Puckett Observatory

The Puckett Observatory houses two telescopes. The 60 cm (24") Ritchey–Chrétien telescope was custom engineered and built by Puckett,{{cite news |last1=Dalton, Jr. |first1=Richard J. |title=Some go online to peer into space |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23581352/puckett_observ/ |accessdate=9 September 2018 |work=Arizona Republic |date=May 22, 2005}} and took nine years to complete, going online full-time in 1997.{{cite news |last1=Toner |first1=Mike |title=Starry eyed group makes super(nova) discoveries |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23581168/puckett/ |accessdate=9 September 2018 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=July 12, 2002}} The telescope features a new type of hybrid disk/band worm drive designed by Puckett in 1993. It is one of the largest telescopes in the state.{{cite news |last1=Toner |first1=Mike |title=The Sky's the Limit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23581658/puckett_skys_the_limit/ |accessdate=9 September 2018 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=October 28, 1995}}{{cite news |last1=Klein |first1=Michael |title=Star-Struck |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23581747/puckett_now_on_a_clear_night_he_can_see/ |accessdate=9 September 2018 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=August 14, 1998}}

The other observatory telescope includes a Celestron C-14 Schmidt–Cassegrain with a Software Bisque's Paramount ME Robotic Telescope System.

The Puckett Observatory World Supernova Search was formed in 1998, with its principal investigator being Tim Puckett. The search consists of a team of amateur astronomers located in the United States, Canada, India, Greece and Italy. Observatories participating in the search include the Puckett Observatory, and telescopes located in Portal, Arizona (Jack Newton), and Osoyoos, BC (Ajai Sehgal).

The observatory uses computers to control the robotic telescopes and sends the images to volunteers via the Internet. Each image is manually compared ("blinked") to archive images. At least 40 hours each week are required to run the search operation. Team members have contributed thousands of hours to analyzing the data.

• An HST Search for the Progenitor of the Type Ib Supernova 2010O in NGC 3690/Arp 299: [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011AAS...21733718B Authors Bond, Puckett, et al.] See also: [http://www.noao.edu/0.9m/outreach/Search_for_Supernova.pdf Amateur, NOAO, HST, and Chandra Observers Team Up to Search for Supernova Progenitor]
• Type Iax Supernovae:[https://arxiv.org/abs/1212.2209 A New Class of Stellar Explosion.] This new class currently has 25 members, are spectroscopically similar to SNe Ia, but have lower maximum-light velocities, and most have hot photospheres. Relative to SNe Ia, SNe Iax have low luminosities for their light-curve shape. The Puckett Observatory Supernova Search has discovered 7{{cite journal|title=Type Iax Supernovae: A New Class of Stellar Explosion|first1=Ryan J.|last1=Foley|first2=P. J.|last2=Challis|first3=R.|last3=Chornock|first4=M.|last4=Ganeshalingam|first5=W.|last5=Li|first6=G. H.|last6=Marion|first7=N. I.|last7=Morrell|first8=G.|last8=Pignata|first9=M. D.|last9=Stritzinger|first10=J. M.|last10=Silverman|first11=X.|last11=Wang|first12=J. P.|last12=Anderson|first13=A. V.|last13=Filippenko|first14=W. L.|last14=Freedman|first15=M.|last15=Hamuy|first16=S. W.|last16=Jha|first17=R. P.|last17=Kirshner|first18=C.|last18=McCully|first19=S. E.|last19=Persson|first20=M. M.|last20=Phillips|first21=D. E.|last21=Reichart|first22=A. M.|last22=Soderberg|author22-link= Alicia M. Soderberg |date=25 March 2013|journal=The Astrophysical Journal|volume=767|issue=1|pages=57|doi=10.1088/0004-637X/767/1/57|arxiv=1212.2209|bibcode = 2013ApJ...767...57F}} of them: 2008ha, 2008ae, 2007J, 2006hn, 2005cc, 2003gq, 2002bp.
• The POSS search team made a rare discovery of two supernovae in one galaxy.Details of the discovery [http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iauc/08600/08605.html IAU circular 8605].
• Possible quasar in Bootes.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iauc/08500/08518.html|title=IAUC 8518: Var OBJECT IN Boo; 2005bt; C/2003 T4|website=www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu}} - Variable Object in Bootes
• Cataclysmic Nova in Hercules - [http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/cbet/000200/CBET000226.txt CBET 226]
• SN 2005bc
• SN 2005gl
• SN 2008ha
• CBET 1966 : 20091011 : VARIABLE STAR IN PEGASUS
• SN 2002bj [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/11/06/MNKP1AEKMH.DTL Supernova fits into new class]
• SN 2012A [http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/observingblog/New-Supernova-in-Leo-136977918.html Announcement in Sky and Telescope]
• SN 2012A [http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120127.html Astronomy Picture of the Day]
• SN 2012A [http://simostronomy.blogspot.com/2012/01/puckett-scores-aavso-gets-assist.html Puckett Scores, AAVSO Gets Assist]
• Minor planet: 1999 JR137

Timothy David Puckett was born in 1962 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and is an amateur astronomer and astrophotographer with over 30 years experience. Experienced in the field of amateur CCD (digital) astro-imaging, Puckett has operated numerous CCD cameras since 1989. He has built several robotic telescopes and is currently operating an automated supernova search patrol and comet astrometry program which uses 60-cm and 35-cm telescopes.

Puckett's photos of comets and deep-sky objects have been published in books and magazines in several countries, including Great Britain, Japan, Italy, Germany, Australia and South Africa. His work has also been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN, BBC, The Discovery and Learning Channels and Good Morning America. Puckett is a robotic-telescope consultant for professional observatories.

In recognition of Puckett's contributions to the field of astronomy, asteroid 32096 Puckett, discovered Orange County Astronomers (OAC) Michael Collins and Minor White at the OCA-Anza Observatory {{Obscode|643}} in 2000, was named in his honor. The official {{MoMP|32096|naming citation}} was submitted by Michael Peoples and published by the Minor Planet Center on November 9, 2003 ({{small|M.P.C. 50252}}).

Puckett was the recipient of the American Astronomical Society's 2011 Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award.{{cite web|url=http://aas.org/prizes/chambliss_amateur_achievement_award|title=Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award|publisher=American Astronomical Society|accessdate=11 December 2012}} This award is presented for an achievement in astronomical research made by an amateur astronomer. The award citation reads: "To Tim Puckett for his Puckett Observatory World Supernova Search program that has discovered more than 200 supernovae".

• History of supernova observation
• List of astronomical observatories

• Zimmerman, Robert. [http://www.skyandtelescope.com/skytel/beyondthepage/Join-the-Supernova-Race-219003671.html The Great Supernova Race.] Sky and Telescope, October 2013, pp. 16–21.
• Ferris, Timothy. Seeing in the Dark. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2002. pp. 280–81, 339n
• Hale, Alan. Everybody's Comet: A Layman's Guide to Comet Hale-Bopp. Silver City: High-Lonesome Books, 1996. p. 72
• Mobberley, Martin. The New Amateur Astronomer. London: Springer-Verlag, 2004. pp. 155, 156, 164.
• Pasachoff, Jay M. Stars and Planets, Peterson Fields Guides. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000.
• Ratledge, David. Software and Data for Practical Astronomers: The Best of the Internet. London: Springer-Verlag, 1999. pp. 51–52.
• Sagan, Carl, and Ann Druyan. Comet. New York: Ballantine Books, 1997. p. 178.
• Zimmerman, Robert. "Become a Super Amateur." Sky and Telescope, October 2009, 32–37.
• AstroGuide 1997 (Japan). AstroArts, Inc. Puckett Comet Images
• Coelum: Mensile di Astronomia Scienza e Telescopi. April 1998. p. 89
• Dürer's Saint Jerome (Video). London: The National Gallery, 1996. Puckett Comet Images.
• {{APOD |date=1 August 2013 |title=Moon over Andromeda}}
• {{APOD |date=14 February 2008 |title=Rosette Nebula}}
• {{APOD |date=12 April 2007 |title=Cone Nebula}}
• {{APOD |date=28 December 2006 |title=Moon over Andromeda}}
• {{APOD |date=16 November 2002 |title=Comet Tempel-Tuttle}}
• {{APOD |date=8 May 1997 |title=Comet Hale-Bopp}}
• [http://www.astronomyoutreach.net/astronomers.d/puckett.d/index.html Astronomy Outreach Network]
• [http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9807/15/holliman/ CNN]
• [http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/3310491.html?page=1&c=y Sky and Telescope:100th Supernova]
• [http://www.spacetoday.org/DeepSpace/Telescopes/Puckett.html Space Today Online]
• [https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/07/technology/the-sky-up-close-and-digital.html?pagewanted=all New York Times]
• [http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/news/comets.html NASA Stardust Mission]
• [http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Fragmenting_Comet_Flyby_To_Be_Webcast.html Space Daily Comet 73 P Schwassmann-Wachmann Image]
• [http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9807/16/puckett.observatory/index.html CNN]
• [http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/k-4/features/F_Small_Scopes_Big_Impact.html NASA Deep Impact]
• [http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/3306311.html?page=1&c=y Sky and Telescope]
• [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/11/06/MNKP1AEKMH.DTL San Francisco Chronicle 11/06/09]
• [http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/observingblog/Tim-Pucketts-Award-Winning-Ambition-138020158.html Tim Puckett's Award Winning Ambition (AAS Chambliss Award)]
• [http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=35790 AAS Honors Distinguished Astronomers with 2012 Prizes]

Ratledge, David, ed. "The CometWatch Program." The Art and Science of CCD Astronomy. London: Springer-Verlag, 1997. pp. 61–71

{{reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite web

|title = (32096) Puckett

|work = Minor Planet Center

|url = https://minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=32096

|accessdate = 1 February 2020}}

{{cite web

|title = MPC/MPO/MPS Archive

|work = Minor Planet Center

|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/MPCArchive_TBL.html

|accessdate = 1 February 2020}}

{{cite web

|title = Naming Citation: PUCKETT {{=}} (32096) {{=}} 2000 KO38

|publisher = MPC Observatory {{Obscode|643}}

|url = http://www.mpc643.com/discoveries/named/puckett.htm

|accessdate = 11 December 2012}}

}}

• [http://www.cometwatch.com/ Puckett Observatory]
• [http://www.astronomyatlanta.com/nova.html Puckett Observatory Supernova Discoveries]
• [http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/lists/Supernovae.html CBAT list of all supernova discoveries]
• [http://www.astronomyatlanta.com AstronomyOnline]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070310200203/http://www.mpc643.org/discoveries/named/puckett.htm About (32096) Puckett], Michael Peoples, a co-investigator in Tim Puckett's volunteer supernova team

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Category:Astronomical observatories in Georgia (U.S. state)