Sider’s Interest in Astronomy Began at Early Age

By CHRISTI ATHERTON, Westside correspondent

Scott Conner’s obsession with the night sky began at 9 years old, when his uncle gave him a four-inch refractor telescope.

Looking through the small scope, stars weren’t much more than tiny points of light, but then he found Saturn.

"I was like, oh, my God, you can see the rings of Saturn," Conner said. "I was hooked."

In 1986, at 16, he wanted a better look at Halley’s Comet than a backyard telescope could provide, so he decided to visit the Wahnsiedler Observatory in Lynnville, Ind.

"It was exactly what I was looking for – all these people, telescopes, just a wonderful time," he said.

He has been a member of the Evansville Astronomical Society ever since, and 22 years later he is now president of the EAS, a position he has held since 2000.

The Mater Dei graduate chose to live on the West Side’s outskirts for better nighttime viewing, but more and more lights continue to go up around him.

"Light pollution is the bane of astronomers," he lamented.

The observatory in Lynnville is experiencing similar problems, even though its location was chosen specifically to be near Evansville while being as far from excessive light as possible. Conner cites studies showing that lower light levels and less glare are actually safer.

"That’s what I wish I could teach people," he said. "If you have shielded lights, the light is where it needs to be and the energy is not poured into space."

He also wants to share his love of the sky. "That’s why I’m in it," he said.

He especially enjoys showing first-timers his favorite – Saturn.

"Once you see it, you’re never the same," he said. "That’s the thrill of astronomy."

In 2000, he upgraded to a telescope large enough that a step ladder is required for viewing. It has its own trailer for transporting, which Conner built to specifically fit the telescope.

His main goal is public outreach, and he estimates that at least 12,000 people have examined the sky through his telescope. He and a few other members of the EAS do public programs upon request. They especially like traveling to schools to share their enthusiasm and knowledge with students, many of whom have never had a chance to visit an observatory.

The EAS has public star watches roughly once a month in Lynnville, including upcoming summer dates of June 21 and Aug. 23. During events at the observatory, society members often track the International Space Station with the naked eye.

"Kids love it," Conner said. "When they see the Space Station go over, they feel connected to space. To see something that man is in makes it more real."

There will also be a Moon Watch at the Evansville Museum on July 12, when several society members will have telescopes set up for public viewing. A full schedule, membership information and information on arranging a school or group visit are available at the society’s Web site, www.evansvilleastro.org.

Conner is very enthusiastic about the organization.

"It’s a great bunch, so laid back," he said. "Some people believe the universe is 10,000 years old, some believe it’s 13 million. But we all get along; we don’t care. We just love looking at the sky."