Jerome Klingaman

Jerome's interests have mainly focused on astrophotography and capturing images of reflection and emission nebulae. My imaging system is optimized for that work. The imaging has been great fun, but the learning curve was almost straight up at first, and I found it necessary to access the literature on particle physics to gain insights into the nature of deep-space objects and what makes them tick. I must be clear on one point here: I am not a physicist, nor am I professionally trained as an astronomer. My graduate studies captured a Masters degree in Philosophy at the University of Oklahoma in 1983. In 1984 he became a senior research fellow at the Air Force Center for Aerospace Doctrine, Research, and Education at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. After 8 ½ years, he returned to operational status with the Air Force Special Operations Force at Hurlburt Field, Florida, until he retired in 2007. Astrophotography is a narrowly focused endeavor, and it gets very technical very quickly. It is, In fact, about technology, techniques, and procedures. At the same time, any astronomer can tell you about the importance and value of astronomy and space for the general public in America and the rest of the world. Astronomy and astrophotography have the greatest potential to direct peoples’ attention to the night sky and capture their imagination. The Hubble Space Telescope did just that, and it continues to do so. We may find that more important than we realize in the years ahead. Amateur and professional astronomers, alike, can tell you that we are losing visual access to the night sky through massive light pollution. Most young people, for instance, have never seen the Milky Way, a great smear of light is nothing less than our home galaxy.