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My interest in astronomy dates back to when I was a young boy.  That Christmas one of my friends received one of those Christmas Trash Scopes.   I wished and wanted one just like him and it never happened.  Then came one magical night about 5 years ago;  We have a family cottage in Northern Lower Michigan and one of our family members left a Meade 4” Apochromatic Refractor scope up at the cottage.  Before that night I never before looked at the night sky with anything but my eyes.  I set the scope up and focused it at the 5 day old moon.  I could hardly believe the detail and the mountains chains that could be seen through this not so good telescope.

From that point on I was hooked.  I never looked at anything else that night except the moon.   When I returned home I visited a shop in my plaza called the “Camera bug and video” and purchased the Meade ETX-90, with the field tripod and several accessories including the Autostar controller.  I had nice night skies that evening, so off I went to the backyard to set it up for the first time.  About an hour later setting up the tripod and the Autostar I said what the heck. GOTO “Saturn” the scope slowly slued and stopped at a bright object in the sky. I looked down into the eyepiece for the first time and I will never forget that time.  I could hardly believe what I saw “a yellowish disk with rings”  I was caught, hook line and sinker.

I am currently married to my wife Michele and have two girls, Shelby and Grace.  As for what I do for income to pay for this expensive habit.  I am a third generation jeweler in our family business.  I currently hold the title of a Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America the GIA.  Our store is called Waterfall Jewelers in Waterford, Michigan I work closely with my 2 aunts, 2 uncles, and several employees.  So If you ever need any jewelry please stop by our web site or call.  www.waterfalljewelers.com.

What is next?  As you see by my website I have constructed my observatory and currently waiting the delivery of an LX200GPS 10” f 6.3. as they say, "I built it, I hope it comes".  Or I will be one hot star.  Thank you for stopping by.

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Contact: Mark