Featured Contributors
July 2024 - Mike Witkoski
Mike Witkoski is a veteran amateur astronomer and author. Mike volunteers at Ryan Observatory and manages the private telescope viewing area, where his telescope is always available for visitors to view the skies on public starwatch evenings. Mike also takes it upon himself to recycle aluminum cans and plastic bottles that would otherwise end up in whale bellies, highway medians, or landfills with ordinary refuse.
Mike is also passionate about sharing science with the world. His recent written works include Governing the Planets, Sky & Telescope Magazine, August 2019; See supernova blasts with your own eyes, Astronomy Magazine, June 2023; and Do the stars move in the sky, Astronomy Magazine, August 2023.
As an avid amateur astronomer and fly fishermen, Roxanne Kamin has viewed night skies from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, including three trips to Australia with the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) / NASA . Retired from IBM and residing near Hershey, she is active in measuring asteroids with SwRI along with the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) and has co-authored several related papers. Roxanne can be found most clear nights observing at Cherry Springs, the Naylor Observatory, Ryan Observatory at Muddy Run or simply from her home.
April 2024 - Roxanne Kamin
August 2022 - Dawn Brooks
Dawn is often seen when she is operating the telescope in observatory dome #1 during our monthly public open houses. But she also spends time with her own telescope and her own backyard sky.
Dawn also helps plan our Arts Initiative starting this Fall. Lately, she captured both experiences in a poem.
A night as an Astronomer
I gazed up at the stars tonight with wonder and with awe, I love to watch the Perseids, as one by one they fall. The moon is shining brightly, the planets they are too, I saw a beautiful sight tonight as my telescope I looked through. I saw the seven sisters of the Pleaides for sure, and I looked on with wonder, wanting more and more. The Queen pointing towards Andromeda was a beauty to behold, I thought of the many legends of all the times of old. The Sun began its rising, Jupiter chased Saturn and the Moon, another night was ending, it would all be over soon. I've started making coffee, there's bacon on the stove, best get these waffles ready, starry skies I must let go. I'll be back tomorrow taking in the sights, I look forward every day to tomorrow's nights.
September 2022 - Larry Hubble and Gabe Catherman
Larry Hubble captures, processes and creates the images that come from the astrophotography dome at Ryan Observatory at Muddy Run.
Lately though he has found an able assistant in 9 year old Gabe Catherman. Together they make quite a pair showing off to the public how things work in the science observatory.
Larry inspires our visitors and fellow volunteers capturing photons from space and rendering them in spectacular detail.
He has been active in past years with the Harford County Astronomical Society. He brings past earned experience operating and imaging in their observatory to our visitors experience.
October 2022 - Ted Williams
Ted Williams is the President of Rittenhouse Astronomical Society and Master of Ceremonies at most of the community outreach programs at Ryan Observatory. Ted also organizes Member Nights for volunteers and Society members where by invitation only, the observatories facilities are used on clear nights.
Ted started his astronomy journey teaching Earth and Space Science & Starlab in Philadelphia School Disctrict. He directed the Mallon Planetarium in Methacton School District and has held positions at New Jersey State Museum Planetarium, Hayden Planetarim/AMNH, and the Betty Huff Planetarium/Centennial School District.
He continues using his past experience as an outstanding tour guide for our visitors (with their binoculars) to find visual stellar treasures!
Ted is also the Go To person for securing guest speakers for our programs and for organizing private tour (“Bubble Parties” in COVID-Speak).
January 2023 - Denise Vacca
Mistress of the Universe
Denise is one of our premier educators, providing special programs and regularly presents the Planet Report at our Open Houses. Additionally, she is on the ROMR Committee that provides guidance and advice on implementing the public outreach programs.
Denise has over 25 years experience in astronomy education. As producer of the Fels Planetarium, Denise has worked with schools, educators and public audiences. She has written, produced, presented and developed numerous astronomy shows, as well as special programs and activities for space-related events such as Astronomy Day, World Space Week, Parkway Night Out and the Philadelphia Science Festival. Denise opened her own planetarium in 2004 and continues to delight and educate thousands of children and adults with live, entertaining astronomy programs. She is Vice President of the Rittenhouse Astronomical Society, educator at Ryan Observatory at Muddy Run and continues to observe and appreciate the night sky. Philadelphia Magazine voted Stars on the Move Best Kid's party.
My first exposure to Astronomy was in the early 1940s when an Aunt and Uncle opened my eyes to a Dark Sky in northern NJ. I asked them what was the white streak across the sky? They told me it was the Milky Way. It was very easy to see back then. On and off starting in the 1950s I was involved in viewing the sky both during the day and night time. Late 1960 I joined my first Amateur Astronomy Club in NJ. My active membership in Amateur Astronomy Clubs in NJ ended in early 2020. I have been involved with Ryan Observatory at Muddy Run since 2017.
Starting in the early 1990’s I was involved, behind the scene, with professional theaters in northern NJ wearing several different hats, 1/2 of which was as a volunteer. In 2005 after going into semi retirement I also became involved in the Morris Museum located in Morris Township NJ. There I again wore several different hats through out the museum. My most enjoyable times were working with children at special events where they got to explore new experiences in science, chemistry and architecture. Also in the arts and crafts rooms where they made and built various items that they could take home with them.
Before moving to the Lancaster PA area in 2013, I had my own company that installed, and maintained Environmental Monitoring Equipment for both indoor and outdoor air and water pollution.