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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

October Sky

I rented this movie on a lark and in a quiet time of my life. It was about a kid's ambition to get out of West Virginia coal mining and to build rockets. His hardships and non-support is an actual account of a NASA engineer. He is a smart young man, but the need to support his family comes first, and the dream of getting out and doing what he wants seems so far away and unattainable. The movie takes place during the Soviet Sputnik launch and early space race.

I liked this movie a lot. No fancy explosions, no insipid subplots, just a straight story from beginning to end. It almost mimics Werner Von Braun's story of discovery.

A very good wholesome movie.

[MaryG]

Anyone who enjoys this movie-- and pretty much everyone else!-- *must* read the book on which this film is based, by ex-NASA trainer
Homer Hickam. It's called "October Sky" in some editions, and by its original name of "Rocket Boys" in others.

How much do I like this book? I think it is truly the Great American Novel.

Hickam writes the most involving memoir of his first foray into rocket science, circa Sputnik. It's honest, moving, and inspiring-- yet with a frank dark side that is a masterful portayal of basic human nature and relationships.

OK, enough about that pish! The descriptions of elementary rocket design-- from architecture to propellant-- are wonderful and easily understood. Hickam loves the science, the beauty of math and logic as a way of ordering the universe. You can't help but be enthralled by Hickam and his pals as they bring their project to life, and as they move through their own lives as smalltown, hard-times teenagers.

After reading the next two volumes of his memoirs ("The Coalwood Way" and "Sky of Stone"), I became such a fan that I visited his website (http://www.homerhickam.com)
and signed up for his quarterly newsletter. The site has great stories about rocket-building competitions for youth, Hickam's years at NASA and more.

Finally, want a great beach book? Grab Hickam's fictional "Back To The Moon". It's thrilling and silly just like any great summertime read. The science information is amazing-- I especially liked the suggestion about just what the Strategic Defense Initiative is all about! The plot is, eh, interesting but preposterous, and the characters completely blow, but all in all I was able to get past the nonsense and have fun with it.

How 'bout that? My first Forum post, and I managed to get OT in no time at all!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Mary!!!

How nice to see you post your first comment after all this time as a reader of the newsletter! And you know your way around BBC and even put a couple of smilies too!

It is a very good movie with rocketry basics. As a kid, I used to launch model rockets in an empty lot with a fellow schoolmate. Such great fun!

I will take your recommendation and also subscribe to his emails. Thanks for the link.

Now, as a Chicago Astronomer, you need to tell us a bit about yourself, your interest in astronomy and how you got involved with us. If you have a telescope, please do tell us about it. Post in in the "Comments" section please.

Thanks for coming by.

[Al Degutis]

Mary,

Okay, based on your recommendation I just got the audiobook of Rocket Boys for my commute. I'll let you know what I think when I'm done.

Also, where are you at in Centra South Wisconsin? I'm about 66 miles northwest of Joe's coordinates (based on the lat/long listed on this site) and since I'm 15 minutes away from the Wisconsin border I figured I was "out there" (though my wife always says that I'm "out there somewhere" even when I'm not out at the telescope observing). What town are you in or near? Have a telescope? How's your light polution?

Al

[MaryG]

Al,

I'm not quite an hour northeast of Madison. You sound relatively urban to me! There's very little light pollution... but oy, the trees! There's too much foliage, especially to our north and west. Believe it or not, if I want to see some northern lights, or any type of sunset phenomenon, I have to get in my car and drive too!

We've got a Celestron C-5. We're too chicken to use it much right at this time of the year, because the mosquitos are the size of dachshunds. But sometimes, you just gotta DEET!

Glad to know there's a fellow cheesehead aboard!

[Al Degutis]

MaryG said:

Al,
You sound relatively urban to me!

That's my Chicago south-sider accent. ;D

We're too chicken to use it much right at this time of the year, because the mosquitos are the size of dachshunds. But sometimes, you just gotta DEET!

I had to switch from the 4.5" to the 8" telescope so that the mosquitos won't carry my scope away... at least that's what I told my wife.

Glad to know there's a fellow cheesehead aboard!

Glad to be considered a near neighbor but we live on the Illinois side of the border. How about honorary cheesehead?

Al

[MaryG]

Al said:

.

Glad to be considered a near neighbor but we live on the Illinois side of the border. How about honorary cheesehead?

Al

My mistaken inference! My friend the state trooper says you are hereby granted one (1) trip north at up to 10mph over the limit without legal extortion!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I read the Mary Laney article where she got pulled over and given the treatment by Cheesehead law Enforcement. That was quite a story

I always stay within the limit, never got pulled over for speeding, but other lead footed drivers always want to challenge the '68...I rarely take 'em up on it.