Philip S. Mattingly (Dec 5, 1935 - Dec 8 , 2012)

It is with deep sadness I am writing this. Many will miss Phil Mattingly. Phil was a mechanical engineer who enjoyed building things. He was a very giving and trusting person who will be missed by those that knew him. He loved astronomy and boats. In the 80’s he help build the SVAS’s HGO observatory. In the 90’s he built his own Nightwatch Observatory and a giant Celestron 22” go to telescope. In recent years his passion changed to boats. He acquired an old World War II tug boat that he named after his brother Eugene H. who passed away in 2010. Phil was in the process of restoring the tug when he passed on Dec 8, 2012. He was 77.

Dr. Harry Hoopis

It is with great regret that we at Nightwatch learned about the passing of Dr. Harry Hoopis.

Harry was the department head of the Sierra College Astronomy Department after taking over at Dick Morasso's retirement, and was instrumental not only in continuing the development of that department into a fine teaching tool, but also the addition of the robotic observatory on the Sierra College campus at Grass Valley.  He was often on site, as the college also maintains an observatory adjacent to the Nightwatch facility.  Harry's PhD thesis dealt with various cometary activities and developed the theory of graveto electromagnetism.

He will be truly missed. Harry was 54.