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Professional Stargazers
A Couple with Stars in their Eyes
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Tony and Carole LaConte have been stargazing together since the Geminid
Meteor Shower in 1984. Sharing the night sky with your best friend and life
partner really amplifies the joy of observing. Each view of the moon, a
planet, a dim gray fuzzy nebula or galaxy, or the majestic Summer Milky Way
takes on a greater meaning when shared.
When they are observing together, it is just them,
the night sky, and their wonderment of how it all came to be.
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Carole was Tony's friend in high school. After graduation they went
their separate ways only to meet again nearly 20 years later. They married
shortly thereafter and have been working and observing together since 1984.
Carole was a Real Estate Broker and Mary Kay
Director for many years, she is still an active Mary Kay consultant. The
couple changed careers to become professional stargazers by starting an
Edu-tainment company called "Stargazing For Everyone".
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Tony has been an amateur astronomer for almost 50 years. From his first
look through the family telescope, which was of Saturn, he was hooked.
While growing up he read every book available on the planets, stars, deep
space, and the constellations.
An Electronic Engineer working on contracts with the U.S. Navy, Tony developed
sonar systems. You can see some of the sonar equipment he helped
design the next time you watch the movie "Hunt For Red October". He also
worked on computer and display systems for commercial aircraft and the
International Space Station.
Today, Tony has a personal library of more
than 300 books, dozens of audio tapes, videos and DVD's, and a slide
collection of more than 5000 professional slides from major observatories
and the Hubble Space Telescope. His avid reading and many years of
telescope and binocular observing has built a solid base which the couples'
public programs are built.
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Tony and Carole developed and refined their programs and activities, planned special
events, and volunteered in their community. They are both on the Board of
Trustees of the Peoria Educational Enrichment Foundation; both were named
"Local Heroes" by the Hunter Steakhouse for their volunteer time and
contributions in the Peoria School District,
They both were honored by the State of Arizona with a community service award
for their immeasurable contribution they have made to public education
and space science awareness by saying "The LaConte's inspire children to
learn and explore, donating hundreds of hours monthly....
Their love of astronomy ignites others' excitement for learning."
What were once quiet evenings in their backyard has turned into public and
private stargazing events for hundreds of families, scout groups, schools,
and corporate organizations. Tony and Carole now do more than 120 evening
stargazing programs a year. They also do daytime solar viewing; StarLab
planetarium programs; hands-on classroom activities for schools and
homeschool groups; and lecture to youth, community, and corporate groups.
Programs conducted by the couple now reach more than 20,000 students, teachers, parents ,seniors,
and corporate employees each year.
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Tony and Carole are available for programs and lectures. Those seeking the
LaConte's services should contact them at:
Phone: (623) 979 - 1393
E-mail: tlcclc@cyberspeedway.net
More information about Stargazing For Everyone can be found by visiting
their website at: www.stargazingforeveryone.com
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