John A. Blackwell

Background & Occupation:

Astronomy educator and director of the Phillips Exeter Academy Grainger Observatory. My background includes software engineering, aviation, and astronomy.

I spent 15 years as a software engineer working for companies ranging in size from 10 people to thousands. My skill sets include C, C++, JAVA, and a slew of scripting languages. Focal areas of my software engineering career have included desktop publishing, database generation, configuration management, release engineering, SNMP network management, and digital video.

I am now an astronomy and physics educator at the high school level. My expertise is in research based science education and in research astronomy. My technical skills are numerous and include: observatory operations, design & construction, automation, CCD imaging, photometry, astrometry and software design/development. Offered at the Academy are internship programs for new astronomy teachers and a summer conference in astronomy education.

Specialties:

• CCD astronomy: Photometry, astrometry, multiwavelength imaging.
• Astronomical software design, development and testing.
• Observatory design, construction and automation.
• Remote Observatory design, construction, control, and automation.
• Research based science education.
• Lectures on specialized astronomy/astrophysics topics to multiple audience levels.
• Telescope design, construction and use.

Education:

• Masters of Astronomy, James Cook University.
• B.S. Daniel Webster College.
• Secondary School, Northfield Mount Hermon School.

Hobbies: Astrophotography, archery, aviation, hiking, ham radio, cooking, music, electronics, reading, writing.

Contacting Us: