Robert K. Buchheim
Robert K. (Bob) Buchheim has been an avid amateur astronomer for over 30 years. His particular joys are introducing children to the night sky and encouraging other amateurs to participate in small-telescope research projects. His book, “The Sky Is Your Laboratory”, a manual for the research-oriented amateur astronomer, is a result of his enthusiastically promoting amateur astronomical research. Along the way, as a speaker, researcher, mentor, writer, and an enthusiastic amateur astronomer, Bob has been able to help many others expand their astronomical horizons.
Bob is an experienced visual observer, CCD photometrist, and telescope maker as well. He has published several research papers in peer-reviewed journals on asteroids, variable stars, and double-star astrometry, presented papers at a number of astronomy conferences, and gives presentations at amateur astronomy clubs. He is a 25-year member of the Orange County Astronomers (OCA) has been a Trustee (for several years) and is currently (2010) Secretary of OCA. Bob is also a Board member of the Society for Astronomical Sciences (SAS), a member of the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) and the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO). For several years Bob wrote a monthly astronomy column for local newspapers. He also is proprietor of his backyard Altimira Observatory.
Professionally, Bob’s background is in engineering management for defense projects; in that role he has also published technical papers in professional journals. He received a BS in Physics from Arizona State University, and is a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College and the UCLA Executive Management program.