I just received an email from the American Astronomical Society that included the prize announcements for 2015...
The Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award for exemplary research by an amateur astronomer goes to Michigan stargazer Mike Simonsen, whose multiyear Z CamPaign is dedicated to the long-term study of Z Camelopardalis stars. These are binary systems in which a white dwarf accretes material from a bloated companion, resulting in erratic explosions that, mysteriously, sometimes stop occurring for days, weeks, or months. Simonsen's research, published in the Journal of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, promises to have a long-lasting impact on the field of accretion-disk theory.
Congratulations, Mike. It's well deserved.
Brian D. Warner
Center for Solar System Studies (and sometimes a variable star or two)
Congrats
David
Mike,
Congrats
David
Hi: I too noticed that Mike got an award. But, Just thought that it was common knowledge and didn't need to be broadcast on the forum. I am always aware that I too, am an amateur and was delighted to see that Mike got an award from the prestiguous AAS. Thanks also to those whom are usually annonymous in their support with my research. I also, did note that somewhere on the AAS page a link for obituaries and that the son of Sergei Gaposhkin passed away. So, Bye for now. Best HNL or Anna
Congratulations Mike!
Jim
Well
Congratulations Mike!
Well done!
Cheers
Miguel
Nice Accomplishment and
Mike,
Nice Accomplishment and congratulations.
It is great to see others, especially from the level of the AAS, recognize that (for what has been obvious to those of us who have had the opportunity to get to know you) you are a hard worker fully dedicated to Variable Star observing and it’s many specialties (which commitment has continued, unabated, even when confronted with personal difficulties) operating at a very high professional level.
Your dedication, both professionally and personally, is amazing and you are a significant asset for all Variable Star Observers and the AAVSO. You have raised the bar to a very high level!
I do worry, however, about when you find time to sleep
.
Tim Crawford, CTX
Sincere congratulations on this substantial body of work!
Well deserved, Mike!
Congratulations Mike! Nice work done on those intriguing stars!
Eddy
Mike,
The award is thoroughly appropriate for your excellent long term research program on Z Cam stars. I don't know where you find the time given all the work you do for AAVSO. Cheers,
Mark
Here is one more atta-boy Mike. Keep having fun with it. Ray TRE
The Z CamPaign would not have been so successful without all the observers who submitted thousands of observations on our suspected Z Cams and bona fide Z Cam stars. I had a lot of help writing the papers also, so on behalf of all the observers and researchers who have and continue to supply the necessary data and enthusiasm - thank you.
Mike Simonsen
AAVSO
The Z Cam list website:
https://sites.google.com/site/thezcamlist/
The Z Cam List
https://sites.google.com/site/thezcamlist/the-list
Z CamPaign papers:
https://sites.google.com/site/thezcamlist/z-campaign-papers
For alot of hard work done well. Like Tim, I wonder when you ever sleep!
Chris
Congratulations Mike, a fine example for all observers fans!
Paolo