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02 April 2004

David Levy unfazed when mountain lion threat moves star party

According to an article by Natasha Bhuyan in the Arizona Daily Wildcat (March 29, 2004), the annual Telescopes for Telethon star party had to be moved from Tucson's Sabino Canyon to the University of Arizona Mall. Bhuyan reports that the Arizona Game and Fish Department closed the canyon when concerns arose about the potential threat posed by mountain lions.

In spite of the change in plans, some 1,000 people attended Telescopes for Telethon. The popular event was founded six years ago by famous comet hunter David Levy and his wife Wendee. Money raised by the event goes to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Bhuyan's article closes with this paragraph about Levy, who was the 2003 recipient of the Citizen Scientist Award from the Society for Amateur Scientists:

"Levy, who has discovered 21 comets, also didn't let the relocation dampen the spirit of the event. 'It's a convention of moons,' he said, pointing out the proximity of Jupiter's moons through his telescope Apollo."

The full text of the article is available online at http://wildcat.arizona.edu/papers/97/122/01_2.html.

Forrest M. Mims III.