Tragic news: reach for the stars, Michael Scully

I heard this sad sad news this morning and it is difficult to appreciate that Michael has gone. I first met Michael 10 years ago today. I had just contacted Kerry Astronomy Club to rekindle my childhood passion in astronomy.

Michael traveled from Tralee to Killarney to meet me and brought his 8.75" dob with him and proceeded to show me Saturn through a telescope for the first time. I was hooked. This was the first of many nights spent together under the stars or at lecture theaters with Kerry Astronomy Club.

As Seanie mentioned, Michael updated the website and his reports and images of our observing sessions, particularly from the earlier years of the club now have a poignancy that was never intended.

Michael's passion for astronomy and outreach was infectious and allied with his knowledge, generosity and patience, helped many of us on our journey under the stars. It is sad to think that we will not get to share time at the eyepiece again.

Kerry Astronomy Club held an observing session on the 29th of December and unfortunately I didn't get to make it, but Michael did, and it is satisfying to know that he got to spend time with Comet Lovejoy, the moon and some other targets that night before he passed on.

A quick look at Kerry Astronomy clubs website will show that Michael was responsible for the majority of images, reports and other content. This commitment and his stint as Club chairman and IFAS rep, stand as testament to his passion and enthusiasm for astronomy.

I will miss him. My thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
RIP and Clear Skies.

Very sad news.
My condolences to his family and friends at this tragic time

We are in a state of shock in the Kerry Astronomy Club having heard the news of Michael Scullys passing. Michael was a founder member of the club and became chairman three months after the club was formed. He held that position for 7 years simply because we would not let him resign. Apart from establishing our web site and recently our facebook page, Michael was by far the most knowledgeable person in the club on all aspects of Astronomy. His main passion was observing and he lead many observation sessions for us. I had the privilege of spending 4 hours observing with him on Monday of last week. We had good views of comet Lovejoy despite a bright Moon in the way. Though his job took him to Cork for 5 days a week during the past three years , he continued to be an active member of the club and continued his maintenance of the website and Facebook page and was in fact our secretary.

His passing is a massive blow to the club. We will honour his memory by continuing the work he started.

Sincerely,

Paddy Stack.
Chairman (Kerry Astronomy Club)