Where did the summer break disappear too Noah asked me as we drove to Spruce Knob West Virginia. Determined that we would do something different this year to mark the summers end, a camping trip seemed appropriate so on September 3rd-7th, 2010,The Almost Heaven Star Party came at a perfect time. Hosted by The Mountain Institute (TMI) and sponsored by the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC), the event offered the best night sky viewing we could ask for. The highlight of the trip was operating a 40 foot radio telescope at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s (NRAO) facilities. The 40 foot has a special place in history because its “feed system (dipole antenna and protective radome) is the original feed used for the project OZMA – the first collective scientific effort to search for communications from the extraterrestrial civilizations”. Acting like a scientist, Noah operated the chart recorder and turned on the motor to position the scope for a Drift Scan or “Park and Ride”. With a team of 11 other NOVAC members, Noah helped track the Galactic Center of the Milky Way. “The idea of letting the Earths rotation help track objects in space and seeing the spikes appear on the chart recorder was the most fascinating part of the late night” Noah expressed. Amazingly, the equipment was very easy to work; everything from setting a 500 Jansky pre-calibration baseline to adjusting the analog dial to move the telescope to the proper declination. Observing the Milky Way took on a new meaning that night, a night that Noah said, he ”will never forget”.
Me and Noah are standing in front of the 40-foot waiting for our observing session to begin.
Noah is observing the transit time clock and relaying the time back to a fellow NOVAC member.
The results of the collective effort to trace the Galactic Center. As the very first scan of the observing session everyone was very excited. We all signed the scan to remember the moment.
Noah is setting the declination for the next object that will pass by the telescope by adjusting the analog dial.
Noah expressed an interest in operating the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT)which is the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope. There is a “call for proposal” section on the website where Noah could make a request to fulfill his desire to operate the GBT.
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The newest member of our family Odie is being well cared for as a result of Noah’s reading. Implementing many of the training tips outlined in the book, the bond between Noah and his new puppy has been fascinating to observe and is the inspiration behind Noah’s latest book, 
