Wilds, R: Bright and Dark Nebulae

Preface.- Pilgrimage in Astronomy: 1957 to the Present.- Milky Way Stellar Cartography: Location of the Bright and Dark Nebulae.- Bright and Dark Nebulae Astrophysics.- Bright and Dark Nebulae History.- E.E. Barnard and the Realization of Dark Nebulae.- Visual Observing Techniques for Bright and Dark Nebulae.- Andromeda to Cassiopeia.- Centaurus to Cygnus.- Dorado to Norma.- Ophiuchus to Pyxis.- Sagitta to Scutum.- Serpens to Vulpecula.- References.

Mr. Wilds holds a Master of Science in Special Education from Kansas State University. He started teaching 45 years ago while studying astronomy at Washburn University and working with the United States Naval Observatory in which he has helped map the Marginal Zone of the Moon through leading teams in the observation of over 100 grazing occultations as well as special events involving occultations of Star Clusters toward the determination of Galactic Gravitational Parameters. He has helped discover over 20 double stars. He has assisted NASA with their planned Cassini mission to Saturn and the Galileo mission to Jupiter by videotaping Mutual Events - occultations and eclipses among the moons of Saturn and Jupiter. His research has also included work concerning the Sun (in 1994 he led a team that obtained the best recording of Baily's Beads during an Annular Solar Eclipse lasting over 12 minutes) and other solar system objects for various research efforts. All of these projects have been noted in publications - i.e. The Occultation Newsletter, The Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series as well as others. Due to his research and teaching efforts in astronomy, Mr. Wilds was elected to membership in the professional American Astronomical Society and to its Division of Planetary Scientists and its Historical Astronomy Division.

Mr. Wilds has held various Adjunct Instructor positions that have included teaching classes in astronomy, history and education. Mr. Wilds' is also a contributor to the Springer MRW, Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers.