2005 AANC AWARDS
&
JOHN DOBSON'S 90th BIRTHDAY

It was an incredible day in San Francisco. It was warm, clear and from the Randall Museum you could see the domes of Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton (just right of my head in the shot below) using binoculars. The AANC hosted John Dobson's 90th birthday at the museum and it was a very special event. Hearing this veteran educator speak with his marvelous sense of humor is always a delight. A great time was had by all. The Mayor declared August 27th John Dobson Day for his tremendous, lifelong, public contribution. John of course remains modest and unaffected by the attention. He said that his claim to fame was based on his inability to make an equatorial mount.  John's insight to teaching astronomy is understood by all who have ever interpreted the night sky. It is heart warming.  Most of the attendees hear and continue to hear his music. Some may get caught up in details but they miss the point of it all. They miss the magic. John has been an inspiration to me as he has been for the hundreds of people attending this event. If you have not heard John speak, do not let this opportunity pass you by. He was in great form yesterday and I am honored to have had the opportunity to have been there.

Vic Maris

Question from the audience: Have you lived in the Bay Area all your life?

JD: Not yet.

Question: What is your favorite Galaxy?

JD: This one

What is your favorite place from which to observe?

JD: The Earth

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Numerous outstanding presentations were made throughout the day. If anyone had any questions about Dobsonian Telescopes, all the answers were here. For more information on the San Francisco Sidewalk astronomers click here.

This year Vic Maris and Stellarvue won the AANC commercial vendor award. Shown here is President Walt Heiges making the presentation to Vic Maris. The award recognized more than Stellarvue's contributions to the world of amateur astronomy. Vic Maris has worked to place several telescopes in State Parks throughout California and helped to resolve disputes between amateur astronomers and government. This has resulted in more people having the opportunity to view the heavens from park environments where the skies are darker and more conducive to deep sky viewing.

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Vic pointed out how open minded the many of the people and organizations making up the AANC must be. "Imagine honoring John Dobson and then giving an award to a high end refractor company. [Grin]. Is that flexibility or what?

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"Yep. That's Lick Observatory all right."

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 Talks were wonderful. John Dillon of the Randall Museum presented a marvelous program on the history of the telescope. John knows a good telescope when he sees one. He owns an SV115!

Everyone loves the raffle. A very able assistant helped Sam of Scope City read off the numbers. When the Nighthawk prize was given we read the winning number slowly. Don't you just hate that?

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Left: While Stellarvue donated the main raffle prize - a Nighthawk - many other prizes worth thousands of dollars were generously donated by good folks of Scope City.

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Mr. Yee wins the Nighthawk!

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