Jeffrey S. Medkeff
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey S. Medkeff was born in 1968 and died on 3 August 2008. He was a prominent science writer and educator. He was also a designer of robotic telescope
s, a minor philanthropist
, and an advocate of personal and sexual freedom.
in 1968, and was raised in nearby Cuyahoga Falls
. He contracted asthma
early in life, and endured several prolonged hospitalizations as a child. The condition was severe enough to restrict his activity and pose a threat to his life. He attributed a lifelong love of reading and self-directed learning to this experience.
. He was a principal in a technology start-up in the early 1990s, which was sold at great profit. He later took a position as a systems analyst at Ohio State, where he worked while his wife completed veterinary school.
In 1994, Jeff moved to Sierra Vista, Arizona
, where he began working at Junk Bond Observatory
in an asteroid hunting program. Quickly tiring of the tedious work, he began development of an automated observing and reduction system for this work.
In 1997, he adopted an early form of the Astronomy Common Object Model standard as his primary means of communicating with devices such as telescope
s and camera
s. He credited the ability to use pre-existing drivers and utility objects as freeing him to concentrate on design and workflow issues for the observatory.
The results were reported in a series of papers to the Minor Planet Amateur-Professional Workshops and in journals. By 1999, the observatory's acquisition of asteroid images was fully automated, and a considerable amount of the reduction was automatic as well. Medkeff founded Rockland Observatory around this time, and was later appointed director of the privately held Small Telescope Astronomical Research Observatory; further development was done at both facilities.
By the end of 2000, the process of selecting targets for a night's observing was under computer control, while still allowing astronomer
-specified targets to be defined, and allowing targets of opportunity to interrupt the night's scheduled observing. By this time, a number of observatories in Arizona, Australia and Europe were utilizing Medkeff's system in whole or part. From 2000 to 2004, he refined the software, and also adapted it for use in supernova
surveys, cataclysmic variable star
photometry
, and trans-Neptunian object
surveys. By 2004, a number of famous observatories had licensed the software or adapted the source code for their use.
As a result of this work, Medkeff discovered a number of asteroids. He named these asteroids in honor of fellow scientists and skeptics
such as Fraser Cain, Derek Colanduno
, Robynn McCarthy
, PZ Myers
, Phil Plait, Michael Stackpole
and Rebecca Watson
. In 2003, the International Astronomical Union recognised his contribution to science by naming asteroid 41450 Medkeff
in his honor, noting that "he has contributed to the discovery and photometric observations of thousands of minor planets."
In the spring of 2004, Medkeff sold his company to a firm specializing in automating seismic observations and retired from the technology field.
magazine. He joined that publication as a Contributing Editor in 1997, writing many articles until he resigned the position in 2004. During this period, he also served as a source for numerous journalists and offered background materials on asteroids to many journalists.
In the late 1990s, he was also active in an astronomy club whose mission included public education about astronomy. He developed several talks covering various topics of interest to the general public, and gave them to a number of venues. He was also a prominent speaker on the star party circuit, delivering talks at the Texas Star Party, the Riverside Telescope Makers' Convention, the Northern Arizona Star Party, and several others.
In 2004, Medkeff and his wife moved to Eagle River
, Alaska
. Having sold his business in Arizona and resigned from his commitment at Sky & Telescope, he concentrated on the development of astronomy and science-oriented educational and public outreach programs. He joined the team of amateur astronomers offering free astronomy lectures at the Eagle River Nature Center, and first delivered a popular talk on stellar evolution at that venue in early 2005.
He went on to develop several more presentations and distributed background material on science to journalists, developing teaching materials and curriculum for teachers and home-schoolers. As of late 2005, he was devoting his personal fortune to this effort, and had not accepted outside funding.
In December 2007 Medkeff started the Blue Collar Scientist blog, where he wrote about science, science communication, skepticism
and atheism
.
) and sought treatment at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He died of cancer complications on 3 August 2008.
Robotic telescope
A robotic telescope is an astronomical telescope and detector system that makes observations without the intervention of a human. In astronomical disciplines, a telescope qualifies as robotic if it makes those observations without being operated by a human, even if a human has to initiate the...
s, a minor philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, and an advocate of personal and sexual freedom.
Early life
Medkeff was born in Akron, OhioAkron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
in 1968, and was raised in nearby Cuyahoga Falls
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,374 people, 21,655 households, and 13,317 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,932.9 people per square mile . There were 22,727 housing units at an average density of 889.7 per square mile...
. He contracted asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
early in life, and endured several prolonged hospitalizations as a child. The condition was severe enough to restrict his activity and pose a threat to his life. He attributed a lifelong love of reading and self-directed learning to this experience.
Career as a systems professional
Medkeff was educated at Ohio State UniversityOhio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. He was a principal in a technology start-up in the early 1990s, which was sold at great profit. He later took a position as a systems analyst at Ohio State, where he worked while his wife completed veterinary school.
In 1994, Jeff moved to Sierra Vista, Arizona
Sierra Vista, Arizona
Sierra Vista is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. According to 2007 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 43,044....
, where he began working at Junk Bond Observatory
Junk Bond Observatory
The Junk Bond Observatory is located in Sierra Vista, Arizona in the Sonoran Desert.Established in 1996, observer David Healy began by using a Celestron 14 SCT and a 16-inch Meade LX200 telescopes in a roll-off shelter...
in an asteroid hunting program. Quickly tiring of the tedious work, he began development of an automated observing and reduction system for this work.
In 1997, he adopted an early form of the Astronomy Common Object Model standard as his primary means of communicating with devices such as telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
s and camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
s. He credited the ability to use pre-existing drivers and utility objects as freeing him to concentrate on design and workflow issues for the observatory.
The results were reported in a series of papers to the Minor Planet Amateur-Professional Workshops and in journals. By 1999, the observatory's acquisition of asteroid images was fully automated, and a considerable amount of the reduction was automatic as well. Medkeff founded Rockland Observatory around this time, and was later appointed director of the privately held Small Telescope Astronomical Research Observatory; further development was done at both facilities.
By the end of 2000, the process of selecting targets for a night's observing was under computer control, while still allowing astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
-specified targets to be defined, and allowing targets of opportunity to interrupt the night's scheduled observing. By this time, a number of observatories in Arizona, Australia and Europe were utilizing Medkeff's system in whole or part. From 2000 to 2004, he refined the software, and also adapted it for use in supernova
Supernova
A supernova is a stellar explosion that is more energetic than a nova. It is pronounced with the plural supernovae or supernovas. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months...
surveys, cataclysmic variable star
Cataclysmic variable star
Cataclysmic variable stars are stars which irregularly increase in brightness by a large factor, then drop back down to a quiescent state...
photometry
Photometry (astronomy)
Photometry is a technique of astronomy concerned with measuring the flux, or intensity of an astronomical object's electromagnetic radiation...
, and trans-Neptunian object
Trans-Neptunian object
A trans-Neptunian object is any minor planet in the Solar System that orbits the Sun at a greater distance on average than Neptune.The first trans-Neptunian object to be discovered was Pluto in 1930...
surveys. By 2004, a number of famous observatories had licensed the software or adapted the source code for their use.
As a result of this work, Medkeff discovered a number of asteroids. He named these asteroids in honor of fellow scientists and skeptics
Scientific skepticism
Scientific skepticism is the practice of questioning the veracity of claims lacking empirical evidence or reproducibility, as part of a methodological norm pursuing "the extension of certified knowledge". For example, Robert K...
such as Fraser Cain, Derek Colanduno
Derek Colanduno
Derek Colanduno is an American skeptic and podcaster. He is the creator and co-host, with Robynn "Swoopy" McCarthy, of the talk show Skepticality, the official biweekly podcast of The Skeptics Society's Skeptic magazine....
, Robynn McCarthy
Robynn McCarthy
Robynn "Swoopy" McCarthy is an American skeptic and podcaster. She is the producer and co-host, with Derek Colanduno, of the talk show Skepticality, the official biweekly podcast of The Skeptics Society's Skeptic magazine...
, PZ Myers
PZ Myers
Paul Zachary "PZ" Myers is an American biology professor at the University of Minnesota Morris and the author of the Pharyngula science blog. He is currently an associate professor of biology at UMM, works with zebrafish in the field of evolutionary developmental biology , and also cultivates an...
, Phil Plait, Michael Stackpole
Michael A. Stackpole
Michael A. Stackpole is a science fiction and fantasy author best known for his Star Wars and Battletech books. He was born in Wausau, Wisconsin, but raised in Vermont...
and Rebecca Watson
Rebecca Watson
Rebecca Watson is a blogger and independent podcast host. She is the founder of Skepchick and a co-host on The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe and Little Atoms podcasts....
. In 2003, the International Astronomical Union recognised his contribution to science by naming asteroid 41450 Medkeff
41450 Medkeff
Asteroid 41450 Medkeff is named in honour of amateur astronomer and astrophotographer Jeff Medkeff for contributions to robotic telescope operation. Previously known as ' and ', the object lies within the main asteroid belt and has an absolute magnitude of 16.10.-External links:...
in his honor, noting that "he has contributed to the discovery and photometric observations of thousands of minor planets."
In the spring of 2004, Medkeff sold his company to a firm specializing in automating seismic observations and retired from the technology field.
Career as science writer and educator
Medkeff began writing on science topics in the 1980s, with his first published article appearing in the September, 1986 issue of Sky & TelescopeSky & Telescope
Sky & Telescope is a monthly American magazine covering all aspects of amateur astronomy, including the following:*current events in astronomy and space exploration;*events in the amateur astronomy community;...
magazine. He joined that publication as a Contributing Editor in 1997, writing many articles until he resigned the position in 2004. During this period, he also served as a source for numerous journalists and offered background materials on asteroids to many journalists.
In the late 1990s, he was also active in an astronomy club whose mission included public education about astronomy. He developed several talks covering various topics of interest to the general public, and gave them to a number of venues. He was also a prominent speaker on the star party circuit, delivering talks at the Texas Star Party, the Riverside Telescope Makers' Convention, the Northern Arizona Star Party, and several others.
In 2004, Medkeff and his wife moved to Eagle River
Eagle River, Alaska
Eagle River is a community within the Municipality of Anchorage situated on the Eagle River for which it is named, between Fort Richardson and Chugach State Park in the Chugach Mountains. Its ZIP code is 99577...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. Having sold his business in Arizona and resigned from his commitment at Sky & Telescope, he concentrated on the development of astronomy and science-oriented educational and public outreach programs. He joined the team of amateur astronomers offering free astronomy lectures at the Eagle River Nature Center, and first delivered a popular talk on stellar evolution at that venue in early 2005.
He went on to develop several more presentations and distributed background material on science to journalists, developing teaching materials and curriculum for teachers and home-schoolers. As of late 2005, he was devoting his personal fortune to this effort, and had not accepted outside funding.
In December 2007 Medkeff started the Blue Collar Scientist blog, where he wrote about science, science communication, skepticism
Scientific skepticism
Scientific skepticism is the practice of questioning the veracity of claims lacking empirical evidence or reproducibility, as part of a methodological norm pursuing "the extension of certified knowledge". For example, Robert K...
and atheism
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
.
Cancer and Death
In early June 2008 Medkeff was diagnosed with primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinomaHepatocellular carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer. Most cases of HCC are secondary to either a viral hepatitide infection or cirrhosis .Compared to other cancers, HCC is quite a rare tumor in the United States...
) and sought treatment at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He died of cancer complications on 3 August 2008.