Free Lecture at Altadena Library : Mount Wilson Astronomers I Have Known; Some Of Whom Have Known Me

Mount Wilson Observatory AssociationConsider attending this FREE lecture at the Altadena Library tomorrow (September 24th) at 2pm.

I have had the good fortune to meet with Don numerous times – including two times when Don was running the 60″ telescope at Mt Wilson.

His talk is titled ” Mount Wilson astronomers I have known; some of whom have known me”.  At 90 years old, Don has known a LOT of astronomers who worked at Mt. Wilson. The son of Dr. Seth B. Nicholson of the Mount Wilson Observatory, he has had a lifelong association with that Observatory. His present interests are the history of astronomy in the 20th century and the encouragement of public interest and participation in astronomy.

Don spent much of his youth at the Observatory and met many of the legendary figures who worked there. He graduated from Pomona College with a major in physics and received a Masters Degree in meteorology from Caltech. After serving in the U.S. Army Air Force, he worked for Technicolor, Northrop, and The Aerospace Corporation, where he led the Optical Systems Department. Since retiring, he has been active in public outreach for astronomical organizations.

The Altadena Public Library is located at 600 E. Mariposa Street in Altadena, two stop signs west of Lake Avenue at the corner of Mariposa and Santa Rosa Avenue (“Christmas Tree Lane”). Exit the 210 freeway at Lake Avenue in Pasadena and go about 2.5 miles north to Mariposa Street in Altadena. Turn left on Mariposa, go to the second stop sign, turn left on Santa Rosa, and turn into the parking lot at the first driveway on your right. The lecture is in the library’s Community Room.

This talk is sponsored by the Mount Wilson Institute. For more information, including how to become a member of Friends of Mount Wilson Observatory (FOMWO), see the Observatory’s website www.mtwilson.edu or contact lecture coordinator Bob Eklund, beklund@sprynet.com, (310) 216-5947.