[Atmob-announce] Mike Mattei wins W.S.Houston Award

[Paul A. Valleli]

   Feel free to pass on this news to anyone who may be
   interested!
   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 3, 2008

   Go to the ATMOB website "Other Galleries" at
   http://www.atmob.org  to see pictures of Mike and
   his Schupmann 7-inch Telescope.

    

    

   It is my great pleasure to announce that, by
   unanimous vote of the NERAL Executive Committee,
   this year's Walter Scott Houston Award of the North
   East Region of the Astronomical League (NERAL) 
   is being awarded to Mike Mattei of Littleton, MA at
   this year's Stellafane Convention in Springfield,
   Vermont on Saturday evening, August 2, 2008.

    

   Mike Mattei has been an active observer for many
   decades and a member of ALPO and AAVSO. He worked at
   Harvard Observatory's Agassiz Station (now Oak Ridge
   Obs.), and met his future wife (Dr. Janet Akyuz
   Mattei 1943 -2004) at AAVSO.  He became very active
   in optics and amateur telescope making, and later
   went professional, specializing in the fabrication
   of aspherical optics at Space Optics Research Labs,
   and Optical Systems and Technolgy Inc (O.S.T.I.).
   There he worked on optics for space exploration such
   as an Ultraviolet Telescope for Goddard Space Flight
   Center. Eventually Mike was asked to join the staff
   at Lincoln Labs to work on special Government 'Star
   Wars' projects using Laser Imaging Optical Radar
   Systems. He also worked at MIT's Wallace
   Astrophysical Observatory. He taught courses at
   University of Hawaii and spoke at local club events
    Mike is possibly best known for his hundreds of
   nights teaching beginners the art and craft of
   mirror making at the ATMoB workhop in Westford,
   Massachusetts. He still works full time at Lincoln
   Labs, and continues to spend his nights searching
   for Novae for the AAVSO in his home-built
   observatory.

    

   We are very pleased to give this award to this
   innovative, self-educated man who took the time to
   pass on his knowledge to so many amateurs, while he
   worked alongside many professionals and researchers
   in astronomy.

    

   Congratulations, Mike!

    

   Very sincerely,

   Maryann Arrien

   Chair: NERAL

   The North East Region of the Astronomical League

   845-528-7420

   www.neral.org (Check out our new updated website!)

    

   NERAL Regional Representative Paul Valleli

   NERAL Vice Chairman: Jack Heinzmann

   NERAL Secretary Alan Rifkin

   NERAL Treasurer: Richard Roberts

    

   THIS IS AN OPEN ANNUAL MEETING. JOIN US!

   ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

    

   Seen below is the wording on the plaque:

   (graphics, if any, may look misaligned)

    

    

WALTER SCOTT HOUSTON AWARD of the North East Region of the

               Astronomical League (NERAL)

                             

In Recognition of his many years of service to amateur and
                  professional astronomy
    as an active member of the American Association of
             Variable Star Observers (AAVSO),

  his contributions to ALPO's publication 'The Strolling
                  Astronomer' as well as

his Observations and Drawings of Mars for the Association
            of Lunar and Planetary Observers,
 his professional  work at Harvard Observatory's Agassiz
    Station & MIT's Wallace Astrophysical Observatory,

 his 7-inch Schupmann Telescope which won first prize in
              advanced optics at Stellafane,
his outstanding professional Optical Work at Lincoln Labs,
               Space Optics, and O.S.T.I.,
   his Optical and Mechanical Accomplishments building
       Telescopes, Optical Shops and Observatories,
 his legacy of work in Astronomy Education, including his
           courses at the University of Hawaii
   and in particular his many years of teaching Amateur
         Telescope Making at Haystack Observatory
 in Westford, MA at the headquarters and workshop of the
            Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston
             we hereby present this Award to

    

                             

                       Mike Mattei

     Presented this day, August 2, 2008 at Stellafane

        In fond remembrance of Deep Sky Observer,

            Science Writer and ATM Historian,

                  Walter Scott Houston.

    

    

    
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