[BAA-ebulletin 00761] Albert F.A.L. Jones OBE of Nelson New Zealand

[BAA electronic bulletins service]

I'm sure many of you will be aware that Albert Jones of NZ passed away
on 11 September at the age of 93.

Albert was best known for his phenomenal skill as a variable star
observer, where he made over 500, 000 visual estimates.  He also made
a large number of consistent estimates of comet magnitudes and was the
discoverer of two comets, in 1946, and 2001. His second discovery made
him not only the oldest observer to discover a comet, but also it was
the longest interval between consecutive discoveries by any observer.

He also received the Association's MERLIN MEDAL & GIFT in 1968

I have sent condolences to the funeral directors on behalf of the VSS,
but individual messages may be sent here:- <info at shoneandshirley.com>.

The funeral is at 11 am NZST = 2013 Sep. 15, 23hr UT or 24hr BST.

Since the funeral takes place at 23:00GMT _tonight_ Sunday/Monday
and it may be clear in many places in the UK, it would be nice if
observers could make visual observations of the new nova in Delphinus,
V339 Del, around that time, in honour of the passing of the greatest
ever visual observer of variable stars.  A chart may be found here:-
http://www.britastro.org/vss/Nova%20Del%202013_aavso_chart_7d.gif

Please send your observations to the VSS in the normal way but also
copy them to Guy Hurst guy at tahq.demon.co.uk as this helps him to
answer several enquiries received from professional astronomers with
up to date information.

Roger Pickard VSS Director for and on behalf of Bill Leatherbarrow,
BAA President
Sent 15th Sep. 2013