Just this afternoon, I have received this email from Stephen Tonkin bearing the sad news that Bob Mizon, dark skies campaigner, planetarium operator and astronomy speaker passed away earlier this week.
Bob Mizon gave several talks to Abingdon AS, including, more recently:
10/09/2012 - 'Oddities of the Solar System'
12/10/2015 - '10 Targets for light polluted areas'.
Chris H
Subject: | [Allfassocs] Bob Mizon MBE FRAS |
---|---|
Date: | Fri, 21 Apr 2023 15:03:04 +0100 |
From: | Steve Tonkin |
Reply-To: | Steve Tonkin |
It is with great
sadness that I must report the terrible news that Bob Mizon,
whom many of you will know from his outstanding efforts to
protect the night from the scourge of light pollution, died
suddenly at home earlier this week.
For the last few
decades, Bob has co-ordinated the British Astronomical
Asssociation's Commission for Dark Skies (CfDS), which he
helped to establish, but his astronomical interests ranged far
wider than light pollution, as the many astronomical societies
to whom he has given talks will attest. He was also passionate
about education and, after a first career as a French teacher,
in the late 1990s he acquired a mobile planetarium, which he
named the Mizar Travelling Planetarium (Bob loved puns!),
through which he took the wonders of the night sky to children
and adults all over Britain. In 2010, his work was officially
recognised when he was awarded an MBE "for services to
astronomy and the environment".
He was one of the
instigators of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Dark
Skies, and was one of the people behind the establishment of
the UK Dark Skies Partnership. He was instrumental in helping
Cranborne Chase AONB achieve its status as an International
Dark Sky Reserve.
Recently, ill health
caused Bob to cease his planetarium shows, but he continued to
advocate for responsible outdoor lighting and represented the
CfDS at the BAA's "Winchester Weekend" only the weekend before
his death.
He leaves his wife,
Pam, their three children, and a granddaughter ... and the
many of us who were privileged to have had our lives touched
by his. The stars have lost one of their greatest friends on
planet Earth.
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Chris Holt, Secretary, Abingdon Astronomical Society Date: