The Star Guide
"The Universe for Everyone"
Biography
The Star Guide is Astronomer/Educator Cliff De Lacy. More than forty-five years of teaching experience. In addition to a teaching credential he has a Masters of Science Degree in Human Resources Management. He retired from the Department of Defense in 1995 after teaching Radiological Control Fundamentals, Nuclear Physics, and Occupational Safety, Health, and Environmental Control Courses to civilians at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California. When working for the Department of Defense, he was instramental in developing the procedures for radiation exposure control and accountability of radioactive material that was adopted by the agency for use at all U. S. Naval Nuclear Repair Facilities. He also evaluated the preformance of personnel in training exercises in simulated radiological control environments and during simulated radiological control accident and nuclear reactor accident drills. Since his retirement, he has taught math and English at Napa High School during the 2000 - 2002 school years and is currently a substitute teacher in the Napa and Fairfield-Suisun Unified School Districts.
Cliff is involved in marketing and promotion of astronomy equipment. He personally evaluates the performance of equipment and prepares consumer reports for leading astronomy publications. As a technical writer and author, he has a current article published in the September 2008 issue of Astronomy Technology Today on the APT Astro Equatorial Wedge manufactured by Applied Precision Technology.
Constantly looking up in the night sky at an early age, his interest in astronomy grew. In 1950 he built his first telescope from plans in "Mechanics Illustrated" magazine. It was a cardboard linoleum tube mounted on a wooden saddle, complete with a 4 1/2" Newtonian Reflector mirror purchased from Harry Ross in New York. On the first night out, while observing the Moon at 100X magnification, Cliff observed a small dark mass pass between the Earth and the Moon. The mass appeared dark and reflected no light as it traversed from the Moon's horizon to its terminator and disappeared from view. He plotted its approximate position on paper and mentioned it to his father who said, "It was probably a bug on your lens." But Cliff knew better. To this day he knows that what he had seen was an Earth Crossing Asteroid. Had he known who to call that evening, he could have been credited for the discovery of the asteroid and had it named. The asteroid would have been the first discovered by an amateur astronomer. In the late 1950s, astronomers began to classify asteroids that crossed the Earths orbital path. Over 500 have been classified as Near Earth Asteroids.
Cliff now owns a professional grade computerized telescope with Advanced Coma-Free optics manufactured by Meade Instruments Corporation. The optics are similar to the optics used in the Hubble Space Telescope and show breath-taking detail in wide-field views. The telescope is permanently mounted in a fiber glass observatory with a dehumidifier to remove moisture and dust from the air. He participates in the search for Killer Asteroids and comets as a volunteer to assist in the Near Earth Asteroid Tracking (NEAT) Team Program in locating objects that are a potential threat to the Earth.
Collecting fluorescent minerals has also been his interest since the 1940s. It all started with a trip to the Natural History Museum in San Francisco, California, where he saw the fluorescent colors in minerals exposed to ultra-violet light. He purchased his own short-wave ultra-violet light from Ultra Violet Products and began his search for fluorescent minerals. He would go with his father to his Uranium mines in Northern California and began collecting specimens of secondary Uranium deposits and Tungsten ore samples of Scheelite and Powelite. His high school science teacher encouraged him to participate in the 1952 program of Science Achievement Awards for Students sponsored by the American Society for Metals involving five other countries. He wrote a thesis on "Fluorescent and Phosphorescent Minerals" and was notified in October 1952 by the National Science Teachers Association that he was selected for a second place award. He was presented the award on the National Television Station KRON Channel 4 Program "Science In Action." He continues to collect fluorescent minerals found throughout the world and has won several awards with his displays. The "DeLacy Collection" has been added to this website. Those who are interested in viewing fluorescent mineral click on the link above. Several colorful minerals under shortwave length fluorescense are still yet to be added/
In 1951, Cliff achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 64, Vallejo, California. He earned 38 merit badges and 2 bronze palms. He became a member of the Camp Timberwolf Improvement Committee after leaving the U. S. Marine Corps in 1956. The committee was a group of parents and volunteers who helped build the Boy Scout summer camp on Lower Bucks Lake in the Plumas County National Forest near Quincy, California. His love for the outdoors was inspired by the beauty of the Bucks Lake Wilderness Area. He was an avid bow hunter and fly fisherman. He was involved with Scouting for more than 22 years and became a Scoutmaster for Troop 78 in American Canyon, California and later for Troop 64 in Vallejo, California. Teaching his Boy Scouts how to live in the outdoors was his goal to help build their character and appreciate the beauty of the unspoiled wilderness areas.
Teaching has always been his passion. He has taught RedCross swimming and life saving courses for the Benicia Recreation Program 1957-1958, for the Boy Scouts of America, and in the U. S. Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, California. As a guest teacher in the Napa and Fairfield- Susuin School Districts, he promotes the JPL/NASA Outreach Program on space missions and discoveries at every opportunity. During 1985-1992, he and his wife were the owners of "Celestial Systems - The Astronomy Headquarters of Northern California." They sold telescopes, accessories, binoculars, minerals, fossils, books, science toys, and science related equipment. At that time he taught Astronomy to 3rd Grade to 9th Grade Students attending a course in Astronomy in the Napa Valley College for Kids Program. He has held many private star parties for birthdays , family get-togethers, Napa Valley Wineries, private businesses and organizations in Northern California.
Astronomy is very important to him. He knows that several of the young students he teaches will some day travel into space. A former sign he created and posted above the entrance to his science store in 1985 read, "The Future of the World walks through this Door, For they are Your Children whose Dreams and Knowledge will lead Us to the Stars."
Cliff now owns a professional grade computerized telescope with Advanced Coma-Free optics manufactured by Meade Instruments Corporation. The optics are similar to the optics used in the Hubble Space Telescope and show breath-taking detail in wide-field views. The telescope is permanently mounted in a fiber glass observatory with a dehumidifier to remove moisture and dust from the air. He participates in the search for Killer Asteroids and comets as a volunteer to assist in the Near Earth Asteroid Tracking (NEAT) Team Program in locating objects that are a potential threat to the Earth.
Collecting fluorescent minerals has also been his interest since the 1940s. It all started with a trip to the Natural History Museum in San Francisco, California, where he saw the fluorescent colors in minerals exposed to ultra-violet light. He purchased his own short-wave ultra-violet light from Ultra Violet Products and began his search for fluorescent minerals. He would go with his father to his Uranium mines in Northern California and began collecting specimens of secondary Uranium deposits and Tungsten ore samples of Scheelite and Powelite. His high school science teacher encouraged him to participate in the 1952 program of Science Achievement Awards for Students sponsored by the American Society for Metals involving five other countries. He wrote a thesis on "Fluorescent and Phosphorescent Minerals" and was notified in October 1952 by the National Science Teachers Association that he was selected for a second place award. He was presented the award on the National Television Station KRON Channel 4 Program "Science In Action." He continues to collect fluorescent minerals found throughout the world and has won several awards with his displays. The "DeLacy Collection" has been added to this website. Those who are interested in viewing fluorescent mineral click on the link above. Several colorful minerals under shortwave length fluorescense are still yet to be added/
In 1951, Cliff achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 64, Vallejo, California. He earned 38 merit badges and 2 bronze palms. He became a member of the Camp Timberwolf Improvement Committee after leaving the U. S. Marine Corps in 1956. The committee was a group of parents and volunteers who helped build the Boy Scout summer camp on Lower Bucks Lake in the Plumas County National Forest near Quincy, California. His love for the outdoors was inspired by the beauty of the Bucks Lake Wilderness Area. He was an avid bow hunter and fly fisherman. He was involved with Scouting for more than 22 years and became a Scoutmaster for Troop 78 in American Canyon, California and later for Troop 64 in Vallejo, California. Teaching his Boy Scouts how to live in the outdoors was his goal to help build their character and appreciate the beauty of the unspoiled wilderness areas.
Teaching has always been his passion. He has taught RedCross swimming and life saving courses for the Benicia Recreation Program 1957-1958, for the Boy Scouts of America, and in the U. S. Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, California. As a guest teacher in the Napa and Fairfield- Susuin School Districts, he promotes the JPL/NASA Outreach Program on space missions and discoveries at every opportunity. During 1985-1992, he and his wife were the owners of "Celestial Systems - The Astronomy Headquarters of Northern California." They sold telescopes, accessories, binoculars, minerals, fossils, books, science toys, and science related equipment. At that time he taught Astronomy to 3rd Grade to 9th Grade Students attending a course in Astronomy in the Napa Valley College for Kids Program. He has held many private star parties for birthdays , family get-togethers, Napa Valley Wineries, private businesses and organizations in Northern California.
Astronomy is very important to him. He knows that several of the young students he teaches will some day travel into space. A former sign he created and posted above the entrance to his science store in 1985 read, "The Future of the World walks through this Door, For they are Your Children whose Dreams and Knowledge will lead Us to the Stars."
