Philadelphia’s Astronomy Stars
Author: Debbie Rech 
(Philadelphia area Journalist)

If Mother Nature cooperates on Thursday, December 13, the first quarter moon and the Orion Nebula will be the stars of the show at the Bloom Observatory for the 100 plus members and guests of the Rittenhouse Astronomical Society. And, while what they view through the lens of the 10" Zeiss refracting telescope at the Franklin Institute changes monthly, the group has held incredible staying power.

An organized club since 1888, The Rittenhouse Astronomical Society (RAS) is one of the oldest astronomical groups in the country. The Society met regularly in Camden, N.J. and in 1931 began having meetings at the Franklin Institute on south Seventh Street. When the Institute moved to its present location at 20th and the Parkway in 1934, RAS did likewise.

The Society was named in honor of a Philadelphia astronomer, David Rittenhouse - the very man Rittenhouse Square is named after. A surveyor and clock-maker, Rittenhouse combined his talents to become world famous for the construction of orreries (a mechanical device that illustrates the relative positions and motions of the planets and moons) and his work on the transit of Venus of 1769. History sources cite Rittenhouse as the preeminent American scientist of his age, lauding him an internationally famed astronomer, master craftsman of scientific instruments, surveyor and patriot. His mechanical models of the solar system, precision clocks, surveyor equipment, compasses, and optical lenses were of the highest order available in the world. Considering that Rittenhouse’s genius was a primary force of colonial American achievements in science, it baffles many astronomy and history buffs that he remains relatively unknown. RAS President Dr. Milton Friedman said he does what he can to change that.

 “David Rittenhouse has done so much for the history of astronomy that I am always trying to elevate his prominence. For instance, in June of 2004 when the transit of Venus got a lot of local press attention, when the news stations interviewed me (at the Franklin Institute), I talked about him. I mean, amongst all of his other accomplishments, the man made eyeglasses for George Washington. He deserves the recognition,” Friedman said.

 Friedman has been president for 28 years, and has been involved with the group since the 70s. How Friedman connected to RAS is a great story. He got called to medical duty in the services in Da Nang,Vietnam in 1967. To help pass time in the evenings, he started reading astronomy books in the makeshift library. As his knowledge and interest deepened, he promised himself that when he got back to the States and it was safe to take his celestial appreciation outdoors, he would. And he kept his promise.

 He returned home to Montgomery County, got a telescope and sought out an astronomy group. That search - done the old-fashioned way by picking up the phone and relying on the knowledge of people – led him to the Society.

 He recalled going to that first meeting and sitting quietly in the back of the room. When he became a meeting regular, the group asked him to be an officer. That was 30 years ago.

 “One of the nice things about RAS,” Friedman said, “is our monthly meetings are a nice free evening out, emphasis on free.” Meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month from September through June at 7:30pm at the Fels Planetarium. The best way to reach the group is to enter the Institute on 20th street through the business entrance that is to the right of the main entrance stairs.

 Friedman said the monthly meetings attract around 60-80 people, ranging in astronomy expertise from novice to professor.  While there is an agenda, Friedman said after the meetings, many Society members and guests will ask the astronomy experts for recommendations about binoculars, telescopes and even cameras they’re thinking of purchasing.

 “What makes me feel good,’ Friedman said, “is getting to see some of the same faces for over 30 years. And, it’s just nice to see people from all walks of life and professions (during the day), come together at night with a shared interest in the stars and planets.

 “I also make a point to note any new faces in the crowd and to introduce myself after the meetings. I was in their shoes once and I want to make them feel welcome.”

 If it’s a clear night, Friedman explained, the group will go to the Bloom observatory following the meeting so everyone can gaze at the night sky with the expert equipment the observatory has.

That’s where RAS members become acquainted with Franklin Institute Chief Astronomer and Fels Planetarium Program Director Derrick Pitts. Pitts is an RAS member and the man who leads the monthly ‘Night Skies in the Observatory”, which take place the second Thursday of the month, weather-permitting. Pitts has worked in the Observatory for the past 30 years.

 Explaining how he became involved with the group, Pitts said, “I first learned of RAS through some of the older, and now deceased, members of RAS, who were actually ATM's (amateur telescope makers) and also staffed the museum's observatory decades ago. My role has been that of an "in-house" advocate. I share my support of RAS programs and their connection with the museum. We have collaborated and co-hosted many programs and historic lectures over the years and will continue to do so.”

 Pitts said RAS added to the overall educational and experiential mission of the Observatory, and thus the museum, through its monthly meetings and programs which attract people around the Delaware Valley. According to Pitts, RAS is an excellent example of an astronomy group that is now growing and changing with the needs of its constituency and surrounding society. The group uses the internet to broaden its reach into the astronomy community and it’s beginning to use the talents of its membership to help fulfill its mission to introduce families, and particularly kids, to the world of amateur astronomy. Pitts said, “Their mission works very well with the mission of the Franklin Institute and the Institute is proud to have been associated with and to support them as we have for the past four decades. We look forward to our continued collaboration in the future.” 

Pitts credited RAS members with being adept at fostering an increased appreciation for astronomical events and objects amongst the public through public star parties in which they have participated. “One way they do this is by showing 'newbies' rather than explaining or describing. They let new people see the wonderful sights rather than overwhelm them with highly technical or complicated language. The sights are powerful enough. They let the objects speak for themselves, at first, and then they fill in what a newcomer might want to learn about,” Pitts said.

Other than the show-and-tell tactics that work, Friedman also takes great pride and delight in targeting non-traditional high level professionals to speak to the group. For example, in May, it was Friedman’s idea to invite Brother Guy Consolmagno – Jesuit brother and the Pope’s Astronomer at the Vatican Observatory – to the Institute. Friedman said the crowd of 250 people were entertained and enthralled by Brother Guy’s presentation. “He’s a funny guy. Many people were surprised at how funny he (Guy) was. Because of his papal relations, many anticipated a serious lecture. But that isn’t our approach. We don’t want to scare people off with technical terms and a stodgy atmosphere. No matter their knowledge, we want to give our members and guests great things to remember us by.”

 Annual memberships for adults are $20/year and for students, $15/year. Membership includes regular access to the Bloom Observatory at the Franklin Institute during the monthly meetings, inclusion on the RAS mailing list for the monthly newsletter and a discounted subscription rate for Sky and Telescope magazine.

 For more information on RAS, visit www.rittenhouseastronomicalsociety.org or email

Membership Coordinator Ruth List at RMList@rittenhouseastronomicalsociety.org.