Russell has enjoyed star gazing from an early age and studied astronomy and astrophysics briefly in college. For the past 15 years, he has developed a passion for star hopping as nature craft and as the best method of learning the night sky.

Recently, Russell has developed an interest in video astronomy and the added dimension it brings to star parties and astronomy outreach efforts, but his first love is still fishing for astronomical eye candy and faint fuzzies through large reflecting light buckets. Targets are located using a geometrical and proportional star hopping technique that he has refined along with others, affectionately called ‘star hopping lite’.

Ancillary to this effort, is managing various visual filters along with eyepiece selection for best effect. This technique is also extremely useful with binocular astronomy.

Russell is a veteran of many star parties both great and small and has a long association with 3RF Sciences and has twice assisted the Oz Sky Safari hosted by 3RF Australia in Coonabarabran, Australia.

Russell has been a landscape architect in the DFW area for the past 39 years. He is a 1976 graduate of Virginia Tech and is married with 3 children and 2 grandchildren. He currently resides in Aledo, Texas.

Russ will be an instructor for:

• Observing: Sky Orientation & Best TSP Objects (nighttime)