AAVSO Newsletter 29: Awards and Recognition

To be the recipient of the AAVSO Director’s Award is indeed a special honor. The award, in the form of a plaque, is awarded at the Director’s discretion to outstanding observers who contribute to special observing projects and/or Association activities. At this year’s AAVSO Spring Meeting in Tucson, Arizona, Director Janet Mattei presented two Director’s Awards. The recipients were:

Richard Huziak accepts the Director’s Award fromAAVSO Director Janet Mattei at the 92nd Spring Meeting in Tucson, AZ.

Richard Huziak of Canada

“...for his contribution of timely variable star observations during special observing runs with ground-based and satellite instruments and a cumulative total of nearly 25,000 since 1980, his work in the investigation of comparison and field stars suspected of variability, in helping to improve charts and comparison star sequences, and his fostering of variable star observing through his many dynamic talks to RASC Centres and other astronomy groups this past year.”

Gary Poyner of England

“...for his meticulous observing of variable stars (over 100,000 observations since 1991) and his contribution of timely and often critical observations during special observing runs with ground-based and satellite instruments, making immediate observations at the request of Headquarters to confirm potential discoveries, and, as Director of the Variable Star Section of the British Astronomical Association, mentoring observers, fostering productive collaborations and amity among variable star observing associations worldwide, and working to maintain and improve the level of variable star observing worldwide.”

William Tyler Olcott Distinguished Service Award

Initiated in 2000, The William Tyler Olcott Distinguished Service Award is presented to a person for outstanding contributions in mentoring/promoting variable star astronomy.

Longtime member, observer, mentor, and friend to the AAVSO Edward Halbach accepts the William Tyler Olcott Award from Director Janet Mattei. Ed's wife Jane joins them at the podium (L).

This year’s recipeint was Edward A. Halbach. Since becoming a member of the AAVSO in 1934, Ed has contributed over 98,000 observations of variable stars to the AAVSO International Database, focusing on variable stars in need of particular attention. As Director of the Milwaukee Astronomical Society (MAS) Observatory for over 30 years, he was a guiding force in its development, and he helped set up many observing programs and mentored a tremendous number of young people in astronomy, an activity he continues to this day. Also recognized was Jane Halbach, who has strongly supported Ed’s hobby and astronomical activites.

Observer Awards

The Observing Achievement Award is a certificate presented to those observers who have submitted to the AAVSO 10,000, 25,000, 50,000, 100,000, or 250,000 visual observations or 1,000, 2,500, 5,000 or 10,000 Photoelectric and/or CCD observations. The hard work and dedication of our observers constitute a large part of the foundation of our organization and their observations comprise the AAVSO International Database. Those receiving recognition this year at the Spring Meeting in Tucson were:

Gerry Samolyk (center) accepts his Observer Award certificate in Tucson from AAVSO Director Janet Mattei.

Gerry Samolyk (USA) for making over 100,000 observations from 1975-2002.
Rod Stubbings (Australia) and Jean Gunther (France) for reaching the over 50,000 observation miles stone.

Over 25,000 Observations

Maciej Reszelski (Poland) 2000-2002 38,318
Libert A. G. Monard (S. Africa) 1992-2002 29,480
Ronald E. Zissell (USA) 1985-2002 27,871
Miroslav A. Komorous (Canada) 1976-2002 27,034
James Molnar(USA) 1966-2002 26,459
Christopher Stephan(USA) 1973-2002 26,424
Andrei Sajtz (Romania) 1987-2002 25,030

Over 10,000 Observations

Shawn W. Dvorak (USA) 1981-2002 23,529
Christopher Jones (England) 1999-2002 11,640
Guy M. Hurst (England) 1974-2002 11,365
Joerg Neumann (Germany) 1993-2002 11,121
Daniel B. Taylor (Canada) 1987-2002 10,600
Donn Ray Starkey (USA) 2001-2002 10,226
Michel Dumont (France) 1983-2002 10,182
Hazel McGee (England) 1998-2002 10,059

Over 25,000 CCD Observations*

Gerard Samolyk (USA) 1975-2002 25,041 CCD

Over 10,000 CCD Observations

Shawn W. Dvorak (USA) 1981-2002 16,993 CCD
Gilbert C. Lubcke (USA) 1966-2002 12,025 CCD
Roger Diethelm (Switzerland) 1966-2002 10,988 CCD
Donn Ray Starkey (USA) 2001-2002 10,226 CCD

Over 5,000 CCD Observations*

Andy Howell (USA) 1964-2002 8,813 CCD
Robert A. James (USA) 1953-2002 7,498 CCD
Ladislav Smelcer (Czech Republic) 1995-2002 7,401 CCD
Thomas J. Richards(Australia) 1992-2002 6,303 CCD
Arto Oksanen (Finland) 2001-2002 5,493 CCD
Charles W. Robertson (USA) 2001-2002 5,442 CCD

Over 2,500 CCD Observations*

Michael Koppelman (USA) 2001-2002 2,522 CCD

Over 1,000 CCD Observations*

Gary Walker (USA) 1994-2002 1,522 CCD
Keith A. Graham (USA) 1981-2002 1,448 CCD
Jerry Doug West (USA) 1987-2002 1,421 CCD
Frank L. Scheder (USA) 2000-2002 1,379 CCD

*Years include total AAVSO observing interval (not only CCD observing). Total includes CCD observations only (not observer's visual contributions). Note that no observing milestones were reached by PEP observers last year.

from the Archives..

search engine | site map | links | contact us