Posts: 1308
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 08-21-2010 06:52 PM               

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This is sad news. Jack Horkheimer died Friday of a respiratory ailment at age 72. He made astronomy popular with his PBS Star Gazer show in the 70s and was director of the Miami Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium for decades.

I remember watching his show when I was in grade school. He was always very enthusiastic and was one of the reasons I bought a telescope. The universe is lucky enough now to have a new star in the heavenly night. Thank you Jack, and bless you.

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From: Delray Beach Florida USA
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From: South Bend, IN
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 08-21-2010 09:58 PM               

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Very sad news indeed. Although we only got to see very shortened versions of his sky gazing tips on the local PBS station in recent years, it was always a thrill to see someone with his enthusiasm teach us sky-gazing novices what to look for in the night skies.

Rest in peace and thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

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From: Houston, TX
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Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005

posted 08-22-2010 12:06 AM               

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I remember one of the local PBS stations would always air the Star Gazer (actually, it was called the "Star Hustler" back then) segment right before they pulled the plug every night at midnight (which is also a thing of the past) and I usually would make sure to turn my TV there right before midnight just to see what Jack had to say.

You couldn't help but be captured by his enthusiasm (something with Rob and Spaceman1953 have already mentioned). And since his segment focused on naked eye astronomy, it was something that anyone could get involved with.

Here is a more recent example of one of his segment, for those who never saw him. I probably haven't seen him on TV for over 10 years, but the segment is classic Jack Horkheimer. Even the theme music and the cheap special effects haven't changed.

Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007

posted 08-22-2010 12:38 AM               

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I remember the Star Hustler/Star Gazer segments well. Seeing this enthusiastic astronomer with his very 1980s "Members Only" brand jacket on brought a rather interesting spin to getting people interested in astronomy. On many a Saturday night, the Iowa PBS stations would run it before their Red Dwarf and Doctor Who episodes and advertised the trio. To see Jack no longer with us is sad because although I don't do as much with astronomy as I would like, Jack's enthusiasm was always in the back of my head when I would take in some star watching from time to time.

Sorry to see you go Jack, but at least you are among the stars now. So we will always make sure to "Keep looking up!"

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From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 08-26-2010 11:54 AM               

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He also did a lot of appearances around S. Florida, especially at the museum in PB County. Met him there a few times, super neat guy.

RIP amigo.