Comments on: Planetarium on Vesper Heights and in Suter Science Center exposes generations to starry skies

By: John Horst

John Horst — Tue, 09 May 2017 15:14:24 +0000

Presently, the Observatory dome is rusting away and is very difficult to open.
It could house a new digital planetarium. with a new white dome. It could
seat 20 persons. The total cost would run about $75,000. Something to
consider during the Centennial year. In memory of M.T. Brackbill and Robert Lehman.

John Horst

By: Ruby Lehman

Ruby Lehman — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 18:41:31 +0000

I first met my husband, Robert Lehman, when he came to an MYF Convention near my home in Iowa. I knew very little about the heavens at that time, but after a few dates and a good teacher, I was able to identify quite a few stars. After we were married, we moved to Harrisonburg for Bob to take Brackbill’s place. As I recall, members of the Astral Society were encouraged to take a star name for themselves. Brackbill decided that he would give his name, Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus, to Bob. I was given Ruth Brackbill’s Fomalhaut, the brightest star in Pisces.

By: Judith Lehman

Judith Lehman — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 22:21:08 +0000

My father, Robert Lehman, asked me and my brothers to help him in Astral Hall with special groups. I was extremely happy to be able to say “retrograde motion” and explain the orrery to guests. The solar system display used model trains on orbital tracks to move the planets around with their shadows on the walls. On the counter there was a quart jar with 1 million clover seeds…….and there was a very distinctive smell that only Astral Hall could have.

By: Glenn Lehman

Glenn Lehman — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 15:54:15 +0000

It must have been 1956. I’m a sixth grader on campus to visit my big brother, Milton. One evening the crowd climbed the hill to see the revered M.T. and his magic machine. I remember another year seeing the ornery in the adjoining building, model railroad tracks suspended from the ceiling, Pluto so far out it had no tracks. That can-do spirit that the planetarium represents was EMC to boy me and still lingers, thankfully.