Under the Milky Way Tonight: The Robert Ferguson Observatory was built over a six-year period, with work completed in 2003.
It was Armstrong’s journey into space that launched a plethora of programs that have pushed the boundaries of the cosmos. In 1998, the manned International Space Station (ISS)—a joint project involving NASA , Russia, the European Space Agency, Japan and Canada—was launched. ISS can accommodate up to seven astronauts who live and work there for extended periods. Traveling at 5 miles per second the station orbits the Earth 90 times per day and serves as a microgravity lab for scientific research and international cooperation. A powerful successor to Hubble, the James Webb Space Telescope was launched in 2021. The infrared observatory searches for galaxies formed following the Big Bang, determines how galaxies evolve, and observes stars from their initial stages to formation as planetary systems. Amazing discoveries have already been made using the Webb telescope. An international team of astronomers identified icy compounds in two young prostars. The compounds, composed of complex organic molecules, are similar to ethanol and acetic acid, an ingredient in vinegar. The molecules and others detected represent key ingredients for making potentially habitable worlds. The list of scientific feats and accomplishments in humankind’s ongoing exploration of the universe is impressive. The Voyager I and Voyager II spacecraft were launched in 1977 to explore the outer planets. Almost 50 years later, their travels into interstellar space gathering data continue. The first of five Mars rovers launched in 2004. Three still roam the planet sending back information related to atmospheric conditions and the planet’s composition. And there’s Space X, the company owned by Elon Musk, with four commercial space flights to date. Space X’s mission is to reduce the cost of space travel and ultimately enable people to live on other planets. In addition to these large, significant undertakings, thousands of amateur astronomers scan the skies peering
through telescopes set up in their backyards. They too play a critical role in advancing knowledge of the universe. Some of their recent discoveries include: tracking the remnants of a supernova last observed in 1181, spotting a tiny Jupiter moon and discovering a pair of previously unknown asteroids. Those in Northern California interested in astronomy and outer space are fortunate to have a place to go to view the heavens close up. Perched atop Sonoma County’s Sugarloaf Mountain, the Robert Ferguson Observatory (RFO)—with three powerful telescopes—is that place. …a remarkable man After having lived a full life in Petaluma, Robert Ferguson died in 1993. He was a remarkable man. His daughter Colleen—an RFO volunteer, docent and board member—has fond memories of him. “My father used to say, ‘My love of astronomy began as soon as I could look up.’ He was interested in all of the sciences and enjoyed reading science and astronomy books,” Colleen says. “Dad also loved science fiction stories, including the original Star Trek . He talked about how astronomy put things in perspective—how whatever he was stressed about during the day, melted away when he stargazed at night.” Adds Colleen: “He liked to share his passion with others, children in particular.” Colleen recalls during childhood her dad completed a Dobsonian telescope-making class—named for amateur astronomer John Dobson, who developed an easy-to-build scope for home astronomers—and made a 16-inch diameter scope. “He would set the scope up in our backyard. Every once in a while, we would hear: ‘Kids come look at this!’ We’d all rush out, peer through the scope, be impressed, and return to our studies.” Concerned about the reduced emphasis on science in schools, Robert began making telescopes and giving them away to schoolchildren. Other
May 2024
NorthBaybiz 23
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