Astronomer David Lane, who created the world’s first telescope managed by social media at Saint Mary’s College in Halifax, died late final month following a nine-month battle with mind most cancers.
Lane was born in Germany in 1963 earlier than shifting to Hebbville, N.S., the place he grew up, in response to his obituary.
He labored at Saint Mary’s College for 29 years, beginning in 1992 as system administrator within the astronomy and physics division and later because the director of the Burke-Gaffney Observatory till his retirement in 2021.
Rob Thacker, a professor within the college’s astronomy and physics division, stated Lane wrote the code and developed the robotic infrastructure that allowed the observatory’s telescope to be managed by anybody on this planet by means of social media.
“That was actually, actually important as a result of it obtained folks eager about what you may do with observatory amenities like this,” Thacker stated.
“If you take a look at Dave’s profession, the factor that runs by means of it was actually what we name outreach, this concept of connecting folks with the universe. And I believe that’s an extremely highly effective factor.”
Saint Mary’s College awarded Lane an honorary doctorate in science in 2024 for his contributions to astronomy.
Lane was a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, serving as nationwide president for 2 phrases from 2008 to 2013. Lane additionally obtained a number of awards from the society.
Lane and RASC member Paul Grey have been the primary Canadians to find supernovas from inside Canada.
Dave Chapman, one other RASC member, met Lane 35 years in the past in Halifax.
He stated Lane lived, breathed and slept astronomy. When Lane first obtained the job on the college, he appeared like “he had died and gone to heaven,” stated Chapman.
Mary Lou Whitehorne, honorary president of the Halifax chapter of the RASC and previous president of the nationwide physique, stated Lane was actively concerned in organizing faculty and group group visits to the observatory, which gave youngsters and adults an opportunity to expertise stargazing and ask questions.
Ardour for environmental points
She stated even within the early days of working collectively they have been each involved about environmental points and have been beginning to consider the planet as a life-support system and never only a rock in area.
Lane communicated that philosophy to the younger folks he encountered, she stated.
“He was simply a type of actually constructive those that produced constructive repercussions, waves of constructive motion simply type of emanated out from Dave,” Whitehorne stated.
Lane met his spouse, Michelle, 25 years in the past and they might have celebrated 22 years of marriage this September.
She stated they have been lively members of the St. Margaret Crusing Membership in Glen Haven, close to their house.
He grew to become a eager and proficient racer, she stated, and beloved each facet of crusing. He additionally had a pure affinity for the climate, tide and winds.
“He had a present for participating folks within the issues that he cared about, whether or not it was astronomy or crusing, and beloved to share his ardour for these actions with others,” she stated.
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This text is from from cbc.ca (CBC NEWS CANADA)