Stephen Ramsden

Stephen Ramsden is an Air Traffic Controller in Atlanta and avid Solar Astronomer.  He runs the largest Solar Astronomy Outreach program in the country (The Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project www.charliebates.org) using state of the art narrowband telescopes.  Stephen visited over 70 schools in 2009 and administered the program to over 30,000 students.  In 2010 Stephen will be administering a program through the City of Atlanta that aims to increase park participation while showing Astronomy to the general public.  He is a NASA Solar System Ambassador and an Aviation and Space Education counselor for the Federal Aviation Administration.  Stephen routinely lectures clubs and civic gatherings concerning subjects ranging from Solar Astrophotography to current NASA Missions to getting started running your own nonprofit outreach. 

Tom Crowley

Dr. Richard Schmude

On July 19, 2008, DR. RICHARD W. SCHMUDE, JR. received the prestigious 2008 ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE AWARD, the highest honor bestowed by that organization.  When presented at all -- it's not an annual award -- the A. L. Award "is presented to any person, either amateur or professional, who has made worthwhile contributions to the science of astronomy on a national or international level."  Nominees must be elected unanimously by the selection committee.

     Dr. Schmude's achievements, honors and activities in astronomy are legendary.  He has served as Executive Director of the Assn. of Lunar and Planetary Observers (A.L.P.O.), and he will serve in that capacity again in 2009.  He was the Executive Secretary of the A. L. from 2003-05.  He has delivered nearly 400 talks (and conducted 86 workshops) for audiences ranging from kindergarten classes to high school groups and amateur and professional astronomers, engaging such groups on their own levels of comprehension.

     Dr. Schmude has served as coordinator of the Jupiter and Outer Planets sections and assistant coordinator of the Mars section of A.L.P.O., and his book on Jupiter, "Jupiter Observer's Handbook," was published by the Astronomical League.  In his own research, Dr. Schmude has conducted more than 1,000 photoelectric magnitude measurements of all the planets and more than 51,000 visual magnitude measurements of variable stars for the Amer. Assn. of Variable Star Observers (A.A.V.S.O.).

     Dr. Schmude most recent publication is "URANUS, NEPTUNE AND PLUTO and How To Observe Them."

     Dr. Schmude is a professor of chemistry at Gordon College.  He lives in Barnesville, Ga.

Phil Sacco

PHILIP SACCO is one of the most highly sought-after speakers in amateur astronomy.  Blessed with an engaging wit, a love for the mythology of the night sky and a storyteller's flair for the dramatic, Philip has been known to deliver his mythology talks clad in open-toed sandals and a toga.

     Philip is a modern Renaissance man, a visionary who is an acknowledged authority on virtually every aspect of astronomy from cosmology to technology to (of course) mythology.  He served two terms as President of the Atlanta Astronomy Club, during which time the AAC experienced the largest growth gains in its history and became the largest club in the southeastern U. S.  During his term as Observing Vice President, Philip was instrumental in breathing life back into the club by revitalizing the AAC's Villa Rica observing site. 

     Philip played a major role in the formation and early development of the Charlie Elliott club, an AAC affiliate, and he served for six years as Southeastern Representative of the Astronomical League (SERAL).  Philip also narrated FRAC's stunningly beatiful "The Night Sky Explorers" CD (which, incidentally will be on sale at GSV '09).

     Last (but certainly not least), Philip is the A. L.'s Master Observer #11, having attained that lofty status by earning ten A. L. observing club pins.

     Philip lives in Stone Mountain, Ga.

Art Zorka
"In Search of Ancient Astronomers
(From Pre-Human to Ancient Greece)"

As both a photographer and professional magician, Art Zorka has had a lifelong interest in how we interpret what we see. His interest in the powers of observation may have begun the first time he looked through a telescope at age 10.  The target was Saturn, and he was hooked. He studied the sky from a rooftop in Brooklyn, with a binocular and a home-made six inch reflector. Hayden Planetarium became his second home.  His first astro-photo was of the 1959 solar eclipse.

While a combat photographer in the Army, Art got separated from his unit and was able to get back to camp using the stars to find his way.  After leaving the military, Art went to work for a company with a NASA contract and worked on the Gemini 8 project, involving Astronaut Edward White’s first space walk.

His interest in the history of astronomy began as a photographer for Georgia Public Television, when he spent several weeks working with the Director of Astronomy at Fernbank Science Center, Julius Stahl, in 1969.

Art has served as an officer and member of the board Of the Atlanta Astronomy Club. For the past 4 years, Art has been the correspondent to the Astronomical League and is the recipient of eight observing awards.

Art's topic at GSV will be "In Search of Ancient Astronomers (From Pre-Human to Ancient Greece)".