I became reaquainted with my childhood interest during the apparitions of comets Hyukutake and Hale Bopp. My first  astrophotos were made of the latter using a  wideangle lens and Canon AE-1 SLR. More than a decade later and this "hobby" now resembles a full blown avocation ... after first being a husband and father of course!  I became interested in CCD technology in the late 90's and built several "Cookbook" do-it yourself CCD cameras. These were quite fascinating and an excellent introduction to the realm of digital astronomy. I started as many amateurs do in this area by making images of the night skies. Many of my images can be found on this website. I have had a few featured in books and periodicals as well.  Now primarily interested in  scientific observations  I still make "pretty pictures" from time to time. When doing so, I am especially interested in working with narrowband emission line filters as they effectively cancel light pollution. My present science interests are exoplanet transit photometry and photometry of minor planets (asteroids). I am actively involved with the XO project  working in collaboration with professional astronomers  from NASA's Space Telescope Science Institute searching for Jovian mass exoplanets also known as hot Jupiters. I am a co-discoverer of the extrasolar planets XO-2b, and XO-3b.

I have built some of my own instrumentation including an 8" f/7 newtonian reflector sporting a homemade paraboloidal mirror. The images are  stunning! What else would you expect me to say....  :-> I also have started dabbling with spectroscopy. To address some of the needs I would encounter with my telescope projects over the years I have become a self taught  machinist. My garage "machine shop" is complete with two small lathes and a DRO equipped mill to help build astro parts.

Professionally, I did not choose astronomy but have pursued a career in the nuclear industry. Following a tour in the nuclear navy I came to the Dept.of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory. My day job is at the High Flux Isotope Reactor facility. I reside in Knoxville with my wife Beth, our two daughters, Chloe and Olivia, ( updated  family pic here)  the family cat , Sheba and Mickey.

I am a member of the Smoky Mountain Astronomical Society. If you are in the Knoxville area come and visit.

No description of my life would be complete without at least a glimpse of my personal faith and convictions. Often times the night sky provokes questions regarding our place and purpose in the grand scheme of things.  I have tried to make do with purely natural explanations and find these to be inadequate in explaining the complexity and order that exists in the natural world. Planet Earth itself seems designed to facilitate observation of the heavens and discovery of the physical laws that govern the Cosmos.When I consider the many exacting  parameters that allow life to exist , my conclusion is that the Cosmos has been precisely fine tuned. The fact that the Cosmos can be mathematically described and understood is a powerful argument for design. It is also a foundational tenet of all scientific disciplines  that the natural world is ordered. While some may argue that this is mere chance or human beings forcing their own self centered ideas upon the natural world to give the appearance of order and purpose, science as we know it is only possible when we assume that the Cosmos is intelligible to humans. Many theories have been developed under the banner of science to explain the physical world and our existence. Even these scientific ideas require "faith" to believe. While these ideas are fascinating I also like the old fashioned idea that there is a Creator God behind all of this. I find the study of the natural world  fascinating not only because it in itself stimulates the human mind but it also provides insight about the nature of the Creator. Scripture declares that the creation reveals the glory of God. The message revealed in nature is particulary interesting to ponder. I  find this Creator is consistent with the God described in the Bible and that Christianity fits very well with the knowledge gained through scientific enterprise. I highly  recommend the Reasons to Believe website for an interesting perspective regarding  many points of  intersection between modern science and Christian belief.

From my backyard observatory I have glanced back across the eons of space and time  while  studying many fascinating astrophysical phenomena. My  imagery  has been published in magazines and books.  I've had observations published in peer reviewed scientific journals and I've had the pleasure of working with some really interesting  people along the way. Backyard astronomy has been a very rewarding endeavor. Modern CCD's have  provided me the opportunity to conduct serious science from my backyard as well as catch an up close glimpse of the heavens from my light polluted location. While  Hubble and  the large ground based telescopes frequently catch the headlines with their cutting edge discoveries  there is still much fundamental research to be done. This is an exciting time to be a  backyard astronomer! I don't think Galileo had nearly as much fun as I do with my telescopes.

Astronomy for me is very stimulating and excellent way to relax after a day at work. I hope that my webpages inspire you to take time out from the hectic pace of modern life and just look up and soothe your soul or in the words of a prominent eighteenth century theologian.  "Surely there is something in the unruffled calm of Nature that over-awes our little anxieties and doubts; the sight of the deep blue sky and the clustering stars above seem to impart a quiet to the mind." Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758 )

Keep looking up and remember to turn your outside light off when you're not using it.  ;-)
 

-Mike