THE FREE PRESS PEOPLE OCTOBER 14, 1999 Astonomy club sky high with two decades of star Bob Nelson has stars in his eyes. Literally. The Prince George Astronomical Society is in its 20th year and Bob’s been there since the beginning. He’s now president. Astronomy is a passion for the College of New Caledonia physics and astronomy instructor. "It’s a real ambition of mine. It’s not diminishing. It’s getting stronger.” He loves to observe the heavens, particularly stars whose brightness varies, and he says he never tires of his work ‘i’m doing more and better science than ever before.” Technology helps. The society has a modem computer-controlled camera to take time exposures of the heavens. "You can do as much with them as the big telescopes a few years ago.” The society has 30 to 40 members and Bob says it’s growing slowly. "We’ve lost a number of keen people, but we’ve replaced them with equally keen people.” It’s not a convenient hobby for most people. Bob points out. It can be done only after dark, meaning conflicts with “normal” hours. Prince George, while not the cloudiest place, has its share. “Our winters here have a lot of cloud.” That brings its own frustrations. Especially this far north, winter is the best time for viewing because it’s when The new president of the Prince George Astronomical Society, Bob Nelson. John McKenzie/Free Press there’s the most darkness, so nomical Society’s history you can’t mind stargazing when it’s cold. “Nobody wants to observe at -40,” Bob admits. “Hour after hour sitting out there, it gets hard.” You also can’t begrudge the regular drive to the observatory southwest of the city. It’s on Tedford Road, off the Blackwater Road just before the West Lake tumoff. Bob feels the biggest development in the Astro- was moving from Tabor Mountain. After a four-year hiatus caused by a bad road, a lack of services and vandalism at that site, they resumed operations in 1993 on Tedford Road. It’s essential to escape the city’s “light pollution,” as Bob calls it because you can’t see the heavens clearly amid the glare of city lights. He’s particularly upset by the “abomination” of the lighting that allows night happy gazing shifts to work outside at the CN yard near First Avenue. "There are millions of people in cities who have never seen the Milky Way,” he says, mentioning there's a group called the International Dark Sky Association. PGAG wants to install at least one washroom to complement the classroom started in 1993 with help from the B.C. Lotteries Corporation. "We’ve made it clear we’re a public observatory," adds Bob, who says the classroom is there to educate visitors. Plumbing is roughed in, although a water supply is on the wish list for the observatory. “I don’t know if it will ever be where we want it to be,” admits Bob, who’s nonetheless pleased about the current 24-inch telescope. “The telescope is a fantastic telescope when the weather is right.” The society could use some financial help to cover $200 monthly operating costs. “We’re looking for a friend of the observatory," Bob says hopefully. If you can help, call him at 563-6928. You can also visit the website at www.pgweb.com/astronom-ical or stop at the PGAG booth at the Homes, Hobbies and Horsepower show October 22 to 24 at the Multiplex. Nelson says PGAG members can advise about buying a telescope. • Displays • Fashion Show Gift Bags for each Bride to be October 17th at 12:30pm Coast Inn of the North Call 562-3115 for your FREE invitation Display space still available by calling 561-2550 TBLCOME rAGON Sinck 1930 * ~ w S I; THE FREE PRESS THE PRINCE GEORGE KJJE0 JEBI2S Northern B.C.’s Juried Arts & Crafts Show & Sale HEALTH SECRETS FOR IMPROVING YOUR MEMORY! Many people, as they reach middle age, begin to notice some subtle mental changes that are the direct result of aging. Memory lapses are an annoyance in themselves but worse is the anxiety that often comes along with them. Occasional memory lapses are a natural normal part of life at virtually any age, but with proper diet and nutrition, the memory should remain sharp and active well into one's nineties or beyond. There is good evidence that a number of products can help with the brain and its retention of information. Phosphatidylserine is one such product. 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