Re: ATM Adler Planetarium --

[Nick Liepins <nliepins@willamette.edu>]

If the news is really correct about the Adler Planetarium phasing out the 
optics shop and its association with the Chicago Astronomical Society, 
then that is very sad to me personally.  When I was a kid in grade school 
during the 50's, I remember with fondness the times that I spent taking 
the train to Union Station and then a bus to the "Adler" during weekends 
and learning about the theory and practice of constructing a 6" f8 
mirror.  Much of the personal instruction came from the "great" Albert 
Schatzel who in the eyes of a starry-eyed kid was next to a wizard. It 
was my experiences at the Adler's optics shop and evenings listening to 
C.A.S's guest speakers about amazing happenings in the cosmos that made 
me decide to pursue a technical career first at U of C and then at other 
institutions. I hope this news is not true, but if it is, that is a great 
loss of a wonderful resource to budding young astronomers. 

Nick Liepins
Willamette University
Salem, OR.


On Tue, 1 Dec 1998, Gerald Pearson & Sue Sarlette wrote:

> 
> In September '97 at Astrofest, one ATM told me that the Powers That Be
> had kicked the Chicago astronomy club out of Adler Planetarium, and had
> axed the optics shop.  That ATM had some rather juicy things to say
> about new management and its priorities.
> 
>       -- Gerry
> 
> > > According to my recolection,
> > > 1.    The Adler Planetarium is still there.
> > > 2.    The  Optics Shop is still there
> > > 3.    As usual there is a long waiting list for the ATM Classes.
> > -----------
> > Thanks for the reply.
> > I went back there a few years ago and didn't see the optics shop.
>