The Search Team
A worldwide roster of volunteer amateur astronomers, students, engineers, and lifelong sky-watchers — the people behind 380+ supernova discoveries.
Active members
Started construction of the 60cm telescope in 1988, completed in 1997, and began the supernova search in 1998. A 30+ year veteran of the field, his work has aired on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN, BBC, and Good Morning America.
An active member of the Toronto Centre RASC and full-time employee at Khan Scope Centre, pursuing CCD imaging since the CUREA program at Mount Wilson Observatory in 2002.
A retired nuclear reactor operator and life member of the RASC Ottawa Centre. Operates a computer-controlled C-14 dedicated to photoelectric photometry of variable stars.
Longtime contributor to the Puckett Observatory World Supernova Search.
Specialist in the astrometry and physical properties of comets, supernovae, and galactic novae. Asteroid 120361 Guido bears his name. POSS member since 2005.
Retired medical oncologist who co-discovered 26 supernovae as a POSS member, 212 more via Galaxy Zoo Supernovae, two Kuiper Belt objects and a Neptune Trojan via Ice Hunters, and two exoplanets — including PH1/Kepler-64b — via Planet Hunters.
Programmer and designer specializing in ergonomic interfaces to spatial data, with a client roster of major telescope manufacturers. “The Supernova Search Team is a natural for me,” he says.
A full-time IT instructor by day, Anthony monitors cataclysmic variable stars for the Center for Backyard Astrophysics from his roll-off-roof observatory using a 12″ Ritchey-Chrétien and Apogee CCD camera.
Teaches astronomy labs at Emory University and public classes at Kennesaw State University's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. A member of the search team since 1998.
Joined the team in April 2008 and discovered SN 2008ha just eight months later at age 14 — at the time, the least luminous supernova ever observed and the youngest supernova discovery on record.
A retired store manager and internationally recognized amateur astro-imager who helped pioneer high-resolution tri-color CCD imaging.
A Track and Field trainer who built his own robotic observatory, “Nunki,” in 2001, focused on deep-sky imaging and supernova hunting.
Teaches astronomy and directs the Merrimack College Observatory. Previously supported every manned Apollo mission with orbit determination, and later worked in robotics software at Draper Laboratory.
Astroimager specializing in high-resolution deep-sky, solar, and cometary imaging. Co-founder of the Northeast Astro-Imaging Conference (NEAIC) and a member of three astronomy clubs plus the AAVSO.
A retired airline manager and member of the SpaceGuard NEO Precovery Team, with 40 NEO precoveries to his name — including dwarf planet Sedna. POSS member since 2005.
Became interested in astronomy in 2007 and, alongside the supernova search, hunts for variable stars, asteroids, and comets while chasing solar eclipses.
Author of Hidden Image and the Maximum Entropy Deconvolution algorithm in MaxIm DL. Contributed his own 60cm and 50cm telescopes and custom software to the search.
A professional musician and amateur astronomer since age 8. Part of the supernova search team since 1998 — and married to Tim Puckett.
In memory & with thanks
Inactive members
We remain grateful for the valuable contributions these team members made to the search.
Former President of the RASC Ottawa Centre, known for public astronomy outreach, workshops, and star parties.
Professional optical designer who made the optics for MOST, Canada's first space telescope.
President of Diffraction Limited and lead author of MaxIm DL/CCD. Co-discovered Comet Skorichenko-George in 1989.
Past president of the Southern Cross Astronomical Society; his volcano and astro photography has appeared internationally, including in a National Geographic film.
Contributed to the development of Registax versions 2 and 3 for aligning and stacking astronomical video.
Technology Coordinator for Schuylkill Haven Area School District and Secretary of the Greater Hazleton Area Astronomical Society.
Junior member of the RASC Ottawa Centre and Messier Certificate holder, published in SkyNews Magazine.
A leading member of the Associazione Friulana di Astronomia e Meteorologia. Asteroid 9878 Sostero was named in his memory.
Longtime contributor to the Puckett Observatory World Supernova Search.
Bandit
The Official Puckett Observatory Dog, 1991–2006. Ad astra.
Have a question about the search, the telescope, or joining the team?
Tim reads every message himself — from fellow amateur astronomers, students, media, and curious sky-watchers alike.