Award Winning Astronomy

We do serious astronomy! The Milwaukee Astronomical Society can boast of more award winning members than probably any club in the country.  And some of these awards are among the most prestigious. 

Leslie C. Peltier Award

Awarded by the Astronomical League, the Peltier Award is presented to an amateur astronomer who contributed to astronomical observations of lasting significance.

1981 - Edward Halbach
1984 - Walter Scott Houston *
1999 - William Albrecht
2001 - Richard Berry *
2002 - Gene Hanson
2008 - Richard Hodgson **
2009 - Gerry Samolyk

Astronomical League Award

Presented to an amateur or professional who has made worthwhile contributions to the science of astronomy on a national or international level.

1972 - Edward Halbach
1974 - Walter Scott Houston *
2002 - Richard Berry *
 

Directors Award

The Director's Award is awarded by the AAVSO at the Director's discretion to an outstanding observer who contributes to special observing projects.

1998 - Gene Hanson
2002 - William Albrecht

Merit Award

The AAVSO Merit Award is presented to any member who, by majority vote of the AAVSO Council, is deemed to have made an outstanding contribution as an observer, or as a long-standing benefactor. projects.

1965 - Ralph Buckstaff
1988 - Edward Halbach
2007 - Gerry Samolyk

Olcott Award

The William Tyler Olcott Distinguished Service Award is presented to a member of the AAVSO organization for outstanding contributions in mentoring/promoting variable star astronomy.

2003 - Edward Halbach

Amateur Achievement Award

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific recognizes significant observational or technological contributions to astronomy or amateur astronomy by an individual not employed in the field of astronomy in a professional capacity.

1997 - Edward Halbach

Klumpke-Roberts Award

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific award that recognizes outstanding contributions to the public understanding and appreciation of astronomy.

1991 - Richard Berry

Astronomical League Webmaster Award

The Astronomical League recognizes outstanding astronomy club websites.

2016 - Gene Hanson

Astronomical League Horkheimer/Smith Youth Service Award

The Horkheimer/Smith Youth Service Award is open to League members under the age of 19 who engage in educational outreach and/or service to League Member Societies of the Astronomical League itself. The winner receives a plaque, a $1,700. cash prize, and an expense-paid trip to the League's annual convention.

2022 - William Gottemoller

Astronomical League Horkheimer/Parker Youth Imaging Award

The Horkheimer/Parker Youth Imaging Award is open to League members under the age of 19 who achieve excellence in astronomical imaging. The winner receives a plaque and a $1,000. cash prize.

2022 - William Gottemoller
2023 - Dhurva Kalyani

Horkheimer/D'Auria Youth Service Award

The Horkheimer/D'Auria Youth Service Award is open to League members under the age of 19 and is based upon service to amateur astronomy and to the public. This award is named in honor of Matthew (Tippy) D'Auria. A $1,000 check and plaque is given to the Horkheimer/D'Auria Award recipient.

2023 - William Gottemoller

NCRAL Region Award

The NCRAL (North Central Region of the Astronomical League) Award Region Award is given annually to a member of the NCRAL that demonstrates extraordinary skill, generosity, and devotion to promoting amateur astronomy and support of the NCRAL events and goals.

1989 - Frank Roldan
1992 - Daniel Koehler
2024 - Matthew Ryno

Observer's Award

The AAVSO recognizes observers who have contributed a significant number of variable star estimates.

Gerry Samolyk - 200,000 CCD, 100,000 Visual
Bill Albrecht - 100,000 Visual
Ed Halbach - 100,000 Visual
Gene Hanson - 50,000 Visual
Jerry Bialozynski - 25,000 CCD
Walter Scott Houston * - 10,000 Visual
Ralph Buckstaff - 10,000 Visual
David Weier - 10,000 Visual
Chris Hesseltine - 10,000 CCD
Neil Simmons - 10,000 CCD
Rudy Poklar - 10,000 CCD
Henry Gerner - 1,000 CCD

Other MAS members who have contributed to the AAVSO database.

Luverne Armfield
Gary Wedemayer
Lee Keith
Duane Ruokonen
Richard Hodgson
Raymond Zit
Bob James
Bob Manske
Paul Murn
Art Peck
A R Ball
Thomas Renner
Virgil Tangney
John Pfannerstill
John Asztalos
James Toeller
Scott Jamieson
Joseph Loepfe
Cornelius Prinslow
Tom Osypowski

*  These individuals were former MAS members.
**  Became a member after winning the award.

Ed Halbach Ed receives the Olcott Award at the 2003 Spring meeting of the AAVSO in Tucson. Photo: Gene Hanson

Ed Halbach's Olcott Award

Gene Hanson Gene receiving the Peltier Award at the 2002 AL conference in Salt Lake City.

Gerry Samolyk's Peliter Award.

Gerry Samolyk Gerry receiving the Peltier Award at the observatory presented by Roger Kolman of the AL. 2009.

Gerry Samolyk Gerry receives the Peltier Award at the observatory. 2009.

Ed Halbach Ed receives his award for 100,000 visual estimates of variable stars. Gerry Samolyk at the left and Virgil Tangney at the right.

Gerry Samolyk Gerry receives his award for 100,000 variable star estimates in 2003. Photo by Gene Hanson

Bill Albrecht Bill receiving the AAVSO Director's Award at the 2002 Spring Meeting in Hawaii.

Gene Hanson Gene receives the AAVSO Director's Award at the 1998 Spring Meeting in Boulder, CO. Photo from the AAVSO - by permission.

Gene Hanson Gene receives his award for 50,000 variable star estimates in 2001.

Gerry Samolyk Gerry receives his award for 5,000 CCD observations of variable stars in 2001.

Gerry Samolyk   Gerry receives his AAVSO Merit Award in 2007.

Chris Hesseltine   Chris receives his award for 1,000 CCD  observations of variable stars in 2001.

Dick Hodgson Dick Hodgson receives his Peltier Award at the 2008 joint ALCon / ALPO meeting  held in Des Moines, IA.

Dick Hodgson & Walter Haas   Dick Hodgson with Walter Hass of the ALPO during the 2008 ALCon / ALPO meeting.

Gene Hanson   Gene Hanson with his 2016 Astronomical League Webmaster Award for his work on this site.

Gene Hanson's Webmaster Plaque

William Gottemoller William Gottemoller with his 2 Horkheimer awards presented at ALCON 2022.

William Gottemoller William Gottemoller with AL's Chuck Allen with his 2 Horkheimer awards presented at ALCON 2022.

Dhruva Kalyani Dhruva Kalyani with AL's Carroll Iorg with his Horkheimer award presented at ALCON 2023.

Matthew Ryno Matt Ryno at NCRAL 2024 Conference with his NCRAL Region Award.

Matthew Ryno Matt Ryno at NCRAL 2024 Conference receiving his NCRAL Region Award.