Notes and News Obituary Michael Philip Candy (1928-1994) Michael Candy was born at Bath, Somerset, Cepheus. Although he spent many hours in the Organising Committee of the Inter­ on 1928 December 23, the eldest of six chil­ further searches, it was to be his only comet national Astronomical Union Commission dren. He joined HM Nautical Almanac discovery. 20 (Positions and Motions of Minor Planets, Office, then located in Bath, in 1947 During his term as Director of the Comet Comets and Satellites) (1979-1988), Vice- September. In 1949 the ΝΑΟ moved to the Section Candy greatly encouraged both President of IAU Commission 6 (Astro­ Royal Greenwich Observatory's new site at established Section members and newcom­ nomical Telegrams) (1979-1982) and its Herstmonceux Castle in Sussex. ers. He had a friendly manner and was President (1982-1985). He was appointed Mike Candy was elected to membership always approachable. He found time to Acting Government Astronomer (Acting of the Association on 1950 November 29 reply to letters and acknowledged observa­ Director of the Perth Observatory) in 1984 and was particularly interested in comput­ tions, usually by postcard in his own clear and later confirmed as Government Astron­ ing and the smaller bodies of the Solar hand, adding useful bits of information or an omer and Director. Asteroid 3015 Candy System, and put his skills to good use extended ephemeris. was named after him for his work on south­ computing orbits for recently discovered During this time Candy was also busy ern hemisphere astronomy. He also served comets. Dr Gerald Merton was Director of with his professional astronomical career, as Councillor of the Astronomical Society the Comet Section when comet Arend- moving to the Astronomer Royal's Depart­ of Australia (1988-1990), and Councillor Roland was discovered in 1956 November, ment in 1958, taking a Bachelor of Science (1988-1990) and President (1989) of the and Candy computed a series of orbits as degree at London in 1963 and a Master of Royal Society of Western Australia. more observations came to hand, leading to Science at Sussex in 1965 His observational He fought attempts in the late nineteen- an accurate orbit which he described at the work included measuring double stars visu­ eighties to close down Perth Observatory, Association's meeting on 1957 March 27. ally with the 28-inch (71cm) refractor at mobilising international as well as local Candy was the first person to see the comet Herstmonceux and visits to Egypt (Helwan) support for maintaining it. His campaign from Great Britain after perihelion, on the in 1965 and Spain in 1968. was in the end successful and the observa­ evening of 1957 April 20. During 1969 Candy found an opportunity tory has now changed from a closed research A few days later he was appointed to further his interest in minor planets and centre to a more open public institution with Assistant Director of the Comet Section and comets in the under-observed southern government and local support. upon Merton's retirement from the Direc­ skies, accepting a position on the staff of the Candy retired from the Directorship of torship in 1958 April, Candy took over the Perth Observatory, Western Australia. He the Perth Observatory in 1993 on reaching running of the Section and the editorship of resigned from the Directorship of the Comet the age of 65 but continued to work there the BAA Circulars. On 1960 December 26 Section and Circulars editorship about the part-time, and was re-measuring the Johan­ Mike Candy was checking out a new end of 1968 and S. W. Milbourn succeeded nesburg plates of Comet P/Gale from 1927 125mm aperture short-focus refractor (a him. Although Candy remained a member to 1938 at the time of his death. He had a comet-seeker made for him by Horace Dall) of the Association for the rest of his life he new house built at Serpentine 60km south of from an upstairs window of his home in was not able to take any direct part in its Perth where the skies were dark and he Hailsham when he discovered Comet Candy affairs after his emigration to Australia. He hoped to renew his searches for further new 1961 II, an 8th magnitude object in was awarded the Association's Merlin comets. Sadly he suffered a brain haemor­ Medal for his work on comet rhage and died two days later in hospital in orbits in 1975. Perth on 1994 November 2. He had little The Perth Observatory, foun­ time in retirement free from the burden of ded in 1896, i s situated in the hills administration during which to further his at Bickley outside Perth and astronomical and other ambitions. though not famous for large tele­ Mike Candy had two children from his scopes is important for its work first marriage to Audrey, one of whom Peter on Solar System objects in the is an astronomer, and four children from his southern hemisphere. Perth made second marriage to Vicki. Our sympathy the accurate astrometric observa­ goes to them and all his friends and tions for the 1977 occultation colleagues in Australia. observations that led to the dis­ I should like to thank Peter Birch of Perth covery of the rings of Uranus. Observatory for his personal communica­ During the 1986 apparition of tion and the use of his article in 'The Halley's Comet and under Australian' covering Candy's time in Perth; Candy's direction, Perth Obser­ Gordon Taylor for his help over the period vatory contributed the most posi­ of Candy's time at the ΝΑΟ and RGO, and tional observations of the comet Pat Barber and Stan Milbourn for checking (538 in number) of any observa­ on the dates of events during his active years tory worldwide. As the Giotto with the BAA. Also I thank Brian Marsden encounter took place when the for memories of Candy's early days in the comet was well south of the equa­ Association and for notes on Candy' s obser­ tor, these observations were of vational work carried out at Perth, and his particular importance to the membership of national societies and success of the mission. Under international committees. Candy's direction more than 100 Mike Candy with his comet-seeker taken in his garden at new asteroids were discovered Michael J. Hendrie Hailsham soon after his discovery of comet Candy 1961 II. (M. and five 'lost' comets recovered. J. Hendrie) Mike Candy was a member of 56 J. Br. Astron. Assoc. 105, 2, 1995 .