The Great New England Bolide of 2026
You may have heard, perhaps even felt, or saw social channels light up with questions and speculation, or received a text from […]
Seagrave Observatory Night: May 16, 2026
I arrived at Seagrave Observatory during twilight, Venus and Jupiter had already dipped behind the trees to the west-northwest, and were out […]
Astronomy Night at River Bend: May 2026
Friday, May 1, 2026Weather: Clear, 50°, calm windParticipants: Francine Jackson, Jim HendricksonAttendees: 4Observed: Venus, Aldebaran, Sirius, Jupiter, MoonPhotos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCSWozReport by Jim Hendrickson […]
May 2026 President’s Message
Dear Members, I am honored to address you for the first time as the 62nd President of our organization. I hope to follow in […]
Welcome to the Artemis Generation
Do you remember when humans flew to the Moon? As a lifelong astronomy and space enthusiast in my early 50s, I didn’t […]
Starry, Starry Nite at Chase Farm: April 2026
Weather: Mostly clear, 45°, wind NEParticipants: Francine Jackson, Bob Janus, Jim Hendrickson, John KocurAttendees: 22Observed: Moon, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, M45Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCRYY4Reports by […]
Seagrave Observatory Night 2026 Season Opener
Weather: Clear, 45° calmParticipants: Bob Janus, Jim Hendrickson, Francine Jackson, Jay Baccala, Mike Kerr, John KocurAttendees: 12Observed: Moon, Mars, M44, M64, M104, […]
Celebrating Goddard’s First Launch Centennial in Worcester
One of the most important, but often forgotten, persons in history is Robert Goddard, whose time and incredible patience led to his […]
Skylights: March 2026
The arrival of spring brings some notable changes to our nights. During March, we will see rapidly decreasing darkness, as the hours […]
Why Space Will Freak You Out – The Scariest, Strangest Parts of the Universe
By Kimberly Arcand and Megan Watzke, with illustrations by Robert Ball, Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Kids, 2026, ISBN 978-1-4642-2709-7, Softbound, $12.99, US If you’ve […]
Bill Weber: 1954-2025
With sadness, I report the passing of Skyscrapers member Bill Weber. I spoke with his wife, Mary, this afternoon and she provided […]
Book Review: The Wild Dark: Finding the Night Sky in the Age of Light
The Wild Dark: Finding the Night Sky in the Age of Light by Craig Childs, Salt Lake City: Torrey House Press, 2025, […]
Book Review: Night Magic
Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark by Leigh Ann Henion, New York: Algonquin Books of Chapel […]
Introducing Asteroid 15022 Francinejackson
On February 24, 2025, the International Astronomical Union Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature (WGSBN) recognized Francine Jackson’s contributions to astronomy education […]
In Loving Memory of David A Huestis (1953-2024)
It is with sadness that I write this in memory of my friend, traveling companion, confidant, and, eventually, my brother, David A […]
David Huestis: A Remembrance
On October 27, 1985, while browsing through the Sunday Providence Journal newspaper I noticed an article entitled: Halley’s Comet Coming at You. […]
Remembering Dave Huestis
by Joyce Towne, Planetarium Consultant & Francine Jackson It’s always difficult to write about a person known for many years, and Dave […]
Frank Evans Seagrave: A Timeline of His Life & Contributions in Historical Context: 1900 – 1910
Frank Evans Seagrave continued his astronomical endeavors as the beginning of the 20th century approached. Throughout the next 34 years his prolific […]
Frank Evans Seagrave: A Timeline of His Life & Contributions in Historical Context: 1860 – 1899
The Early Years : 1860 – 1874 Frank Evans Seagrave was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on March 29, 1860, son of […]
I Remember Pat Armitage
Pat Armitage was a force in Skyscrapers for many years. My first meeting with her was at a total solar eclipse site […]
Book Review: Losing the Sky
Losing the Sky by Andy Lawrence, Edinburgh: Photon Productions, 2021, ISBN 978-1-8383997-2-6, softbound, $7.38 U.S. When I first received this book, I thought it […]
In Memory of Althea Doodson
Sadly, I must report the loss of one of our newer members. Althea Doodson passed away on October 19; she was 89. […]
Remembering Dave Rose
Dear Friends, On Monday Oct 10th Dave Rose passed away after a long battle with cancer. He chose not to share his […]
Remembering Dave Hurdis
As many of you know, on May 31, 2022, Skyscrapers, Inc. lost a dear member, David A. Hurdis. Dave was born in […]
Frank Evans Seagrave: A Timeline of His Life & Contributions in Historical Context
Preface Over the years I have realized that while many folks may know about historical events in general, they are clueless as […]
In Memory of Michael Ambrose
To all Skyscrapers, I am deeply saddened to have learned of the sudden passing of our member, Michael Ambrose. Michael is the […]
Memories of Frank Dubeau
I was shocked to learn about Frank Dubeau’s passing last week. Frank was a long time Skyscraper. I think he joined about […]
Frank Dubeau
Francis I. “Frank” Dubeau 76, of Blackstone, MA, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, April 16, 2020 at home. He was the husband of […]
William S. Penhallow: 1933 – 2020
A major force in astronomy in Rhode Island has left us: William Scott “Bill” Penhallow died January 15, 2020, at age 86. […]
In Memory: Kent Cameron 1938-2017
One of our most avid members, Kent Cameron, passed on Thursday, November 30th. Well-known as one of the first to volunteer for […]
In Memory: Roger Menard and Minka Wescott
It’s very hard to lose a friend, but to become aware of two in one day is very difficult. This week the […]
Plans for Visual Solar Spectroscope
Components A. Opening to optical box B. Entrance slit made of razor blades C. Baffles to reduce scattering D. Achromat focused on […]
In Memory of Walter Dowhyj
It was with great sadness to learn of the recent death of Walter Dowhyj. Although not a presence lately, in past decades […]
Bill Luzader 1949-2014
Dear Members & Friends of Skyscrapers, Inc., It is with deep regret and profound sadness that we inform you of the passing […]
Memories of Bill Luzader from the Planetarium Society
It seemed only right to learn that Bill had died while many of us were at the 2014 International Planetarium Society meeting, […]
Building my Merry-Go-Round Observatory
Having finished building my 17.5-inch Dobsonian in 1982, and having grown weary of schlepping it around by hand truck and two-wheel trailer […]
Observe Delta Cephei
Jim Hendrickson suggested the idea and Steve Siok supported it, so here it is – another challenge for Skyscrapers members to develop […]
John T. Hopf (1920-2011)
John Hopf is shown here with his 6-inch Newtonian telescope, circa 1960. John was an “Amateur Astronomer” in the truest sense – he made […]
The Ships of Sheliak
After two and a half decades of seriously observing the night sky, I have come to the realization that Lyra has become […]
Midland Mall Remembrance
You may be thinking that my editors somehow switched the title of my monthly astronomy column with that of another columnist. What […]
Stella-this and Stella-that
When I was just a little lad I longed to go to Stellafad,That magic spot in far Vermont – the mystic place […]
The “Little Big Dipper”
Decades ago, amateur astronomical equipment was dominated by the humble 60mm long-focus achromat. Some time later, the trend migrated towards large aperture […]
Celebrating the Sesquicentennial Birthday of Frank Evans Seagrave (1860–1934)
Frank Evans Seagrave was born March 29, 1860, son of Mary Greene (Evans) and George Augustus Seagrave. George was a wealthy owner […]
Heaven’s View Observatory
Well, I spent my first year and a half with my new scope setting it up on clear nights either in my […]
Reflections on Three Decades of Variable Star Observing
Sometimes I feel that my thirty years of variable star observing have been about as variable as the variable stars themselves. Next […]
How I became an Amateur Astronomer
Here are a few vivid memories of events from my childhood and youth which guided me along the path of amateur astronomy. […]
Vivian Hartnett Remembered
It is with great sadness I must inform you of the passing of a dear long-time member, Vivian Hartnett. Viv joined Skyscrapers back […]
Some Memorable Nights
The vast majority of my approximately 5,000 variable star observing sessions have been fairly routine affairs with no exceptional features to set […]
Astronomy & Archaeology Intersect in the American Southwest
Rick Lynch at TuzigootFor the last two decades I have visited the Southwest United States on a regular basis for interests in […]
How I became an Amateur Astronomer
I don’t remember becoming an amateur astronomer. In all my time on this planet, I haven’t one memory of not appreciating the […]