This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian Made accessible through a grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and Photo Friends
Operation Moonwatch, also known as Project Moonwatch or simply Moonwatch, was an amateur science program initiated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) in 1956. The goal was to enlist the aid of amateur astronomers who would help professional scientists spot the first artificial satellites in space. Average citizens served on Moonwatch teams around the globe. Until professionally manned optical tracking stations came on-line in 1958, this network of amateur scientists played a critical role in providing crucial information regarding the world’s first satellites. Photograph caption dated July 17, 1958 reads "Bill Culver, left, guest speaker at meeting of Valley's Moonwatch station, shows George Depew, center, and Harold Waters, right, his satellite tracking camera at Rancho San Antonio in Chatsworth. Camera is used to determine any changes in orbit of satellite by recording it against star background."
Rancho San Antonio Catholic School for Boys (Los Angeles, Calif.) Men Artificial satellites--Tracking Astronautics--United States Observation (Educational method) Cameras Chatsworth (Los Angeles, Calif.) Night photographs
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