'Astronomy is Heavenly' author Randy Rhea holds sessions, stargazing at Pebble Hill

Special to the Tallahassee Democrat
·3 min read
The Learning Center on the grounds of Pebble Hill Plantation will host a review of the book "Astronomy is Heavenly" by local author Randy Rhea on Oct. 4, 11 and 18.
The Learning Center on the grounds of Pebble Hill Plantation will host a review of the book "Astronomy is Heavenly" by local author Randy Rhea on Oct. 4, 11 and 18.

The Learning Center on the grounds of Pebble Hill Plantation will host a review of the book "Astronomy is Heavenly" by Thomasville author Randy Rhea.

The sessions are open to the public and will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Oct. 4, 11, and 18, 2022. Each evening covers a section of the book with informal questions and discussion led by the author. Weather permitting, each session is followed by a brief viewing of the heavens from Sunrise field adjacent to the Pebble Hill Learning Center in Thomasville, Georgia.

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“The technology in the modern automobile discourages the shade-tree mechanic," Rhead said. "Astronomy today shares that fate. But an appreciation of astronomy and the heavens can be learned without advanced math and science.”

The program will cover astronomy from pre-science beginnings through current discoveries. What did Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, and Hubble teach us? What was so earthshaking about Einstein’s theories? How do you measure the distance to the stars?

Did you know that a method for measuring the distance to galaxies was discovered in 1912 by Henrietta Leavitt who at the time was not allowed to use her institutions telescope?

The Learning Center on the grounds of Pebble Hill Plantation will host a review of the book "Astronomy is Heavenly" by local author Randy Rhea.
The Learning Center on the grounds of Pebble Hill Plantation will host a review of the book "Astronomy is Heavenly" by local author Randy Rhea.

The Pebble Hill program will cover these and many other fun facts. You’ll learn about stars, gravity, relativity, telescopes, how the heavens move, our solar system, space travel, the big bang (it’s not what you think), the expansion of the universe, black holes, dark matter and energy, the Hubble and James Webb Space telescopes, and yes, UFOs.

“There are many telescopes much larger than the James Webb Space Telescope,” said Rhea. “Why is it so important? We’ll discuss how to continue to grow in your ability to understand the heavens and find fun things to see in the heavens. You’ll learn how to answer your friend’s question ‘what was that bright star at Sunset last night?’”

Rhea first became interested in astronomy falling asleep in a lawn chair under the dark skies of central Illinois. Back then there were no street lights in small towns and the night skies were heavenly. In 1959, Rhea purchased an Edmund Scientific “Space Conqueror” three-inch telescope for $29.95 with money he earned mowing yards.

Despite the telescopes rickety mount, with practice he saw the four Galilean moons of Jupiter, Saturn’s rings, the Great Orion nebula, and watched the planet Mercury transit the Sun in 1960.

Rhea has engineering degrees from the University of Illinois and Arizona State University. He worked for the Boeing Company, Goodyear Aerospace, and Scientific Atlanta before founding the Eagleware-Elanix company and Noble Publishing in Atlanta.  Rhea currently writes a monthly column on astronomy for the Thomasville Times Enterprise. He and his wife, Marilynn, moved from Atlanta to Susina Plantation in 2001, and later to Thomasville. They have two children and five grandchildren.

The public may register for the Astronomy is Heavenly Book Review Sessions and Stargazing at Pebble Hill by visiting pebble-hill-plantation.ticketleap.com/.

The sessions are open to all adults and children ages 12 and older accompanied by a parent. The fee for each session is $10/adult and $5/child (ages 12-17). Registrants are asked to purchase a copy of the book "Astronomy is Heavenly" to participate in class discussions. Purchasing the book is not necessary, but recommended.

"Astronomy is Heavenly" is available at the Bookshelf at 126 S. Broad Street in downtown Thomasville,  229- 228-7767, bookshelfthomasville.com. The Thomas County Libraries in Thomasville and Pavo have copies that may be checked out.

For more information, visit the Pebble Hill at pebblehill.com, call 229-226-2344.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 'Astronomy is Heavenly' author holds talk, stargazing at Pebble Hill