Sky's Up January-February 2018 | Page 50

Although they followed different career paths (law and computer science) there is little doubt where they got their love of learning and drive to succeed. Dr. Walker’s accomplishments are inspiring … and inspiration, itself, is part of her motivation. “From the days of Star Trek and the first man on the moon, I have seen starry skies opening our minds to endless possibilities,” explains Walker. While Walker is motivated by the humanistic aspect of protecting night sky heritage, she is equally in tune with the significance of preserving dark skies for astronomy and research. Walker was herself a radio- astronomer who helped to build instrumentation for the Heinrich Hertz Sub-millimeter Telescope for Mt. Graham in southeast Arizona. With an undergraduate degree in astronomy-physics, a masters in electrical engineering, The International Dark-Sky Association is the recognized authority on light pollution. We work to protect and restore the natural nighttime environment through outreach, public policy, conservation, and the certification of environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. and a Ph.D. in astronomy, Walker is one of those rare individuals who values night skies from both the humanities and the scientific perspectives with equal depth. Walker easily identifies the heroes who inspired her, many of them notable women in the field of astronomy. Waltraut Seitter, director of the Astronomy Department at Muenster Universitaet in Germany was “a powerhouse” who invited Walker as a student to work with her at the observatory in Germany. Dorrit Hoffleit of Yale was the director of the Maria Mitchell Observatory on Nantucket Island and gave Walker her first summer job. And Maria Mitchell was herself the first female astronomer in the U.S., a comet-finder in the 1840s who was not recognized as a scientist in her home country, though the Queen of Denmark honored her. When Walker describes the education projects she and her team have created, it’s impossible not to hear in her voice a sense of maternal pride, love, and concern. Equally clear is a scientist’s insight—and a dark-sky advocate’s hope for the future of night on Earth. The NEW 92° LE Series Waterproof Eyepieces Longest Eye Relief in Their Class, Hyper-Wide The 92° LE Series Waterproof eyepieces provide a hyper-wide apparent field of view with long eye relief for comfortable viewing that immerses you in vast expanses of the star-studded sky. Optics and Coatings Each eyepiece features superior light transmission using high-refractive, edge- blackened optics with EMD multi-layer coatings on all optical surfaces. Explore STAR Unlimited Lifetime Warranty All Explore Scientific eyepieces registered within 60 days of purchase are protected by our exclusive, fully transferrable unlimited lifetime warranty to guarantee your satisfaction. What will you discover? ©2016 Explore Scientific® All rights reserved. Purchase information and authorized dealer locater available at our website. 50 explorescientificusa.com Sky ’ s Up