I received my ?rst telescope, a 60 mm (2. 4 in) Unitron refractor, as a surprise Christmas gift from my father when I was 10 years old, and over the next several years, I spent countless hours exploring the heavens, seeking out virtually every celestial object I could ?nd with this small aperture. I consider myself quite for- nate to have been blessed with a dark, unobstructed observing site for most of my childhood, unlike many of my astronomical friends who were always trying to get to a remote location away from city lights to do worthwhile deep-sky observing. I only had to carry my telescope and star charts just a few feet away into my backyard. By the time I entered high school, the night sky had become a delightfully fam- iar place. I had tracked down virtually all of the galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters within reach of my little instrument, and I split most of the double stars that were theoretically possible with its exquisite optics. Eventually, I earned suf?cient funds working part-time jobs (and saving school lunch money) to purchase a premium 10. 2 cm (4. 0 in) refractor, another Unitron that I quickly put through its paces, once again surveying my favorite deep-sky objects. Despite the fact that I could see all of them much better with increased aperture, I soon recognized how virtually changeless they were, so I started expanding my observational
About the Author:

In addition to his professional research that has appeared in various technical journals, for over twenty-five years Julius has written extensively on the subjects of lunar and planetary astronomy. He has also mad considerable contributions to the existing literature on methods and techniques for making visual observations of the Moon and planets with various astronomical instruments and accessories. For many years his articles have appeared in Sky and Telescope, Astronomy, Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Journal of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, Star and Sky, and elsewhere. He has also published comprehensive A.L.P.O. observing manuals on Saturn, Venus, and the Moon so that enthusiasts all over the world could plan and execute useful research programs. Julius has frequently been a guest speaker at local and national astronomical gatherings and his efforts as a liaison between amateur and professional planetary scientists has helped improve the significance of A.L.P.O. observational work.