Milwaukee Astronomical Society

 

Historical Archive 2010-2019

There are many highlights of this period, but started at a low point in the club. First, the membership level fell to just 50, a result of the great recession and raising our dues to cover the expenses of our observatory. Second, Gerry Samolyk, the observatory director and club leader for 33 years retired. You can read about his many accomplishments here.

The 26-inch Z-Scope was dismantled and replaced with a 14-inch imaging scope entirely controled from the first floor office. The Zit Observatory was updated by raising the roof and installing various telescopes, the Toeller Observatory was updated by building a roll-off roof observatory, the A-Scope was turned into a dedicated planetary scope, a second 18-inch Obsession was installed in the C-Shed, and we added a dedicated solar observatory.

But the biggest accomplishments of this period was the maintenance of our observatory, highlighted by the extensive remodel of the Quonset Hut, the office area of the Z-Dome, and the Armfield Observatory. Another highlight was our membership level was approaching 200 by the end of the decade.

We are also now in the digital photography era so there is no shortage of images available.

Venus Transit - 400 visitors showed up to see the transit.

Venus Transit - 400 visitors showed up to see the transit.

Work Party - Painting the Quonset</strong><br>Scott Jamieson, Gerry Samolyk, Neil Simmons, Russell Chabot.

Work Party - Painting the Quonset
Scott Jamieson, Gerry Samolyk, Neil Simmons, Russell Chabot, ???

Scott Jamieson snow blowing.

Scott Jamieson snow blowing.

Open House - Apr. 25, 2014

Open House - Apr. 25, 2014

Virgil Tangney

Virgil standing by the observatory named after him and his late wife.

Clark Brizendine at A-Scope imaging Saturn. Result in inset.

Clark Brizendine at A-Scope.
Clark imaging the planet Saturn which you can see on the monitor. The result of this effort is the inset in the upper right corner.

Ed Halbach Remembrance

Ed Halbach Remembrance on April 1, 2011. Tom Schmidtkunz, Gerry Samolyk, Brian Ganiere, Paul Borchardt, Neil Simmons, Jim Fanson, and Henry Gerner. Paul is holding up his phone with John Asztalos on the line. Photo taken by John Pfannerstill.

Work Party - Painting the Quonset

Work Party - Painting the Quonset

MAS Observatory Grounds, Nov 2013 The Observatory grounds taken in November, 2013.

 

MAS Observatory - Old Toeller Observatory and no Solar Observatory The Observatory grounds taken in November, 2013, showing the original Toeller Observatory and before the Solar Observ.

 

Zit Observatory / E-Shed Telescopes in Sept. 2014

Zit Observatory / E-Shed telescopes as of Sept. 2014. 8-inch Celestron EdgeHD and a 14-inch Celestron.

Zit Observatory / E-Shed - Low clearance

Low clearance, even after raising the roof of the Zit Observatory / E-Shed.

Scott Jamieson on the Z-Dome roof - 2015

2014 - Scott Jamieson on the Z-Dome roof.

2015 - Scott Jamieson. Start of the Z-Scope disassemble

2015 - Scott Jamieson. Start of the Z-Scope disassemble.

2016 - Toeller Observatory / F-Scope Work Party. Paul Borchardt, Tamas Kriska, Agnes Keszler, Jeff Kraehnke.

2016 - Toeller Observatory / F-Scope Work Party. Paul Borchardt, Tamas Kriska, Agnes Keszler, Jeff Kraehnke.

2016 - MAS Work Party - S-Dome Assemble.

2016 - MAS Work Party - S-Dome Assemble. From Left: Scott Berg, ?, Lee Keith, Frank Kenney, Agnes Keszler, Sue Timlin, Tamas Kriska, Jeff Kraehnke, Paul Borchardt

2014 - Fox News visits the MAS. Paul Borchardt being interviewed.

2014 - Fox News visits the MAS. Paul Borchardt being interviewed live.

2017 - Yerkes Observatory Star Party

2017 - Yerkes Star Party. From Left: Paul Borchardt, Henry Gerner, Jessica Moehr, Mike Wagner, ?, Jeff  Kraehnke, Agnes Keszler, Paul Smith, Tamas Kriska, ?, Sue Timlin, Herman Restrepo, Jason, Doyle.

2016 - Tamas Kriska. Start of the Quonset remodel. Removal of office wall.

2016 - Tamas Kriska. Start of the Quonset remodel. Removal of the office wall.

2016, October - Quonset is gutted.

2016, October - Quonset is gutted.

2016 - Jeff Kraehnke and Tamas Kriska on the roof of the Quonset.all.

2016 - Jeff Kraehnke and Tamas Kriska on the roof of the Quonset.

2016, October - Quonset remodel. Lee Keith and Russ Blankenburg.

2016, October - Quonset remodel. Lee Keith and Russ Blankenburg.

2016 - Dec. 31 = Jeff Kraehnke,

2016 - Dec. 31st. Jeff Kraehnke, Scott Berg, Clark Brizendine, Tamas Kriska, and Jill Roberts.

2017, January - Quonset remodel. Jeff Kraehnke.

2017, January - Quonset remodel. Jeff Kraehnke.

2017 - List of Quonset Remodel participant

2017 - List of the many MAS members who contributed to the Quonset remodel project.

2017 - Tribute to TAJ: Tamas Kriska, Agnes Keszler, and Jeff Kraehnke.

2017 - Completed Quonset remodel. A tribute to the contributions of TAJ: Tamas Kriska, Agnes Keszler, and Jeff Kraehnke.

2018 - A-Dome Remodel, Tamas Kriska and Agnes Keszler

2018 - A-Dome Remodel, Tamas Kriska and Agnes Keszler.

2017 - MAS Campout, Tamas Kriska and Agnes Keszler

2017 - MAS Campout, Tamas Kriska and Agnes Keszler.

2017 - Total Solar Eclipse Group Picture

2017 - Total Solar Eclipse. Tamas Kriska, Rob Burgress, Agnes Keszler, Jeff Kraehnke, Jill Roberts, Jessica Moehr, ?.

2017 - First Christmas Party in the newly remodeled Quonset.

2017 - First Christmas Party in the newly remodeled Quonset.

2018 - New Dome for the Solar Observatory

2018 - New Dome for the Solar Observatory. Lee Keith, Paul Borchardt, Jeff Kraehnke, Russ Blankenburg, Tamas Kriska.

2019 - New Parking Lot Sign.

2019 - New parking lot sign. Tamas Kriska, Russ Blankenburg, Paul Borchardt, Jeff Kraehnke.

2015 - Gene Hanson on TMJ

2015 - Gene Hanson on TMJ talking about a fireball sighting.

2017 - Paul Borchardt on TMJ talking about fireball sighting.

2017 - Paul Borchardt on TMJ talking about fireball sighting.

MAS Observatory Grounds, September 2018 The Observatory grounds taken in September, 2018.