Our interest in astronomy has taken us from astrophotography and imaging to volunteer teaching in the local schools. We have given talks and slide shows using our own slides to several dozen schools, classes, camps, public groups and service clubs throughout this northstate area of California. We also invite local groups of children and adults with an interest in astronomy for sessions at our observatory.

We have been mentors to several high school seniors who wish to pursue a career in astronomy at the professional level. Presently, we are conducting a small research project of our own in looking for supernovas and asteroids. We will use the IAU as our contact for any discoveries made. Any new findings will first be authenticated by them before we notify this Web page in order to minimize possible confusion or inaccuracies.

Our equipment is as follows: A 10 ft. fiberglass dome from Tech. Innovations, a 12" LX 200 SCT from Meade Instruments, a 4" LX 3 SCT from Meade, a ST-7 CCD camera, a NEC notebook computer, a Compaq desktop computer, a darkroom and a multitude of other cameras, and telescope related equipment. Our hobby has become a new vocation.

We especially wish to thank Brice D. Hornback of the Hornback-Stuart Observatory for putting our pictures and messages on this Web page. He is performing a great public service to all of us in the amateur astronomy community and as he is able to get more of us on-line we will be able to learn from each other. The various user groups are quite helpful but a site with pictures can tell much more. We are pleased to be his first featured observatory but I'm sure there will be many more in the future and many of superior quality. Following this you will find some of our images and photographs and a somewhat rambling discourse on our technique and how we use our equipment. We hope this will be of value to others in amateur astronomy. ( An amateur astronomer is one who is not paid, and is therefore free.)

You may contact us by e-mail with questions or comments. rhtastro@c-zone.net.