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RNEWSLETTER Volume VI, NO THEAI RNEWSLETTER voLUME VI, NO. 3 1gB3 I f irst met Bart when he came to Case Western Reserve University, where the M IRA astronomers were students, to give a colloquium. During that visit to Cleveland, we outlined our idea to build a new observatory in California and asked for his opinion of such a project. He gave M IRA his whole- hearted encouragement. lt was a decisive moment for M lRA. As President-Elect and then President of the American Astronomical Society (AAS), Bart was able to influence MIRA's progress in many ways. As a result of Bok's discussions with AAS members, Dr. Carl Sagan suggested that the M IRA scientists present a seminar on their project at the Society's meeting in August 1972. That week M IRA was prCInised a superb 36-inch telescope mirror by Dr. Ma rtin Schwar zschild, the director of the Princeton Univers ity Obse rvatory. Bart Bok My next meeting wit h Bart took place at an AAS 1906 - 1983 meeting in Lincoln, Nebraska. He chaired a session at which I related the discovery by Dr. william With the death of Bart Jan Bok on August 5, 1983, Bidelman and myself of a complex molecule in the M I RA lost one of its most steadf ast supporters as well atrnospheres of certain cool red giant stars. It was as a distinguished member of its Board of Advisors. my fi rst paper and I was very nervous, but he made Bok's inf luence on the new observatory was me feel very comfortable. At that meeting I met Dr. profound. Priscilla Bok, his wife for over 40 years to whom he was very devoted. A world-renowned astronorner, Bok received his doctorate from the University of Croningen, Holland ln 1975, Bart and the late Priscilla Bok gave their in 1929. He came to the United States to teach at entire collection of astroncmy iournals to M I RA. Harvard University and was naturalized in 1938. Bok Their gift established what is now known as the was known to rnany as a builder of observatories. He Priscilla Fairf ield Bok Library. Since then, the Bok left Harvard for Australia in 1957; there he was Library has received many gifts of books and iournals influential in the development of Mount Stromlo f rom scientists including Dr. Elliot Levanthal, at Observatory. ln 1966 he returned to the U. S. to Stanford, and Nobel laureate, Dr. Luis Alvatez. It is head the astronomy department at the University of the largest collection of astronCITy books and iournals Arizona, which flourished under his leadership. in Monterey County. T hroughout his career, Bok received many awards Dr. Bok visited Monterey twice to present lectures and honors: he was elected to the National Academy for MIRA's public education progt?trt. Both times he of Sciences, the Astronomical Society of the Pacif ic spoke to a packed house about his work on the Milky awarded him the Bruce Cold Medal arid its Medal of Way Calaxy. Many astronomers are able to convey Achievement. Most recently, he was named the the exciternent of their research during private Henry Norris Russell Lecturer for the American discussions, but Bart had an almost magical ability to Astronomical Society. elect rif y large audi€nc€s. PUBLISHED BY THE MONTEREY INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY, A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION 9OO MAJOR SHERMAN LANE MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA 93940 Iust prior to his 1977 visit he had received the Bruce Bart Bok--a student's reminiscence Cold M edal. At a pre- lecture dinner he proudly showed the medal to the MIRA astronomers. He then Bart Bok inspi red three generations of astronomers to pronounced us his 'eqmls' and insisted that believe that the study of the structure and dynamics application of henceforth we were to call him Bart. of our Calaxy was the ultimate astrophysics. He would come in an hour before class and fill f ive or six blackboards with the day's lectur€. Ba rt and Priscilla Bok co-authored The M ilky Way copied (or which was orginally published in 194i:-On E'is 19S1 Students s@n learned to have them photographed) before class so they could give their visit he presented M IRA with his personal copy of the his Bart put as much book's fifth edition. undivided attention to lecture. time in on those lectures as the students, constantly updating, streamlining, and revising each one. Dr. Bok wrote the following in support of M IRA: ' I was for M IRA when it was formed. I am even more notes astronomer two for it now, when the organization is &ing well and I once compared with an generations rny senior, who had also enioyed Bok's seems in asking for a strong ptrblic support. iustified essence, inspiration of May MIRA develop as a strong and vital center for lectures; the thread, the the classes were unchanged, but the facts and the gathering of astronomical data and the prornotion the most The of research of the heavel'lS. The world-wide theories were always the current. currency research was no surprise; after all, astronomical community has welcomed M IRA and of the foref ront--showing wishes it well. May it become truly a source of pride he was frequently ahead of the the way--in C alact ic research. The sustained for t hose who helped build it f rom modest r enthusiasm, however, was remarkable to behold. beginniflgs. He charmed general audiences equally well. His first For many astronomers research is a labor of love not public lecture in Monterey was the only astronomy to be discontinued upon ' reti rement. ' Even in his lhave ever seen rewarded with a standing seventies Bart was actively involved in research. He talk ovation. discussed and encouraged a variety of research proiects at M I RA. This inclu&d the obervatory's After few tedious years of physics, math, and plan to precisely measure the light from the 125,000 a Bart re kindled my brightest stars in the northern sky. He influenced dispassionate astionomy, excitement for astronomy. That contagious enthusiam the work on star formation being conducted by Dr. is the essence of his legacy to astronolrty. Bruce Weaver. Certain small dark clouds in the Milky --Dr. Bruce Weaver Way are called Bok Clobules. Bart was pleased when Dr. Nelson lrvine discovered a Bok Clobule which may be a site of star formation. A rigorous travel and lecture schedule kept Bart busy during his retirement. Last summer he traveled in the Soviet Union and on to C reece for the lnternational Astronomical Union ( IAU ) meeting. This winter he attended a symposium on star formation held in Mexico City. ln June, Bok visited lndonesia on a lecture tour sponsored by the IAU and was there for the recent solar eclipse. He had returned to his honre in Tucson for a brief rest before leaving for a series of visits and lectures with European astronomers when he died. Bart displayed a remarkable zest for life and an enthusiasm for research that is rarely matched. lt has been a privilege and an honor for us to have known him and to have received his help and encouragement. -- Dr. Cynthia E. lrvine One of Bart Bok's favorite places in the Milky Way was the Creat Nebula near Eta Carina. Observatory Construction Continues photos by Ralph Meeker Approximately half of the heavy construction work on t he Oliver Observing Station has been coNrlpleted. T he steel f ramework for the building has been erected and it now stands three stories above the ground. Even in its skeletal state, the building is impressive. The concrete for the telescope pier was poured in late luly and in late August MIRA astronomers spent a night at the site precisely positioning the bolts that will be set in concrete and used to attach the telescope to the pie r. These bolts determine the alignment of the telescope's North-South axis. When the telescope is properly aligned, the telescope will accurately track the stars as they appear to move across the night sky. Work on the observqtory's electrical systems began in August. Because o/ the sensitivity of the electronics to noise and the vulnerability of the building to lightning, special attention must be paid to properly grounding the building and the electrical systems. Without these precautions, the operation of sensitive elect ronic instrumentation could be impaired and instrumentation and computer systems could be irreparably damaged. M I RA Needs Can you help MIRA? Below are listed just a few of the many ways that you can help the observatory. become Friend M I RA and X-Ray File Cabinet $600 I would like to a of ffiar Sky Survey charts and their overlays, enclose my membership donation of $ o used for research and to make observing charts, ln addition, I am making a specffir requi re access ible and sec u re housil^tg. Reticon Cooling Dewar $3,000 $5000.00 Benef acto r given a +offinent Reticon array 1000.00 M IRA Associate which will be the heart of a new detectof . A cooling 500.00 Sustai ni ng dewar is necessary for the operation of the device' 100.00 Sponsor 50.00 Pat ron 30.00 Member '10.00 Student M I RA Calendar M IRA welcomes corporate and business memb€rsr Contributions are tax deductible. September 'l 0 Arnateur Star Cazing N ight September 17 Lecture, Dr. Richard Muller Name THE BIC tsANC Address B:00, MPC Music Hall September 28 Amateur lndoor Meeting October 26 Amateur lndoor Meeting Phone zip Public Astronony M I RA to Receive Bok Bequest This summer has been notable for the large number of Bart Bok's last material gift to M IRA is to the people indirectly exposed that MIRA has directly or Priscilla Fairfield Bok Library.
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