New Member Highlights

Name: Bob Hummel

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

Reason for Joining AAS: I recently moved to a rural area and was so impressed by the stars at night that I decided to take up astronomy as a new hobby.  I joined AAS to learn from some experts how it's done.

Area of Special Interest: Just visual for now, but interested in astrophotograpy down the road.

Other Hobbies: antique radios, music

Name: Cathy Brigham

Hometown: Austin, via a small farm town in northeast Ohio

Reason for Joining AAS: I have been a curious hobbyist all my life – making my father take me to the local planetarium, and spending many summer evenings watching stars. But I don’t know much formally about astronomy. I was a member of AAS a few years ago, and attempted to go to one meeting, but it was canceled or moved, and then I lost my nerve after that, convincing myself that I won’t know what people are talking about at the events. After a year in Chicago for work, where I was quickly a member at the Adler Planetarium, I am back in Austin and eager to keep learning, expand my horizons, and connect with something that has clearly been a part of me my whole life – even if it is just at the level of enthusiast.

Other Hobbies: gardening, hiking, photography, reading, music and overall poking around

Name: Craig & Carol Brinegar

Hometown: Round Rock, Texas

Reason for Joining AAS: Learn more about astronomy

Area of Special Interest: Astrophotography, interested in combining a telescope with photography.

Other Hobbies: Travel, Hiking and Photography.  We just returned from vacation at Hilton Head Island, SC.  Great trip.  First time there.

Name: Elizabeth Hubenak McCrea

Hometown: Austin, Texas

Reason for Joining AAS: Always meant to since UT days

Area of Special Interest: I love looking up at the sky.  I treat meteor showers as my religion and worship.

Other Hobbies: politics, health care charities and work, DOGS, books, travel, more books, etc...

Name: Abimale (Abe) Corral

Hometown: San Juan Capistrano, Ca via Detroit, MI

Reason for Joining AAS: My love of the stars, seeing them, sensing them, and thinking about them.

Area of Special Interest: Cosmology, stellar evolution, multiverse theory

Other Hobbies: Cooking, gardening, configuring computers, reading

Name: Maurice Nelson

Hometown: Sunrise, Florida

Reason for Joining AAS: Was a member of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club for 6 years.  I absolutely understand the value of a good astronomy club.  As a new resident of Austin, I didn't wait long to join!

Area of Special Interest: DSO, computer aided observing (to share over web)

Other Hobbies: Computer game developer by trade

Name: Charles Blair

Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL

Reason for Joining AAS: Wanted to pursue astronomy as a hobby for many years

Area of Special Interest: none yet, just basic observation and education

Other Hobbies: Photography, travel

Name: Ed Reynolds

Hometown: Austin, Texas

Reason for Joining AAS: Joined AAS because I am interested in staying in touch with what's good to look at each month and because AAS has a dark location for viewing at Canyon of the Eagles.

Area of Special Interest: Dabbler in astronomy

Other Hobbies: Golf

Name: Beverly Tucker

Hometown: Killeen, Texas 

Reason for Joining AAS: To learn more about astronomy

Area of Special Interest: Astrophotography

Other Hobbies: Hiking, reading, dogs and traveling

Name: Molly Freeman

Hometown: Austin, Texas

Reason for Joining AAS: Want to learn more about and participate more in one of my hobbies

Area of Special Interest: Planets, stars, galaxies, black holes, life on another planet, all about space

Other Hobbies: dancing, art, motorcycles, skeet shooting