway, when we looked at M100 (NGC 4321) I noticed a little star, about mag.11 near the galaxy’s edge.  I kept it in mind and later checked a Palomar photo and the star was not there so I phoned the AAVSO and they put out an alert.  By the next day, April 19,1979 it was confirmed, by L. Rosino of Asiago Astrophysical Observatory and R. Kirschner, of the University of Michigan, reported that McGraw-Hill Observatory got its spectrum.

     It was reported to be the third time ever that a supernova was discovered by telescope direct vision, rather than photographically.  The SN was no longer visible by 1980, but I read that it was by infra-red and/or radio telescopes.  I thank GOD for my noticing the SN.  Between mag. 10 and 11 are around a half million stars, and I couldn’t have memorized more than a “handful”. 

     At the autumn meeting of the AAVSO I was awarded a handsome plaque.  Some notable observers were also at that meeting: Canadian astronomers Rolf Meier, discoverer of numerous comets, and Warren Morrison, who discovered Nova Cygni with only a 2.4-in. refractor (probably a Unitron). Decades passed and I watched more galaxies just in case. 

     One interesting observation was made on Feb. 19, 1983.  I was looking for Omicron 2 Eridani (40 ERI) and where I expected to find what normally looks like a wide unequal pair, I saw a nearly equal double aligned apx. E-W, puzzling me. I didn’t become aware of what I had until too late.  The dim star is a pair of white and red dwarf stars, the latter occasionally erupting; it was flaring!  And I didn’t make any timings!

     In autumn of 2010 the Harvard-Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory scientists, using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory satellite discovered x-rays coming from the site of my supernova, which suggested that the SN had left a black hole behind. 

     All of a sudden I was getting calls from newspapers and the HSAO scientists, and a television interview was made.  The “Washington Post” newspaper wrote “…Gus Johnson talks about his black hole discovery 31 years ago.”  NOT quite correct; I found the supernova but NOT the black hole.  Dated Nov. 29, 2010.

     I have done little observing lately, due to my observing eye having a cataract, which I hope to have fixed this spring 2018.

     Like most amateurs I had “aperture fever” but am getting over it.  For over 60 years I wanted a 12-in. telescope, but feel now that it would be too heavy to lug around as long as I live here, where light pollution is increasing.  A good small telescope on a steady mount can give many wonderful evenings.  Just to get a rare clear night is a blessing.  My 4¼-in. at 38x can see mag. 12 stars and even my short 2.4-in. at 25x can see mag. 11.3 (and once reached mag. 13.0 at 86x).  And there are about 1,000 galaxies in range of my 8-in.

     Big automated observatories are putting visual observers “out of business”, yet I feel there are small opportunities for us to find a new nova or maybe even a comet.  Don’t give up.  It is fun trying.       

Gus Johnson

March 7, 2018