One Small Step: The Voyages of Apollo

In a presentation called “One Small Step: The Voyages of Apollo,” amateur astronomer Alan Witzgall will present a program on the journey of the first manned spaceflight to land on the moon, at the March meeting of the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, at the Shady Rest Scotch Hills Country Club, 820 Jerusalem Rd. (at the corner of Plainfield Avenue) in Scotch Plains.

Witzgall, past president of Amateur Astronomers, Inc., of Cranford, also will review the missions that followed Apollo 11 and discuss reasons to expand space exploration and return to the moon.

The speaker, who earned a bachelor’s degree in earth and planetary science from Kean University, is the recording secretary and chair of the Instrument Qualifications Committee for Amateur Astronomers, Inc. In that capacity, he trains the group’s members in the use of the telescopes at Sperry Observatory on the campus of Union County College and conducts research in astronomy. Witzgall is a senior optician for ESCO Optics in Oak Ridge, New Jersey.

Founded in 1972, the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood operates the historic Osborn Cannonball House in Scotch Plains, while providing guest lectures at its monthly meetings and taking care to preserve some of the historic artifacts and legends from the area’s early days.

The upcoming meeting is free and all are welcome. Refreshments and fellowship will follow the presentation. For further information, please contact Connie Klock at (908) 232-9489.