John "Jack" Borden Newton (born 13 August 1942,Winnipeg,Manitoba) is a Canadianastronomer, best known for his publications and images in amateurastrophotography.
Newton was 13 years old when he took his first astrophotograph, of theplanetSaturn. He pioneered "cold camera" astrophotography, chilling a film camera with dry ice, allowing for substantially longer exposures on film to get detail out of very dim and distant celestial objects.[1]
In 1991, Newton became the first amateur astrophotographer to make full color CCD images of celestial objects using a Santa Barbara Instruments Group ST-4 camera, making a full color CCD image of M57, the "Ring Nebula" and M27, the "Dumbbell Nebula". He took three separate black and white images, each taken with a separate filter in red, blue, and green, which were later combined in software that was being developed for amateur astrophotography by Richard Berry, then editor ofAstronomy magazine. Berry published the first combined color CCD image of M27 as his magazine's cover in February, 1992.[2]
Newton has published six books onamateur astronomy and astrophotography. His first book,Astrophotography: From Film to Infinity, was published by Astronomical Endeavors Publishing Company (Buffalo, NY) in 1974.
Deep Sky Objects was published in 1977 by GALL Publications (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) ISBN 0-88904-081-8.
He has had two books published byCambridge University Press: theCambridge Deep-Sky Album in 1983,ISBN 978-0521256681, and theGuide to Amateur Astronomy in 1995,ISBN 978-0521444927.
He received theQueen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 for his contributions to science.[3] He is the Honorary Patron of the Cotswold Astronomical Society.[citation needed]
In 2005,Carolyn S. Shoemaker andDavid H. Levy named anasteroid,30840 Jackalice = 1991 GC2, in honor of Newton's astrophotographic accomplishments and of the work in astronomyoutreach by Jack and Alice Newton.[4]
Newton was elected by membership of theAstronomical Society of the Pacific to a three terms of office on its board of trustees. (1991-1997, 2006–7) He led the launch of Project Astro which aims to assist astronomers and teachers in the classroom. Newton was the recipient of theAmateur Achievement Award of Astronomical Society of the Pacific in 1988 for his work in astrophotography.[3] This award "recognizes significant observational or technological contributions to astronomy or amateur astronomy by an individual not employed in the field of astronomy in a professional capacity".
Jack has led solar eclipse expeditions toOaxaca (Mexico),Baker Lake, Nunavut,Bransk,Baja California, and Indonesia. He also led a group to Peru to viewHalley's Comet.
He was a long-time member of thePuckett Observatory World Supernova Search Team, and as of the date of disbandment of the Team in October 2019, was credited with one pre-discovery, over 210 discoveries and co-discoveries, and onecataclysmic variable discovery in June 2010.[5]
Newton helped establish the astronomy program at theLester B. Pearson College of the Pacific (UWC), in British Columbia, Canada, to which he donated his 25-inchNewtonian telescope. The Newtons served several terms as honorary patrons of the college.
Newton was the President of theRoyal Astronomical Society of Canada from 1975 to 1976.[6]
He was elected as a Life Member in 1978. His photos appear on the cover of the 2007Observer’s Handbook and in the RASC calendar. The Victoria Center created a "Newton/Ball" (Jack Newton/George Ball) award which it gives annually as a service award. He received the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada's Ken Chilton prize in 1978. He was the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada's Chant Medal recipient for 1989.[7]
Jack is the subject of the 2023 documentary "Jack Newton'sJourney to the Stars". It includes interviews with him and covers the history of his telescope and camera innovations.[8]
His photography and writing has frequently been published inAstronomy magazine. His photos have been published inSkynews (Canada) and inSterne und Weltraum, the journal of the GermanMax Planck Institute.[9]
In 2007, one of his solar images was used for the lead-in to the science section inLife: Platinum Edition Anniversary Collection—70 Years of Extraordinary Photography (ISBN 1-933405-17-1)
His solar images appeared inNational Geographic's 2004 special edition entitledExploring Space - the universe in pictures,Time Inc.'sLife - the Year in Pictures (2003 & 2004), and inSky & Telescopes 2004Beautiful Universe issue.
His astrophotographs have appeared in theAudubon Field Guide to the Night Sky, and inNightwatch, an astronomy book byTerence Dickinson, with whom Newton co-wroteSplendors of the Universe: A Practical Guide to Photographing the Night Sky, 1997. He also is active in supporting the goals of the Internationaldark-sky movement.[citation needed]
Through 2023, the Newtons owned and operated an astronomy-themedbed and breakfast – the Observatory B&B – nearOsoyoos,British Columbia. Guests were provided evening and morning astronomy "tours" using a rooftop telescope. Jack and Alice are cofounders of the Arizona Sky Village, an astronomy and nature-oriented community inPortal, Arizona.
| Preceded by | Amateur Achievement Award of Astronomical Society of the Pacific 1988 | Succeeded by |
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