Just wish to say that the founding member of Newcastle Astronomical Society has passed away. Professor Colin Keay was an amazing person who's interest in general Astronomy was infectious and encouraging. At one of his talks he showed us his personal Apollo experience slides he took when visiting the US, real behind the scene stuff and was extremely interesting. Never tire of his talks………
Dear colleagues and friends,
I have just heard very sad news of the passing of Colin Keay. People may remember him as a foundation staff member and energetic force within the (then) Department of Physics until his retirement in 1993, the same year he founded the Newcastle Astronomical Society. His distinguished career included the first high resolution infra-red imaging of Jupiter, inaugural chair of the International Astronomical Union working group on the prevention of ‘space junk’ (now recognised as a major problem), and award of a DSc from the University of Canterbury in 1997. A minor planet has been named after him in recognition of his contributions to astronomy. He was very active in university circles, a passionate science communicator (including a monthly column for the Newcastle Herald for over 30 years) and founding president of the Hunter Skeptics.
There is a lovely, moving obituary of him, by his daughter Sue, at
http://beingtheyoungestchild.blogspo...08/my-dad.html Please feel free to add your thoughts to the blog site.
Professor Fred Menk
Head (interim), School of Mathematical & Physical Sciences
Centre for Space Physics
The University of Newcastle
Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia
Osculating elements from astorb-database for 5007 Keay
More information regarding 5007 Keay in English wikipedia (external link)
Number Name or designation Mean Anomaly M (degrees) Long. of Perihelion Argument w (degrees) Long. of Perihelion L (degrees) Long. of Ascending Node o (degrees) Inclination i (degrees)
5007 Keay 296.25106 161.85117 330.89151 169.04034 13.355195
Eccentricity e Semi major axis a (AU) Perihelion distance (AU) Aphelion distance (AU) Period (years) Epoch (date) observations (no) diameter (km)
0.1887353 2.6772613 2.171967 3.182555 4.380625 20151005 97 N.A.
Discovery data for 5007 Keay
Number Name Designation Date of discovery Site of discovery Discoverer(s)
5007 Keay 1990 UH2 1990 10 20 Siding Spring McNaught, R. H.
from and article I wrote for Australian S&T:
The Newcastle Astronomical Society
Inc. (NAS ) is an eclectic mix of people drawn
together for the love of an interest, and for
some, an obsession in life (I put my hand up
here as Vice President of the Society).
The NAS had its roots developed in the
first part of last century. Dr Colin Keay
discovered that the first incarnation of the
Newcastle Astronomical Society was run
by prominent Novocastrians that included
Mark Howarth (deceased before 1965),
who operated an Observatory at Mayfield,
together with Dr Alan Way (a dentist) and
Dr Stan Baker (a physics teacher at the Newcastle
campus of the University of NSW ).
Unfortunately this early form of the
Society was wound up before Keay was able
to join its ranks when he settled in Newcastle
after accepting a posting at the University
of Newcastle in 1965. Shortly before
Keay retired in 1993, he founded the new
incarnation of the NAS , with a constitutional
emphasis on public education, which
granted the NAS use of the University’s
lecture theatres for meetings and allowing
the public access. The first meeting had an
attendance of 248 people, and over the years
dwindled to a steady 50+ per month attending
meetings. The club’s logo was developed
by a former member, Titus Wicklendt,
just before the first meeting.
The constitution of the NAS was primarily
set up to ensure the Society actively sought to
educate and inform the people of Newcastle
and the Hunter. Some prominent astronomical
events have given the Society some news
time amongst the general population, including
the Transit of Venus (held on the shores
of the Hunter River in the Port of Newcastle
where it was broadcast live with ABC Newcastle)
and the Transit of Mercury in 2006, as
well as the closest approach of Mars.
We attend school functions when invited,
and continue to hold public
viewing nights to entice a new
generation of budding astronomers
to participate in this
fantastic pastime and make a
difference in our community.
The NAS has been indeed very lucky to
have such a prominent astronomer such
as Colin Keay. Ultimate recognition of his
research in astronomy came in 1997 when
a minor planet was named in his honour
- 5007 Keay. For over 40 years he has been an
active member of the International Astronomical
Union.
Through his close astronomical community
contacts, Keay was able to entice many
world class speakers to address the Society
over the years. The NAS has enjoyed presentations
by a number of eminent astronomers,
including Penny Sackett (Director of Mount
Stromlo Observatory), Richard Manchester
(leading pulsar expert), Russell Cannon
(Director of the Anglo-Australian Observatory),
David Malin, and a swath of Australia’s
leading astronomers and astro imagers.
So far the club has had four presidents
- Colin Keay, Jeanette Rothapfel, George
Barnes and currently Ghul Hussain. As a
founding member, and first Club President,
and in recognition of his unconditional support
and enthusiasm for the society, Keay is
the NAS ’s only life member.
