Theo Ramakers
Rich Jakiel
Brian Combs
Dan Llewellyn
Dr. Michael A. Covington
Michael Covington is Senior Research Scientist, Adjunct Professor of Computer Science, Associate Director
Institute for Artificial Intelligence, The University of Georgia.
An avid amateur astronomer and author. His list of books includes: Astrophotography for the Amateur, The Cambridge Eclipse Photography Guide, How to use a Computerized Telescope, Celestial Objects for Modern Telescopes and Digital SLR Astrophotography.
Jonn Serrie
Jonn is the foremost composer of space music. His name is synonymous with this genre of electronic music. Known for his numerous works commissioned for planetariums around the world, he has reshaped and redefined ambient space music. In addition to his twelve albums, his body of work includes diverse projects with Lucasfilm Ltd., NASA, the United States Navy, Hayden Planetarium, Expo Seville, and CNN.
Jonn's interest in electronic music began early with piano and church organ studies, eventually leading to a position as resident synthesist at Connecticut-based Electronic Music Laboratories in the 1970's. A fascination with space and aviation became the theme for his unique musical style. He is an FAA licensed pilot and lives in Atlanta.
Jonn Serrie's music covers a broad range of electronic music styles, from deep space ambiences to elegant romantic melodies, each with his unique signature sound woven throughout. Jonn's music is available at music stores and web sites worldwide.
Chris Hetlage is a Founder/Manager of Deerlick Astronomy Village. Chris is also a long time member of The Atlanta Astronomy Club. In 2004 Chris's vision for a dedicated dark sky community in Georgia became reality with the development of DAV. DAV is a truly unique community and as such has been featured in many news periodicals such as The New York Times, National Geographic, AP, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Sky and Telescope, Amateur Astronomy Magazine, and CNN.
Chris is an avid photographer/astrophotographer and has had his works published in Sky and Telescope Magazine, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, APOD, Astronomy 365 Days, The Planetary Report, and many more periodicals. In 2009 Chris photographed his first Space Shuttle launch, STS 125 - The Final Hubble Servicing Mission, and since then has covered many more launches, including covering the final 3 launches for Sky and Telescope Magazine. Chris's website and gallery is http://imagingthecosmos.com
Pixie Bruner
Randi Pixie Bruner is Shin Pixie Kleio Urania of the Ecclesia Gnostica
Universalis, an ordained Gnostic Bishop, and one of the facilitators
of Ormus
Lodge, a Scientific Illuminist body, in Atlanta, GA. Her award-winning
poetry and prose has been published in many magazines and anthologies
as well as being a professional gothic horror role playing game writer
and a holds an M.A.in Classics and is a professional lecturer and
presenter to Freethought Societies and in academic circles and
museums. Her chapbook exploring the sacred and profane "The Gingerman
and Other Strangers" is available on Amazon.com US and via Lulu.com.
She is also Director of Historical Programming for AnachroCon and
Recording Secretary of the Atlanta Astronomy Club. She works with
Richard Jakiel at Mars House Observatory in Lithia Springs GA.
Tom Crowley
Tom Crowley's interest in radio astronomy dates back to 1987 when he joined the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA). He has held various positions in that organization. Tom is a volunteer instructor at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Green Bank, West Virginia, teaching people how to use the 40-ft. educational radio telescope. Tom also heads the NRAO Navigator outreach program.
Tom has been an optical amateur astronomer since 1985. He has discovered seven supernovas, and he has served on the board of the Atlanta Astronomy Club.
After a career in technical and executive management in computer manufacturing and international communication networks, Tom retired in 2002. He and his wife Lynn live part of the year in Florida's Chiefland Astronomy Village. Both the CAV Fall Star Party in November and the CAV Spring Picnic in April are held on his property.
Paul Tankersley
Day Job – Professional Electrical Engineer – Georgia Tech Graduate 1986.
Night Job - Astrophotography - Imaging from the clear light polluted skies of Roswell, Georgia since 2007.
The love for the night sky started when Paul was a young boy growing up in Albany, Georgia. His mother would take him out in the yard and they would sit on a blanket and look up at the stars. Years later, he shares that same love with his own sons - Many nights he wakes up the boys and takes them outside to show them something special; the starry night.
DR. RICHARD W. SCHMUDE, JR
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.
Hap Griffin has been involved with astrophotography in one form or another for 30 years. He is a career television broadcast engineer and his background in electronics and optics aided him in 2003 to get into the niche of modifying Canon DSLR cameras for astronomy, making them much more sensitive to hydrogen-alpha light. He owns and operates Imaging Infinity which specializes in camera astronomical modifications and accessory cables for DSLR cameras. He is also a part of a group observatory project in South Carolina somewhat similar to Deer Lick and is a past President of the Midlands Astronomy Club of SC.