Magdalena, New Mexico
John W. Briggs is an instrumentation engineer with a BA in physics from San Jose State University. He has lived and worked at observatories across the country in various technical capacities, including Mount Wilson, Yerkes, National Solar, Maria Mitchell, Venezuelan National, and others. The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) has been a strong influence on him since 1973 when, as a youngster, he attended his first symposium on variable stars at Stamford Observatory in Connecticut.
In the 1980s, John was an assistant editor at Sky & Telescope magazine and built Bogsucker Observatory in Massachusetts. In 1994, he was a winter-over scientist at South Pole Station working for the University of Chicago’s Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica. In the later 1990s, he was a team member in the final commissioning of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and with his family, he lived near Sunspot, New Mexico, for about seven years.
An active collector of astronomical history, John completed a third term as president of the Antique Telescope Society in 2019. He has been active with the Historical Astronomy Division of the American Astronomical Society and more recently with the Alliance of Historic Observatories. Currently, he operates FOAH Observatory near Magdalena, New Mexico, and the Astronomical Lyceum, an informal astronomical museum, workshop, and library.
John's career includes teaching at the University of Colorado, New Mexico State University, and as an invited visiting scholar for the 2005-06 academic year at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. He recently played a central role in the transfer of Princeton's 95-cm observatory telescope to the Mittelman Family Foundation and a new observatory near Mayhill, New Mexico. As a recent consultant to the University of Chicago, he performed a detailed inventory of Yerkes Observatory in its transition to stewardship by the Yerkes Future Foundation.
John founded and operated the ongoing annual Hartness House Workshop in Springfield, Vermont, through its first seven years, benefiting the Porter-Hartness Museum of Amateur Telescope Making. He was also a founding staff member of Mount Wilson's ongoing CUREA summer program for undergraduates. John has friends and associates widely distributed through the astronomical communities, both amateur and professional, and he has been able to influence and encourage a number of successful scientific and educational philanthropic enterprises.
John Briggs has played a significant role in organizing and promoting the Enchanted Skies Star Party (ESSP). The 2024 event marked the 31st annual ESSP, and it was the first year the event was held at the Montosa Ranch Campground. The new venue proved to be an ideal location for the star party, with its spacious expanse, affordability, and excellent infrastructure.
The ESSP attracts participants from all over the country and even from Europe, making it a major national astronomy event. The event features a variety of activities, including observing sessions, lectures, and a swap meet. The Montosa Ranch Campground, with its proximity to professional research facilities and a strong local amateur community, provides an excellent setting for the star party
John Briggs's dedication to the ESSP and his efforts to grow the event have made it a significant gathering for astronomers and astronomy enthusiasts alike. His work with the Magdalena Astronomical Society and the ESSP organizing committee has helped create a vibrant and engaging event that continues to inspire wonder and discovery among its participants.
- John Briggs at the AAVSO
- Enchanted Skies Star Party Facebook Page
- Alliance of Historic Observatories
- Antique Telescope Society
