CELEBRATION: (L/R) Don Carlyon, Sue Montesi and Dr. Henry Ferguson Enjoy the Moment at the Delta College Planetarium Celebration.

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Delta College Planetarium Celebrates 10th Year in Downtown Bay City

NASA Hubble Telescope Specialist Dr. Henry Ferguson On Hand for Ceremony

February 23, 2007
By: O. J. Cunningham

Tenth Anniversary celebrations are a time to look back. At the Delta College Planetarium on Thursday night,(February 22, 2007), there was a plentiful portion of nostalgia and reminiscing. "Back in 1997, we hoped for 10,000 visitors per year," said Sue Montesi, Delta College Dean of Students. Montesi is also the Director of the Planetarium and Learning Center.

At present, an average of 30,000 people enjoy the Delta College Planetarium every year, Montesi added.

Montesi further pointed out that The Delta College Planetarium has worked hard to become a part of everyday life in the Bay City community. Montesi said that there any number of events that take place in Bay City that involve the Planetarium. Those events include: Fourth of July Fireworks, Santa Claus and Christmas, Weddings, Tall Ships, Garden Shows, Appledore Tours and Astronomy Star-Gazer Evenings and many more.

Montesi was assisted during the evening by Planetarium Manager / Astronomer: Garry Beckstrom and Planetarium Show Specialist, Bill Mitchell.

Dr. Henry Ferguson, a NASA Hubble Telescope Specialist traveled from Baltimore, Maryland to be the event's Special Guest Speaker. Ferguson presented a slide show of Hubble Telescope photographs that had the Planetarium audience enthralled.

Ferguson said that NASA receives about 500 research requests for Hubble each year. But because of obvious time constraints, only 100 can be accomplished.

Also on hand for the celebration was Don Carlyon, Delta College President Emeritus. Carlyon was the main force behind the original $8.7 Million NASA grant request back in the late 1990's.

Carlyon said he was pleased to attend the Planetarium festivities. "I like the fact that the Planetarium is part of the downtown area," Carlyon added. "We (Delta College) like to make a difference."

For more information about the Delta College Planetarium, Click Here. Enjoying Refreshments: Refreshments were served after a brief program in the Planetarium. Pictured are: (L/R) Retired Delta College Administrator, Rebecca Wieland, Bill Wieland, NASA's Dr. Henry Ferguson and Delta College Director of Facilities, Larry Ramseyer. Both Rebecca Wieland and Ramseyer were involved in the original planetarium project back in 1996.