Caroline Herschel , discovered , and Sky & Telescope published a news note about “ Carolyn passing Caroline .” I joined the team in 1989 . In a sense , passing Herschel ’ s record might have been Carolyn ’ s golden moment , but it wasn ’ t . That came later on a cloudy and dull day on March 25 , 1993 . Two nights earlier I had taken two exposures that she was scanning . Suddenly looking up , she announced “ I don ’ t know what I have , but it looks like a squashed comet .” That was the discovery moment of Comet Shoemaker- Levy 9 . Sixteen months later , when the 21 pieces of this fragmented collided with Jupiter , we got to meet President Clinton and chat amiably with Vice President Gore and share the world ’ s excitement over the first collision of a comet and a planet ever witnessed by humans . It was a satisfying peak to all our careers . After Gene died in a car accident in Australia , Carolyn continued observing with Wendee and me for several years . One evening she confided that sometimes she wished she had died with Gene . But she did not and the world was able to enjoy her company for more than 24 more years . The weekly telephone calls began much later . I shall miss the deep friendship I enjoyed with Carolyn Shoemaker , the woman whose energy , intelligence , and terrific sense of humor brightened our lives and made the night sky a happier place . n n n
David H Levy is arguably one of the most enthusiastic and famous amateur astronomers of our time . Although he has never taken a class in astronomy , he has written over three dozen books , has written for three astronomy magazines and has appeared on television programs featured on the Discovery and the Science Channels . Among David ’ s accomplishments are 23 comet discoveries , the most famous being Shoemaker-Levy 9 that collided with Jupiter in 1994 , a few hundred shared asteroid discoveries , an Emmy for the documentary Three Minutes to Impact , five honorary doctorates in Science and a PhD which combines astronomy and English Literature . Currently , he is the editor of the web magazine Sky ’ s Up !, has a monthly column , Skyward , in our local Vail Voice paper . David continues to hunt for comets and asteroids , and lectures worldwide . editorial board members
• Scott Roberts - Founder and President of Explore Scientific - USA
• David Levy - Worldwide famous astronomer , science writer and discoverer of comets and minor planets - USA
• Marcelo de Oliveira Souza - DSc . in Physics ( Cosmology ). University Professor , Educator and Science Communicator .
• Hassane Darhmaoui -PhD in Physics from the University of Alberta , in Canada . Associate Professor at the School of Science and Engineering of the Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane ( AUI ) and Coordinator of the AUI Center for Learning Technologies , founding member and general Secretary of the Arab Astronomical Society ( ArAS ), founder and national representative of the Universe Awareness ( UNAWE ) chapter in Morocco , founder and current supervisor and co-director of Al Akhawayn Observatory . Morocco
• Andrea Sanchez Saldias - Astronomer , Master in Physics and PhD in Biology ( Astrobiology ), all degrees obtained at the Universidad de la República . Conducts research in Exobiology and Paleoclimatology on Earth and Mars , Uruguay
• Suresh Bhattarai - Science educator , astronomy communicator and researcher in Nepal . National Outreach Coordinator ( NOC ) for Nepal for 2018-2021 and chairperson at the Nepal Astronomical Society ( NASO )
• Valentin Grigore - Leading amateur astronomer , specialist in meteor astronomy , astrophotographer , astro-poet , astrojournalist , author , trainer , lighting specialist , dark-sky and ecologist militant , youth worker specialist President of the Romanian Society for Meteors and Astronomy ( SARM ), National Coordinator for Romania of Astronomers Without Borders ( AWB ) and producer of the tv show ” Us and the Sky ” at Columna TV
• Olaynka Fagbemiro - Assistant Chief Scientific Officer with the National Space Research and Development Agency ( NASRDA ), Founder / National Coordinator of Astronomers Without Borders ( AWB ) Nigeria , IAU ’ s National Education Contact ( NAEC ) for Nigeria and the Public Relations and Education Officer for the African Astronomical Society ( AfAS ).
• Cláudio Moisés Paulo - Prof . Assistant in Astrophysics at Eduardo Mondlane University . Doctor of Astrophysics ( University of Witwatersrand , South Africa ), Master of Astrophysics ( University of the western Cape , South Africa ), Honours in Astrophysics and Space Sciences ( University of Cape Town , South Africa ), and Honours in Physics & Meteorology ( Eduardo Mondlane University , Mozambique ).
• Manoj Pai - One of the most active amateur astronomers in India . Astronomy Club , Ahmedabad , India
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