Helen Lines facts for kids

Helen Lines (died 2001) was an American amateur astronomer. She loved studying the stars and planets as a hobby. When she started, she enjoyed observing and taking pictures of deep-sky objects, like distant galaxies and nebulae. Helen was one of the first members of the Phoenix Astronomical Society, a group for people who love astronomy. She was also part of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, which is a group that watches stars whose brightness changes.

Helen and her husband, Richard D. Lines, built a small observatory in Mayer, Arizona. In 1992, they received a special honor called the Amateur Achievement Award from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. They earned this award for their important work using special equipment to measure how bright variable stars were.

Who Was Helen Lines?

Helen Lines was a dedicated person who spent her life exploring the wonders of space, not as a job, but because she loved it. She was known for her careful observations and for taking amazing photos of objects far away in the universe. Her passion for the night sky made her a respected figure among other amateur astronomers.

Early Steps in Astronomy

From her early days, Helen was fascinated by the cosmos. She joined groups like the Phoenix Astronomical Society, where she could share her interest with others. Being part of the American Association of Variable Star Observers meant she helped track stars that change their brightness. This kind of work is very important for professional astronomers too, as it helps them understand how stars behave.

Building an Observatory

Helen and her husband, Richard, shared their love for astronomy. Together, they created their own special place to observe the stars. They built a small observatory in Mayer, Arizona. This allowed them to spend many nights looking at the sky and collecting valuable information about stars. Having their own observatory meant they could do detailed studies whenever they wanted.

A Special Award for Star Gazing

In 1992, Helen and Richard Lines were recognized for their hard work. They won the Amateur Achievement Award from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. This award celebrates people who make big contributions to astronomy without being professional astronomers. Their specific achievement was in something called "photoelectric photometry." This is a fancy way of saying they used special tools to precisely measure the brightness of stars that change their light. Their measurements helped scientists learn more about these fascinating variable stars.