This first entry was published in Astronomy Magazine October 1985. Why I wrote it is explained in the article. Unlike styles, politics,and many other things in 1985 the sky and the home view of it is the same now in 2010. The fascination has lasted us a life time. Astronomy Magazine published my stories as I submitted them, and I thank them... perhaps just a tad late.
A Guide for the "Wet Astronomer"
Here we are! Your new astronomers. A group that grows larger every night. To the world of fantastic amateurs and brilliant professionals comes the new breed...the Wet Ones! we consist mainly of people, who if you say "east" automatically look right. It used to be we only looked up to see if it was going to rain. Now wet and warm in our outdoor hot tubs we have discovered the sky.It's a discovery that is absolutely inevitable. I wish I had known about it before installing the hot tub. Hot tubs are extremely difficult to relocate. Perhaps we can get a warning printed by, oh NASA or somebody, and have it attached to newly manufactured tubs. "WARNING! SITTING IN A HOT TUB AT NIGHT MAY LEAD TO AN ADDICTION TO SKY WATCHING. USE EXTREME CAUTION IN PLACING THIS TUB SO OBSTRUCTIONS TO THE SKY WILL NOT FRUSTRATE YOU."
In any case the hot tub astronomer will become a specialist, concentrating only on that part of the sky yhat passes through his own view from the hot tub. The rest of the heavens will remain in Siberia as far as he is concerned.
People jump into hot tubs for a variety of reasons therapeutic and social. A survey at the local spa shop revealed a host of replies.
Question: "Why are you buying a hot tub?" Answers: "For my Arthritis." " The neighbors have one." "To attract chicks!" "Why not?" In short not one person said, "To become an astronomer." Little do they know the fate that awaits them. Soon they will be checking out the price on better binoculars, only to buy a telescope instead. (I will add at this point that 25 years has brought great change to this field.) Without the proper pre-care in the installation phase they may soon lament. "If only I had known I would put the tub over there"...pointing to an open space now occupied by the dog's house. Here is a short list of things new spa owners need to know. 1. LOCATION. Don't place the tub so you can see it from the house. Put it where you can see the sky from the tub. The dog would probaby like that spot in the shade of the eaves better anyway. 2. LIGHTING: The less the better. 3. HEIGHT: Don't sink the tub into the ground like a swimming pool. You will want the seat to be chair high. This will give you a decent height for looking through your telescope and it is very difficult to have a conversation with those out of the tub if you are talking to their ankles. 4: Decor: The decorators have designed an array of cute little lattice buildings to put over and around the spa. We fell for an adorable gazebo look. Since we got it, we have removed so many slats in order to see out that it looks as if a tornado came though. However if you plan it right you can use it to block undesirable light.
Next read #2 A Star for Everybody (and many more)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Hot Tub Astronomy, 2: A Star for Everybody
This story appeared in Astronomy Magazine, December, 1987. I'll edit it down a bit and add some up-to-date comments regarding the children mentioned. We eventually acquired 14 grandchildren.
Hot Tub Astronomy, A Star for Everybody
Grandchildren give you a chance to do the things you didn't have time for or didn't think of when you were busy raising your own family. When the children of two of our daughters and our son were going to be spending the night with us ... all at the same time while their parents were away, their grandfather wanted to plan a special treat for them.
He decided that if the youngest children took good naps, he was going to let them stay up late, have their first "Hot Tub Astronomy" lesson, and even pick a star for their very own.
Fortunately it was dark and clear that night as Grandpa, the five excited boys and two wide eyed girls marched to the hot tub. I cleverly stayed out to man the towels.
It didn't take long for the youngest girl to spot the star she wanted. She went for the brightest one, and almost before we were started six year old Libby was the owner of Sirius. Her younger brother, Scott,wasn't happy with anything second to his sister's, but with Sirius spoken for he would have to choose something else. "What's second brightest?" he inquired with resignation. "Canopus can't be seen tonight, too smoggy, and you can't see it from your house anyway, because the star is too far south." Grandpa explained. Scott sat back and stared at the heavens to think about it.
Meanwhile three of his cousins had been led to choose the belt stars in Orion. It was a natural for the three brothers, but posed one problem. Our charts showed the names of the large stars on the corners of Orion, but not the names of the center three. It would defeat the purpose if the boys couldn't learn the names of their own stars.I went in to hunt through some more books and star atlases. Mike, who was eight and could read was pouring over the chart with a flashlight. He did not want to make such an important choice based on sight alone. First he would read what else was out there. "Look!" he told his sister, "Cygnus!" That's what Grandpa Swan in Massachuetts named his boat. It means Swan! Grandpa I want Cygnus!" "That's a whole constellation. How about the star Denab in Cygnus?" "Where is it?" Mike looked up hopefully. "It's on the other side of the house. I'll have to show it to you later, but it's a good choice. Very easy to see from your house."
I returned with the names of the belt stars. The left belt star was named Alnitak. It would go to the oldest of the three brothers, Tripp, who was seven. He repeated the name while staring at the star. The second brother, Grant, would have Alnilam and three year old Andrew would get Minataka, fortunately the name was easy for the three year old to pronounce. Now all of the grandchildren wanted to look at their stars with the binoculars. But when the children held the expensive binoculars in the hot tub Grandpa became nervous, and the children were never quite able to find anything with them, so he came up with a way to show them their stars and keep the binocs dry. He held the binoculars and centered a star in them, then he moved his right eye to the left eye piece, the child put his eye on the right so they were cheek to cheek each peering through a monocular.
The tub was bubbling over with cookie crumbs and excitment. Scott tried again to find something equal to his sister's star. "Isn't there anything brighter than Sirius?" "Yes." His grandfather answered, "The Moon and Venus are brighter. But Venus would be a lot of work for a five year old. It's a planet and doesn't stay in the same place the way the stars do. If you want to do the work of tracking it... it's yours." "I will!" said Scott eagerly. The oldest girl, Ashley, chose Polaris for it's simplicity. Everyone enjoyed his or her choice and the word spread. Our youngest daughter's two boys soon asked for their own stars and Grandpa obliged. J.J. chose Aldebaran, and Robert wanted the entire Pleiades.
Months passed and Bob wondered if the children had kept in touch with their stars. When next the three brothers returned, they burst up to Grandpa full of excitment. "Guess what?" Tripp announced, "Today in school my teacher talked about the stars and I told her I had a star of my own and pointed to Alnitak. I even told them my brother's and cousin's stars. All of the kids thought that was really rad! and some of them came up to me later and asked if my grandfather would give them a star, too. Will you?"
Bob laughed. "How do you like that? as if I don't have enough kids, I just inherited the whole third grade." "Rad," I said and added, "Tell the kids there are plenty of stars for everyone. Tell them to look carefully each night and choose one. Then get someone to tell them their star's name. As long as they can find it and say it's name it's theirs." "That reminds me." said Tripp. "Mom said we need a fourth star." Grant added, "We're going to get a new baby brother!"
The boys chose to give their baby brother, named, John, the Orion Nebula just below their belt.
An early interest in the sky stayed with them. I can tell you now that when John was in High School, he started their first Astronomy Club. Grant became an Airforce Test Pilot and is now stationed in England with his wife, two year old son and a baby on the way , Tripp is a Lawyer and Andrew is an Architect. Libby graduated from Cal Tech and went on to become a Veterinarian, married a Doctor and has two little boys. Scott worked in Finance, when he's not tracking Venus, and is now back at UCLA for a higher degree. Mike joined the Navy's Air Sea Rescue to jump out of helicopters to save downed pilots. He now works for a computer firm, and is the father of a baby girl. Ashley graduated from Cal State, married a Lawyer and is the mother of two precocious children, a boy and a girl, the first of our 9 great-grandchildren. Another grandson, Cecil, flies charter jet planes for a living and has a new baby girl, his brothers, J.J. and Robert work for the family medical business. Rob has a sweet little daughter. I am gripped with grandparenty pride and want to add that these boys also have a brother, Cliff and a sister Kelly, who are in college. Libby and Scott too have a younger sister, Mackenna, who just passed the bar in New York. Suddenly like an Acadamy Award winner on T.V., droning on and on... I want to grab the mike and thank my great husband, Bob, and our wonderful kids, Nancy, Pam, J.R. and Bonnie. As I hear the music growing louder and before it can drown out my voice I panic and quickly add, "...and to the spouses of all these, you know who you are and so do I... I wish to thank you all so much for being the "Stars of Happiness" in my life. I am dragged off stage throwing kisses. Beverly
Hot Tub Astronomy, A Star for Everybody
Grandchildren give you a chance to do the things you didn't have time for or didn't think of when you were busy raising your own family. When the children of two of our daughters and our son were going to be spending the night with us ... all at the same time while their parents were away, their grandfather wanted to plan a special treat for them.
He decided that if the youngest children took good naps, he was going to let them stay up late, have their first "Hot Tub Astronomy" lesson, and even pick a star for their very own.
Fortunately it was dark and clear that night as Grandpa, the five excited boys and two wide eyed girls marched to the hot tub. I cleverly stayed out to man the towels.
It didn't take long for the youngest girl to spot the star she wanted. She went for the brightest one, and almost before we were started six year old Libby was the owner of Sirius. Her younger brother, Scott,wasn't happy with anything second to his sister's, but with Sirius spoken for he would have to choose something else. "What's second brightest?" he inquired with resignation. "Canopus can't be seen tonight, too smoggy, and you can't see it from your house anyway, because the star is too far south." Grandpa explained. Scott sat back and stared at the heavens to think about it.
Meanwhile three of his cousins had been led to choose the belt stars in Orion. It was a natural for the three brothers, but posed one problem. Our charts showed the names of the large stars on the corners of Orion, but not the names of the center three. It would defeat the purpose if the boys couldn't learn the names of their own stars.I went in to hunt through some more books and star atlases. Mike, who was eight and could read was pouring over the chart with a flashlight. He did not want to make such an important choice based on sight alone. First he would read what else was out there. "Look!" he told his sister, "Cygnus!" That's what Grandpa Swan in Massachuetts named his boat. It means Swan! Grandpa I want Cygnus!" "That's a whole constellation. How about the star Denab in Cygnus?" "Where is it?" Mike looked up hopefully. "It's on the other side of the house. I'll have to show it to you later, but it's a good choice. Very easy to see from your house."
I returned with the names of the belt stars. The left belt star was named Alnitak. It would go to the oldest of the three brothers, Tripp, who was seven. He repeated the name while staring at the star. The second brother, Grant, would have Alnilam and three year old Andrew would get Minataka, fortunately the name was easy for the three year old to pronounce. Now all of the grandchildren wanted to look at their stars with the binoculars. But when the children held the expensive binoculars in the hot tub Grandpa became nervous, and the children were never quite able to find anything with them, so he came up with a way to show them their stars and keep the binocs dry. He held the binoculars and centered a star in them, then he moved his right eye to the left eye piece, the child put his eye on the right so they were cheek to cheek each peering through a monocular.
The tub was bubbling over with cookie crumbs and excitment. Scott tried again to find something equal to his sister's star. "Isn't there anything brighter than Sirius?" "Yes." His grandfather answered, "The Moon and Venus are brighter. But Venus would be a lot of work for a five year old. It's a planet and doesn't stay in the same place the way the stars do. If you want to do the work of tracking it... it's yours." "I will!" said Scott eagerly. The oldest girl, Ashley, chose Polaris for it's simplicity. Everyone enjoyed his or her choice and the word spread. Our youngest daughter's two boys soon asked for their own stars and Grandpa obliged. J.J. chose Aldebaran, and Robert wanted the entire Pleiades.
Months passed and Bob wondered if the children had kept in touch with their stars. When next the three brothers returned, they burst up to Grandpa full of excitment. "Guess what?" Tripp announced, "Today in school my teacher talked about the stars and I told her I had a star of my own and pointed to Alnitak. I even told them my brother's and cousin's stars. All of the kids thought that was really rad! and some of them came up to me later and asked if my grandfather would give them a star, too. Will you?"
Bob laughed. "How do you like that? as if I don't have enough kids, I just inherited the whole third grade." "Rad," I said and added, "Tell the kids there are plenty of stars for everyone. Tell them to look carefully each night and choose one. Then get someone to tell them their star's name. As long as they can find it and say it's name it's theirs." "That reminds me." said Tripp. "Mom said we need a fourth star." Grant added, "We're going to get a new baby brother!"
The boys chose to give their baby brother, named, John, the Orion Nebula just below their belt.
An early interest in the sky stayed with them. I can tell you now that when John was in High School, he started their first Astronomy Club. Grant became an Airforce Test Pilot and is now stationed in England with his wife, two year old son and a baby on the way , Tripp is a Lawyer and Andrew is an Architect. Libby graduated from Cal Tech and went on to become a Veterinarian, married a Doctor and has two little boys. Scott worked in Finance, when he's not tracking Venus, and is now back at UCLA for a higher degree. Mike joined the Navy's Air Sea Rescue to jump out of helicopters to save downed pilots. He now works for a computer firm, and is the father of a baby girl. Ashley graduated from Cal State, married a Lawyer and is the mother of two precocious children, a boy and a girl, the first of our 9 great-grandchildren. Another grandson, Cecil, flies charter jet planes for a living and has a new baby girl, his brothers, J.J. and Robert work for the family medical business. Rob has a sweet little daughter. I am gripped with grandparenty pride and want to add that these boys also have a brother, Cliff and a sister Kelly, who are in college. Libby and Scott too have a younger sister, Mackenna, who just passed the bar in New York. Suddenly like an Acadamy Award winner on T.V., droning on and on... I want to grab the mike and thank my great husband, Bob, and our wonderful kids, Nancy, Pam, J.R. and Bonnie. As I hear the music growing louder and before it can drown out my voice I panic and quickly add, "...and to the spouses of all these, you know who you are and so do I... I wish to thank you all so much for being the "Stars of Happiness" in my life. I am dragged off stage throwing kisses. Beverly
Hot Tub Astronomy, 3: What Is Your Sign?
Hot Tub Astronomy 3 What is Your Sign?
This article was published in SKY AND TELESCOPE magazine in the May 1988 issue.
At the same time TIME magazine had a cover story May 16,1988 featuring First Lady, Nancy Reagan, called "Astrology in the White House." As both magazines were on the stands together, I took a double interest in this story from White House chief of staff, Donald Regan because of my own "What is Your Sign?" and because I had just completed my Nancy Reagan Doll for the collection of 19 inch china dolls. I had been working for years and years on First Lady dolls, each dressed in a tiny copy of the dresses featured in the "First Lady" collection in the Smithsonian Institution. So I tucked an issue of "Time" in with my First Lady reference books, used to write about each lady as I worked on her porcelain replica. And I added another with my Astronomy stuff. This story will explain why.
YOU'RE AN ASTRONOMER? WHAT'S YOUR SIGN?
I'll bet there's not an astronomer alive who wouldn't like to have a clear night for every time he or she has heard that one.
Astrology! how could anyone be idiot enough to mix that up with Astronomy? Yet it happens again and again. I remember the first time I heard the two confused. My husband Bob and I were sitting in a steaming hot tub at a ski lodge high in the Sierra Nevadas. We were treating ourselves to a vacation planned to consist of glorious sunny days of sking followed by crisp clear nights of star gazing. At first the strangers sharing the huge tub with us spoke only of the days skiing. Then slowly they settled back to relax sore muscles and get to know one another. The steadily rising steam fogged the pool area and obscured the night sky. Even if it had not, the many unshielded lights flooding the lodge grounds would have squelched the possibility of observing nearby. "So much for astronomy tonight." I said quietly, seeing that my partner was too exhausted to drive out of the area in search of darker skies. "Oh, are you two into astronomy too?" squealed the pretty blonde sitting next to Bob. "What a coincidence! So are we," she giggled, tugging on the hand of the young man beside her. "I'm a Libra, and Jeff's Gemini. What's your sign?" Using all the ettiquette instilled in me by my determined parents, I managed not to show my dismay at the childish error. I simply smiled politly and replied, "I'm an Aries." When it came to astrology I knew little else. That didn't really matter though because the rest of the group perked up and rallied around the question. I didn't need to say another word, only listen with indignant facination as a discussio.n about the professed personality traits of the various zodiacal signs transformed the former stranger's dispositions from happy to serious to downright silly.
Several months later I had a humbling experience that both helped me to understand the confusion between astronomy and astrology and gave me the resolve to meet it head on when next I encountered it. As a student of history, I collect old books, largely Presidential wives for the reason mentioned . One day I came home with a coffee table size book on the history of astronomy filled with gorgeous, glossy color prints of astronomical art and gilded star maps. As I pored over a series of quaint old drawings of constellations framed with strange, colorful creatures, Bob walked in and glanced at me with surprise "That's a strange choice of reading." he exclaimed. "A history of astronomy? Why?" I answered. "That's not what it says on the cover." Bewildered, I closed the book and turned to it's worn, old, spine. There I found the words in faded silver letters, "Encyclopedia of Astro....ummm ...logy". I had to laugh. Somehow while juggling an armload of other books I had misread the title of this one. Still it was a beautifully bound leather edition, however faded.. I decided to take advantage of my mistake and read up on the history of Astrology.
I learned that Astrology, Astronomy, Religion and Medicine arose together thousands of years ago and were apparently embodied in a highly revered priesthood. All four have been intertwined in popular myth, tradition, and superstition ever since.
Astrology appeared in different forms among the various Eurasian cultures. The version most of us are familiar with arose in the Middle East. There early peoples believed that as the Sun, Moon, and Planets wandered along what we now call the ecliptic, they exerted their vast heavenly powers to cast sins and virtues on the newborn.
Throughout much of the Old World, people looked to Astrologers to guide their behavior and divine the future by interpreting signs like comets and conjunctions. In their effort to make reliable predictions, the practitioners of this art kept detailed accurate records of celestial motions. Indeed much of what we know about ancient astronomy comes from the writings of early astrologers.
But not everyone held astrology in high regard. As early as A.D. 77, Pliny the Elder wrote that everyone wants to know his or her future, so obviously there will be people who take advantage of others' gullibility.
In 16th-century France, physician, Henry Cornielius Agrippa said astrology was based upon no other foundation but upon mere trifles, and feignings of imaginations." And Johannes Kepler called it "Astronomy's foolish daughter."
After the invention of the telescope astronomers discovered new planets and astrologers struggled to fine the niches where these bodies were surely meant to fit in the grand cosmic scheme. This done they felt assured that their predictive powers were now greater than even. But the same discoveries helped scientists repudiate astrology and label it pseudoscience at best.
Today astronomy and astrology have divorced completely, at least as viewed by astronomers. Scientists have spilled gallons of ink debunking the "science" behind casting horoscopes. Nevertheless, millions still consult their newspaper's astrology column before starting each day. Some do it out of need or desire to believe that some mysterious force controls their lives. Others surely do it just for fun. Either way they probably out number those of us who relate to the heavens
through astronomy, and their unbridled enthusiasm cannot be denied.
So today when I find myself talking with someone who is bubbling over with appreciation for astrology, I remember Griffith Observatory Director, Edwin Krup. He wrote that scientists should try to gain the higher ground by expounding "Astronomy's sense of the mystery and wonder of the cosmos of the Earth, and of human history."
That ends the Sky and Telescope article. I would like to add that in the years since this was written, the Griffith Observatory has been greatly remodled. Many of the old displays that Bob's father worked on in the early years have been preserved as a museum, while new Hubble Space telescope observations keep being updated. It's a wonderful place to visit when in the Los Angeles area. My, how fast the entire universe has grown since 1988!
Now a word about the First Lady Dolls. Just after I completed the Laura Bush doll, I gave the entire set of 55 dolls to my daughter Nancy. She had them on display at a political party, and someone inquired if she would be willing to donate them to the Nixon Library. She asked me if I would mind. We both agreed that a library would be a good place for them. Later, I made them a doll for Michelle Obama just as the National Archives took possession of the entire set. I can only add that I feel very proud that they wanted them.
Watch for thr next Hot Tub story
This article was published in SKY AND TELESCOPE magazine in the May 1988 issue.
At the same time TIME magazine had a cover story May 16,1988 featuring First Lady, Nancy Reagan, called "Astrology in the White House." As both magazines were on the stands together, I took a double interest in this story from White House chief of staff, Donald Regan because of my own "What is Your Sign?" and because I had just completed my Nancy Reagan Doll for the collection of 19 inch china dolls. I had been working for years and years on First Lady dolls, each dressed in a tiny copy of the dresses featured in the "First Lady" collection in the Smithsonian Institution. So I tucked an issue of "Time" in with my First Lady reference books, used to write about each lady as I worked on her porcelain replica. And I added another with my Astronomy stuff. This story will explain why.
YOU'RE AN ASTRONOMER? WHAT'S YOUR SIGN?
I'll bet there's not an astronomer alive who wouldn't like to have a clear night for every time he or she has heard that one.
Astrology! how could anyone be idiot enough to mix that up with Astronomy? Yet it happens again and again. I remember the first time I heard the two confused. My husband Bob and I were sitting in a steaming hot tub at a ski lodge high in the Sierra Nevadas. We were treating ourselves to a vacation planned to consist of glorious sunny days of sking followed by crisp clear nights of star gazing. At first the strangers sharing the huge tub with us spoke only of the days skiing. Then slowly they settled back to relax sore muscles and get to know one another. The steadily rising steam fogged the pool area and obscured the night sky. Even if it had not, the many unshielded lights flooding the lodge grounds would have squelched the possibility of observing nearby. "So much for astronomy tonight." I said quietly, seeing that my partner was too exhausted to drive out of the area in search of darker skies. "Oh, are you two into astronomy too?" squealed the pretty blonde sitting next to Bob. "What a coincidence! So are we," she giggled, tugging on the hand of the young man beside her. "I'm a Libra, and Jeff's Gemini. What's your sign?" Using all the ettiquette instilled in me by my determined parents, I managed not to show my dismay at the childish error. I simply smiled politly and replied, "I'm an Aries." When it came to astrology I knew little else. That didn't really matter though because the rest of the group perked up and rallied around the question. I didn't need to say another word, only listen with indignant facination as a discussio.n about the professed personality traits of the various zodiacal signs transformed the former stranger's dispositions from happy to serious to downright silly.
Several months later I had a humbling experience that both helped me to understand the confusion between astronomy and astrology and gave me the resolve to meet it head on when next I encountered it. As a student of history, I collect old books, largely Presidential wives for the reason mentioned . One day I came home with a coffee table size book on the history of astronomy filled with gorgeous, glossy color prints of astronomical art and gilded star maps. As I pored over a series of quaint old drawings of constellations framed with strange, colorful creatures, Bob walked in and glanced at me with surprise "That's a strange choice of reading." he exclaimed. "A history of astronomy? Why?" I answered. "That's not what it says on the cover." Bewildered, I closed the book and turned to it's worn, old, spine. There I found the words in faded silver letters, "Encyclopedia of Astro....ummm ...logy". I had to laugh. Somehow while juggling an armload of other books I had misread the title of this one. Still it was a beautifully bound leather edition, however faded.. I decided to take advantage of my mistake and read up on the history of Astrology.
I learned that Astrology, Astronomy, Religion and Medicine arose together thousands of years ago and were apparently embodied in a highly revered priesthood. All four have been intertwined in popular myth, tradition, and superstition ever since.
Astrology appeared in different forms among the various Eurasian cultures. The version most of us are familiar with arose in the Middle East. There early peoples believed that as the Sun, Moon, and Planets wandered along what we now call the ecliptic, they exerted their vast heavenly powers to cast sins and virtues on the newborn.
Throughout much of the Old World, people looked to Astrologers to guide their behavior and divine the future by interpreting signs like comets and conjunctions. In their effort to make reliable predictions, the practitioners of this art kept detailed accurate records of celestial motions. Indeed much of what we know about ancient astronomy comes from the writings of early astrologers.
But not everyone held astrology in high regard. As early as A.D. 77, Pliny the Elder wrote that everyone wants to know his or her future, so obviously there will be people who take advantage of others' gullibility.
In 16th-century France, physician, Henry Cornielius Agrippa said astrology was based upon no other foundation but upon mere trifles, and feignings of imaginations." And Johannes Kepler called it "Astronomy's foolish daughter."
After the invention of the telescope astronomers discovered new planets and astrologers struggled to fine the niches where these bodies were surely meant to fit in the grand cosmic scheme. This done they felt assured that their predictive powers were now greater than even. But the same discoveries helped scientists repudiate astrology and label it pseudoscience at best.
Today astronomy and astrology have divorced completely, at least as viewed by astronomers. Scientists have spilled gallons of ink debunking the "science" behind casting horoscopes. Nevertheless, millions still consult their newspaper's astrology column before starting each day. Some do it out of need or desire to believe that some mysterious force controls their lives. Others surely do it just for fun. Either way they probably out number those of us who relate to the heavens
through astronomy, and their unbridled enthusiasm cannot be denied.
So today when I find myself talking with someone who is bubbling over with appreciation for astrology, I remember Griffith Observatory Director, Edwin Krup. He wrote that scientists should try to gain the higher ground by expounding "Astronomy's sense of the mystery and wonder of the cosmos of the Earth, and of human history."
That ends the Sky and Telescope article. I would like to add that in the years since this was written, the Griffith Observatory has been greatly remodled. Many of the old displays that Bob's father worked on in the early years have been preserved as a museum, while new Hubble Space telescope observations keep being updated. It's a wonderful place to visit when in the Los Angeles area. My, how fast the entire universe has grown since 1988!
Now a word about the First Lady Dolls. Just after I completed the Laura Bush doll, I gave the entire set of 55 dolls to my daughter Nancy. She had them on display at a political party, and someone inquired if she would be willing to donate them to the Nixon Library. She asked me if I would mind. We both agreed that a library would be a good place for them. Later, I made them a doll for Michelle Obama just as the National Archives took possession of the entire set. I can only add that I feel very proud that they wanted them.
Watch for thr next Hot Tub story
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