Tarleton to host naval observatory director at Second Annual Star Party

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 22, 2009

STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS—Amateur astronomers and curious stargazers alike are invited to attend Tarleton State University’s Second Annual Star Watching Party on Friday, Nov. 6 at the university observatory. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Spectators will have the opportunity to view the night sky through Tarleton’s 32-inch, research-grade telescope. Smaller telescopes also will be available.

Prior to the party, the university will host an informal question and answer session with Dr. Harold D. Ables, former director of the U.S. Naval Observatory in Flagstaff, Ariz. The discussion will be at 1 p.m. in room 102 of the science building, and the public is welcome to attend.

Ables was born in Hico and graduated from Dublin High School in 1956. He attended Tarleton for two years before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in math and a doctorate in astronomy from the University of Texas at Austin.

He joined the astronomical staff of the Flagstaff Station in the fall of 1964, where he was appointed acting director in 1973 and director in 1974. He held this title until his retirement in 1995.

Dr. Ables will be accompanied by his wife, Dr. Paula Ables, who attended school in Procter before receiving her undergraduate and doctoral degrees from the University of Texas. She taught chemistry and biochemistry at the university level and often worked on astronomical research projects and coauthored scientific papers with her husband.

The couple also plans to be present at the star party.

“It’s exciting that Dr. Ables and his wife are coming all the way from Arizona to share their experiences with us,” said Tarleton student Katherine Leaveck. “Sharing the same interest in astronomy, it is also inspiring to me to see where Dr. Ables came from and all that he has accomplished. We are very fortunate to have such an accomplished astronomer attending our star party.”

The observatory is located at Tarleton’s Hunewell Ranch on County Road 182 in Stephenville. For a map and written directions, visit www.tarleton.edu/observatory.

There is no charge for admittance to either event. In the event of inclement or cloudy weather, call the observatory hotline at (254) 968-0522.

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