After living in ‘astronomy capital of the world,’ Quincy man starts astronomy club

QUINCY — Bob Weirather has been interested in astronomy since he was 10 years old. 

“I would take a cardboard tube that you find in a roll of wax paper and said, ‘This is my first telescope,’” he said. “I put plastic lenses in them, made a telescope, and I’d watch a jet airplane take off. Wow.”

Now a retired engineer, Weirather’s fascination with astronomy continues. He recently sold his home in Tucson, Ariz., regarded as the “astronomy capital of the world,” and has returned to living full-time in Quincy.

He has reached an agreement to teach an astronomy class at Quincy University in 2022, and he also wants to create a group of people interested in exploring astronomy as a hobby. 

First meeting set for tonight at JWCC

“Here is the thing about a club. A variety of people get involved. They have a variety of interests,” Weirather said. “A club has a trickle-down effect. I really like to see kids enthusiastic about various things. I don’t expect them all to be really enthusiastic about astronomy 20 years from now, but one out of 10 or one out of 1,000 might be.”

Weirather hopes for the club to meet during the spring, summer and fall at monthly outdoor stargazing events. When the weather doesn’t allow for stargazing, the club would offer astronomy lectures.

The club’s first meeting is at 7 o’clock tonight in Room A021 at John Wood Community College. After about 30 minutes of discussion about the goals of the club, members will move to the outdoor observing site at JWCC. 

Weirather has 25 telescopes of varying sizes, more than 200 books on astronomy and other science-related hardware to share.

“The biggest thing you have (with a telescope) is the size of the mirror,” he said. “The light gathering power is what counts.”

Weirather was member of large astronomy club in Arizona

When he lived in Tucson, Weirather was one of about 150 members of the Sun City Astronomy Club in Oro Valley, Ariz. The club would gather monthly for “star parties.”

“Our astronomers every month gave a lecture on a topic. They were excellent,” he said. “And then down at the University (of Arizona), they had lectures, too.”

Weirather also taught astronomy at a local elementary school in Tucson.

People interested in joining the astronomy club should contact Weirather at 217-242-7366 or newideas21@comcast.net.