I think it's long gone, but was a pretty great experience for many many students. Wondering if anyone remembers the teacher who ran it.

Yes! I remember!

That HS planetarium program was run by Mr. Sandusky.

Of all the heavenly bodies, he seemed especially focused on Uranus.

I don't know about one at Oakton High School, but I know we had one at WT Woodson.

It's still there.

Ol' Jack used to run it - he transferred to OHS in 1983-1984 from Annandale HS. He liked to play Pink Floyd inside the planetarium while showing the (artificial) night sky to us students. Long haired, hippy-dude, pretty cool. There was even an Astronomy Club, yes, I was a member......ah the good old days.

In elementary school I think I went to both Oakton and Woodson's planetariums, one as a school field trip and one with scouts. I learned enough to recognize several constellations that are no longer visible due to light pollution.

Yes! I remember!

That HS planetarium program was run by Mr. Sandusky.

Of all the heavenly bodies, he seemed especially focused on Uranus.


Was he looking for Klingons?

Don't know about Oakton, but I remember the Woodson planetarium well, both from field trips in grammar school and from taking the astronomy class my senior year of high school. That was a good class to take because (a) the planetarium was one of the few rooms in the school that had air-conditioning and (b) it was perhaps the easiest class I took in high school.

Bruce O'Hara was the teacher.

When I was a kid we could actually go outside and see those stars at night. Not anymore. Too much light pollution.

They had one at Herndon High too, but it didnt seem to get much use very often while I was there 94-98. Maybe had class in it twice in 4 years. Kind of cool though

Why did the schools get rid of them? Seems to have a lot of educational value.

also one at Edison and Ft. Hunt HS (now Sandburg MS)

Ol' Jack (Steiffer) passed away earlier this year from Lou Gehrig's disease. What a character!

Herndon, Oakton, and West Springfield are nearly identical. These 3 at the least should have a Planetarium. Other people in this thread claim that Edison and Woodson also have one.

Since this is Fairfax County, it may be more efficient to list the schools that DON'T have one.

The school will hire someone who can use a Planetarium in addition to teaching something else. At West Springfield they had a guy who taught Astronomy and all that and was able to use it, but he also taught Physics. Makes most sense, hire a guy who knows Space, he likely knows Physics quite well in addition.

--------------------------------------
DAMN!

George Allen thinks showing kids a burning cross and teaching them to make a noose completes their education.

Don't forget home economics though where girls learn to wash sheets and shop where boys are proud to construct their first cross.

FX TCHR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ol' Jack (Steiffer) passed away earlier this year
> from Lou Gehrig's disease. What a character!

I remember it well and how awesome Jack made it. I went to school there back in the mid-80's and Jack would let you hang out in there during lunch and after school. Awesome times!

The problem is the equipment was ancient and the cost to maintain/replace them was exhorbatant (?sp). FCPS did look into having an outside source take over/maintain but the cost of the equipment is high

That's sad to read that Ol' Jack passed away. What a great guy, always had a smile on his face. He'd be proud to know that some of his students still star-gaze with a telescope....

R.I.P. Ol' Jack

Thats a bummer to know, he was awesome. I went to Oakton (91)and was lucky to have that resource. I dont remember alot from the class, but he introduced me to some great music.

Old Jack,

Cool dude used to hang out when I skipped class running away fron clausen & Kane

RIP brother-

I do.
It was Mr Fagan when I was there from '73 to '75. I was in the astronomy club then and we put together an 8" reflector telescope. Not the best job of dimensional control but it did OK for star viewing several times on the roof of the planetarium long about 9 to 10PM, while throwing a little coma from misalignment of our not so perfect hand drill machining operation for the reflector mounting.
Good times those were. Even better than the star shows and that fakey Aura Borialis projector inside. LOL
Joel

Class of 1983 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Old Jack,
>
> Cool dude used to hang out when I skipped class
> running away fron clausen & Kane
>
> RIP brother-

Loved that place and Ole Jack, RIP!

Joel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I do.
> It was Mr Fagan when I was there from '73 to '75.
> I was in the astronomy club then and we put
> together an 8" reflector telescope. Not the best
> job of dimensional control but it did OK for star
> viewing several times on the roof of the
> planetarium long about 9 to 10PM, while throwing a
> little coma from misalignment of our not so
> perfect hand drill machining operation for the
> reflector mounting.
> Good times those were. Even better than the star
> shows and that fakey Aura Borialis projector
> inside. LOL
> Joel


First names of astronomy club members from 74:

John (president)
Kevin (VP)
John
John
Sean
Karen
Joe
Vicky
Don

Sorry, no Joel.

Class of '83 here, had Fagan for Physics Senior year.

I had forgotten his name, but do remember Old Jack, a long-haired hippy and a great guy. I remember that he got a bunch of otherwise disconnected kids to become interested in doing something other than just getting stoned. He got them interested in going to the Planetarium, while they were stoned.

I bet there are no teachers like him left in fcps. It's a shame.