Puckett Observatory is a private

astronomical Astronomy () is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxi ...

observatory An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysical, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. His ...

located in the state of Georgia. It is owned and operated by

Tim Puckett Puckett Observatory is a private astronomical observatory located in the state of Georgia. It is owned and operated by Tim Puckett. Its primary observation goals are the study of comets and the discovery of supernovae. To facilitate the latter g ...

. Its primary observation goals are the study of

comets A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that, when passing close to the Sun, warms and begins to release gases, a process that is called outgassing. This produces a visible atmosphere or coma, and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena ar ...

and the discovery of supernovae. To facilitate the latter goal it sponsors the Puckett Observatory World Supernova Search whose astronomers have discovered 369 supernovae.

Telescopes

The Puckett Observatory houses two telescopes. The 60 cm (24") Ritchey–Chrétien telescope was custom engineered and built by Puckett, and took nine years to complete, going online full-time in 1997. 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. The other observatory telescope includes a Celestron C-14 Schmidt–Cassegrain with a Software Bisque's Paramount ME Robotic Telescope System.

World Supernova Search

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.

Notable discoveries

* An HST Search for the Progenitor of the Type Ib Supernova 2010O in NGC 3690/Arp 299
Authors Bond, Puckett, et al.
See also
Amateur, NOAO, HST, and Chandra Observers Team Up to Search for Supernova Progenitor
* Type Iax Supernova
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 of them: 2008ha, 2008ae, 2007J, 2006hn, 2005cc, 2003gq, 2002bp. * The POSS search team made a rare discovery of two supernovae in one galaxy. * Possible quasar in Bootes. - Variable Object in Bootes *Cataclysmic Nova in Hercules
CBET 226
* SN 2005bc *

SN 2005gl SN 2005gl was a supernova in the barred-spiral galaxy NGC 266. It was discovered using CCD frames taken October 5, 2005, from the 60 cm automated telescope at the Puckett Observatory in Georgia, US, and reported by Tim Puckett in collabor ...

SN 2008ha SN 2008ha was a type Ia supernova which was first observed around November 7, 2008 in the galaxy UGC 12682, which lies in the constellation Pegasus at a distance of about from Earth. SN 2008ha was unusual in several ways: with an absolute V ba ...

* CBET 1966 : 20091011 : VARIABLE STAR IN PEGASUS * SN 2002b
Supernova fits into new class
* SN 2012

* SN 2012

* SN 2012

* Minor planet: 1999 JR137

Tim Puckett

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 Michael Collins or Mike Collins most commonly refers to: * Michael Collins (Irish leader) (1890–1922), Irish revolutionary leader, soldier, and politician * Michael Collins (astronaut) (1930–2021), American astronaut, member of Apollo 11 and Ge ...

and Minor White at the OCA-Anza Observatory in 2000, was named in his honor. The official was submitted by Michael Peoples and published by the

Minor Planet Center The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the official body for observing and reporting on minor planets under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Founded in 1947, it operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Function ...

on November 9, 2003 (). Puckett was the recipient of the American Astronomical Society's 2011

Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award The Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award is awarded by the American Astronomical Society for an achievement in astronomical research made by an amateur astronomer resident in North America. The prize is named after Carlson R. Chambliss of Kutztown Un ...

. 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".

Bibliography

About Puckett and published images

* Zimmerman, Robert
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. * * * * * *

CNN

San Francisco Chronicle 11/06/09

By Puckett

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

References

External links

Puckett Observatory

AstronomyOnline

Michael Peoples, a co-investigator in Tim Puckett's volunteer supernova team {{Portal bar, Georgia (state), Astronomy, Stars, Spaceflight, Outer space, Solar System, Education, Science Astronomical observatories in Georgia (U.S. state)