September Meeting

A Half Century of Astronomical Spectacles: My Personal Top-10 List

Richard Sanderson will present, “A Half Century of Astronomical Spectacles: My Personal Top-10 List,” a talk that was inspired by the recent 50th anniversary of his first eclipse. Rich reviewed dozens of astronomical events he has witnessed over the past 50 years and narrowed them down to his ten favorite. They include eclipses, transits, great comets, fireballs and more, and are illustrated by his own astronomical photographs.

Rich recently retired from a 19-year tenure as Curator of Physical Science at the Springfield Science Museum in Massachusetts, where he managed Museum’s observatory and Seymour Planetarium. Specializing in astronomy education and historical astronomy, he wrote a newspaper astronomy column for many years and has been published in various astronomy magazines and journals. Together with Phil Harrington, he co-authored the 2006 book, “Illustrated Timeline of the Universe.” Rich has been a member of the Springfield Stars Club since 1973.