The Astronomers
It's Miller Time for four of The Astronomers after a long workday in April 2001 at the site. Construction had just been completed on this North Annex of the Griffin-Hunter Observatory (otherwise known as a deck). Present are Thom Iwancio, Hap Griffin, John Hodge, Gene Hunter and Princess, the Wonder Dog. Not shown are Doug Lybrand and Paul Webb.
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Gene Hunter -
MAC-Hunter property owner and
landlord. Gene Is an Oracle DBA and Unix Administrator. His idea of a communal observing site was the
catalyst for this project.
Gene has been interested
in astronomy since he was 14 and bought a dimestore telescope. He
found Jupiter and Saturn and it seemed as though he had discovered them
himself. He was always in the Gene
has been active in astronomy since about the age of 25 when he bought
his first "real" telescope, a Celestron C-8. After going
through a divorce at the age of 27, he moved to California just to hang
out on Mount Pinos with people like Tony and Daphne Hallas and many of
the other famous astro-photographers. He frequented Mount Pinos
every weekend for about a year. Then he came home to Florida where
he belonged to several astronomy clubs. Gene finally came to Gene plans to go back to
school to obtain a degree in Astronomy. |
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Hap Griffin (seen
here with Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson of the Hayden Planetarium, the History
Channel's "The Universe" series, and PBS' NOVA Science Frontiers
series) has been interested in astronomy
his entire life. When he was a toddler, his grandmother would sit on the
front porch with him looking at the moon and stars. In fact, his
grandmother always said that his first spoken word was "moon".
Hap's primary interest is astronomical photography, particularly of galaxies. Being an electronics and computer tinkerer, he enjoys computer controlling his AP-1200 mount, hooking up various video cameras, and building telescope accessories. Other hobbies and interests include dirt bikes and ATV's, high power rockets (with on-board video cameras and transmitters), ham radio, boating and fishing, and playing guitar (click HERE to see Hap and Thom's band!). Hap holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of South Carolina in Electrical Engineering and is a practicing registered Professional Engineer. He is Vice-President for Engineering at the South Carolina Educational Television Network, where he is responsible for engineering planning and oversight for 22 TV and 8 radio stations, and a 32-channel digital satellite network. Hap is married (Etna) and has two children, Courtney (21) and Collin (18). Hap owns a small business making specialized cables for use with Canon and Nikon Digital SLR cameras and modifying DSLR's for increased astronomical performance. The details are at www.hapg.org. |
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:Thom Iwancio
was born and raised in Baltimore, MD and became yet another
"displaced Yankee" when he relocated to South Carolina in the
summer of '98. His interest
in astronomy began a year or so before that while gazing at the dark
West Virginia skies on a rock-climbing trip with some friends.
It seems most of his climbing buddies worked at the Space
Telescope Institute just outside of Baltimore.
Shortly after relocating, Thom and his wife Dale attended a star
party with the Midlands Astronomy Club and promptly joined the club.
Next was the purchase of an Orion 8" dob.
The "midnight madness" didn't set in until he saw the
MAC-Hunter site. He had
stakes in the ground before leaving that first day.
Thom
works as a systems engineer for a local plastic bottle manufacturer and
still enjoys rock climbing, as well as playing the guitar (a passion of
more than 25 years - click HERE
to see Thom and Hap's band!) when not at the observatory.
He has four children who live in Pennsylvania, Tommy Jr, Tony,
Mary and Michelle, as well as two daughters, Ashley and Jessica who live
with him and Dale in South Carolina. |
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:John Hodge
became interested in observing the sky and in astronomy in third grade
and has not stopped since. He remembers seeing Comet Bennett in
1970, saw Skylab pass overhead trailing about five or six pieces the
evening that it was launched, and feels lucky to have observed Jupiter
during the days after Shoemaker-Levy 9 impacted the giant planet.
John enjoys observing and imaging deep sky objects and hopes to start an
organized asteroid search soon. In the early 70s he was a staff
member at an astronomy camp, Camp Uraniborg (long defunct) which was
located in the Mojave Desert and in the vicinity of Big Bear Lake, Ca. John holds a BS Degree in Geology, MS in Marine Science/Geology, and a JD Degree. He is a registered professional geologist and practicing environmental attorney. He also pilots Boeing 757/767 aircraft for a major US Airline. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of South Carolina where he teaches a graduate level class in Environmental Regulations. In addition to astronomy, John enjoys nature and the outdoors, various sports, and flies a 1946 antique aircraft. He is married and has two children. |
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Paul Webb became
interested in astronomy at the age of 12 when he looked through a
classmate's 60MM refractor at Saturn. From there it was his mother
who encouraged him with his first scope, the classic Criterion RV-6
Dynascope she bought him in 1975. When he figured out how to polar align
the RV-6, he thought he had discovered the secrets of the universe!
As time went on Paul moved to Shelby, N.C. in 1979, where shortly after the appearance of Halley's comet, he founded the Cleveland County Astronomical Society. With their first meeting of 7 folks, he thought maybe he should forget about the whole idea. Good thing he didn't. The (CCAS) now has grown to twenty-five or so members and is affiliated with Gardner Webb University. CCAS now hosts the annual BOBfest astronomical convention, usually held in January. Paul is currently a member and past president of the Midlands Astronomy Club. Paul's other interests include: travel, gardening and sports. He has been married to Sandy for 8 years. He has a daughter Katie age 20. (She observed Halley's comet with him in 1985 and will hopefully see it again). Sandy has two children Chris age 30 and Suzie age 26. |
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Doug Lybrand
is a long
time member of the Midlands Astronomy Club. He has held every MAC
office more than once and served as its President for several
years. He was instrumental in initiating the club's monthly
observing sessions, the quarterly astrophoto contests, and social events
like the cookouts and Christmas Party. Doug enjoys visual
astronomy and
astrophotography, and has built his own telescope, an 8" f/6
equatorially mounted Newtonian, and Cookbook Camera CCD. Along
with several other club members, he has a collection of Halley's Comet
pictures held at the Caroliniana Library. He enjoys reading about
astronomy, astrophysics,
cosmology, and space-flight.
Doug is an
Asset/Liability Management Analyst within the Treasury Doug's other hobbies/interests include: Physical exercise, building and using computers, hunting and fishing, and fine arts. He has been actively involved with Toastmasters International for about 7-years and has achieved the level of Competent Toastmaster. Doug is married (Debra) and has one son. Doug is shown here with his Dad, who is helping with his observatory construction. |
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Frank Hinson
became interested in astronomy after his son, Josh wanted a telescope
for Christmas. That was in 1990. Steve Foster, a friend for more
than thirty years, helped him secure a telescope. Steve was already
taking photos, and Frank wanted to do the same. They both joined
the Midlands Astronomy Club in '92. With the help of the club (an
Amateur Telescope Making class), Frank built a 12.5" f/5
reflector on a German Equatorial Mount. Frank and Steve then
teamed up and started taking astrophotos, several of which have been
published in Astronomy magazine.
Frank works as a
construction superintendent for a general contractor in the
Greenville, SC area. He has two sons, Chad and Josh. He is rebuilding
a 24' Raven sailboat, and hopes to learn to sail. He enjoys playing
the guitar. He is also a member of Roper Mountain Astronomers.
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Steve Foster |
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Brian Peterson |
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Clive Lunn |