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Article: Meteoric image: ensconced in a tiny observatory in northern Alberta, Canadian astronomer Art Griffin photographed Sputnik, capturing a defining moment in space history.
- Article from:
- The Beaver: Exploring Canada's History
- Article date:
- August 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Canada's National History Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Astronomer Art Griffin stood in the middle of the snow-covered lawn next to the observatory. He peered at the sky through his Buddy Holly glasses, hands on his hips, binoculars dangling from his neck. There was a full moon, and the temperature had dipped below zero degrees Celsius. Usually, he would not have attempted to take a photograph under such conditions, but on this October evening in 1957 he was not going to let a little moonlight get in his way. All around him, cameras with lenses pointing skyward stood mounted on poles of various heights. The observatory roof was open, revealing a large telescopic camera.
Griffin paced between the smaller outdoor ...