Scott W. Roberts

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Scott Wayne Roberts (b. 1959) is a supporter of outreach in astronomy and space exploration, and popularizer of amateur astronomy. He has participated in and engineered hundreds of star party events and telescope viewings for tens of thousands of stargazers. Roberts also instructs the proper use of astronomical telescopes for people around the world, and has worked in various capacities with telescope maker Meade Instruments since 1986, where he is currently Vice President of Brand Community. Scott Roberts is also the Executive Director of the Meade 4M Community which is formed by an alliance of astronomy and space exploration organizations and enthusiasts, with members spanning the globe.

Roberts is an enthusiastic astronomer and astrophotographer. His most noted efforts in astrophotography was as part of the solar film crew with WGBH Boston's production of the NOVA (TV series) "Eclipse of the Century" that aired nationally on public television. During the July of 1991 total eclipse of the sun, Roberts ran three 35mm motion picture cameras mounted on equatorial mounts, simultaneously allowing the cameras to capture the "Diamond Ring" effect from the 14,000' summit of the Mauna Kea Observatory complex in Hawaii. The footage produced by the solar team directed by Boyd Estus (Award-winning Director/Director of Photography noted for elegant work in 35mm, Super-16mm, and 16mm film, and in video) revealed some of the highest resolution motion picture images ever made of a total solar eclipse. "Eclipse of the Century" was the winner of the 1992 American Association for the Advancement of Science Science Journalism Award.

On November 16th, 2000 Carolyn S. Shoemaker and David H. Levy named an asteroid, 15779 Scottroberts = 1993 OA3, in honor of Roberts. The minor planet was discovered July 26th, 1993 by Carolyn and David at Palomar Observatory with the 18-inch Schmidt Camera. The certificate inscription reads: Named in honor of Scott Roberts (b. 1959), who for many years has encouraged amateur astronomers to pursue their love of the night sky, spending much time teaching people how to use and enjoy their telescopes.

In May of 2001, Roberts received the Clifford W. Holmes Award during the 32nd Annual RTMC Astronomy Expo. In 2001 and 2002, Scott Roberts received The International Dark-Sky Association, Executive Director's Award, "In recognition of enthusiastic efforts in the pursuit of the promotion of Dark Skies".

In 2004 Roberts was accepted into the Solar System Ambassadors Program, a public outreach program to inform the public about the space exploration, discoveries, and missions of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and NASA. Managed by Kay Ferrari, the Solar System Amabassadors Program is headquartered at JPL in Pasadena, California.

On July 4th, 2005 the BBC's The Sky at Night astronomy program presented by Sir Patrick Moore and Chris Lintott chronicled the impact of Comet 9P/Tempel by the Deep Impact (space mission) from Palomar Observatory. The program "Fallout from Deep Impact" documented the professional and amateur astronomers observations from Palomar, that included Roberts's interpretations as the small team of amateur astronomers visually and photographically observed the moment of the space probe's explosion on the comet's surface.

In 2006 Scott Roberts was presented the "AstronomyOutreach Award" by Executive Director Emeritus of Chabot Space and Science Center, Dr. Mike Reynolds, and the founder of the "Winter Star Party" Tippy D'Auria for two decades of work in education and outreach in astronomy.

Roberts is the father of four children and lives with his wife in Orange County, California.

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