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Out of this world: Astronomer Alan Hale earns recognition
Jun 25, 2009 (Alamogordo Daily News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Astronomer and Cloudcroft resident Alan Hale was selected as the state finalist by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society of the United States.
The Above & Beyond Citizen Honors is presented by the less than 100 living Medal of Honor recipients who constitute the society.
The awards celebrate the best of America by profiling spectacular stories of people who demonstrate service over self, according to the official Above & Beyond Web site.
Hale was selected as a finalist to represent New Mexico, "due to his conspicuous selflessness and intrepidity to his fellow Americans by going above and beyond the call of duty in aid of others," as it reads on his award letter.
The award says Hale has been recognized for promoting space education and fostering international cooperation in the study of astronomy, astrophysics and the science of space.
Hale said the award letter was a surprise. He knew he had been nominated for the 2008 cycle, but had no idea it had been carried over into 2009.
"It came out of the blue," he said. "I would like to think it (the recognition) will call attention to the work I've been doing all these years."
Hale, a co-discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp, founded the Earthrise Institute, an organization that focuses on outreach, education and worldwide astronomy connections. According to the award letter, the focus of Earthrise is to use astronomy and space as tools for breaking down international and intercultural barriers to bring humanity together.
Currently in the midst of a variety of Earthrise projects, Hale is being kept busy this summer, he said.
He has a contract with the state parks to present star talks in various locations around New Mexico and is teaching a unit for students at the New Mexico Museum of Space History's Shuttle Camp program.
"In a general sense, I am working with Spaceport America," he said.
Hale is also teaching an online course an introduction to astronomy class for American Public University System.
"The online environment is very different for teaching," he said.
Contact Elva K. Osterreich at eosterreich@alamogordonews.com.
To see more of the Alamogordo Daily News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go
to http://www.alamogordonews.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Alamogordo Daily News,
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