David Le Conte
SunInfo is saddened to announce the death
of the famous Guernsey diallist David Le Conte on the 11th August
2020.
David designed the wonderful Liberation Monument that
stands in the square of St Peter Port. The monument includes a
granite marker from which each anniversary (May 9) its shadow
falls precisely on to a series of inscriptions linked to the time
of day
in 1945 when the Island was released from German occupation.
He also helped to design the Guernsey flag that was adopted in
1985 and was a Jurat of the Guernsey Royal Court. After taking his
degree, David worked at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh. Then
he moved to Aberystwyth, Wales, where his research led him to work
for the USA Smithsonian Institute in 1964, tracking satellites
with optics and lasers on NASA’s space programme.
He later
became manager of the SI Maui, Hawaii astrophysical observing
station and while there he photographed the 1968 Apollo 8
trans-lunar injection rocket burn, the first manned mission to
orbit and return from the Moon(1).
Promoted to executive director
of SI’s Washington Research Foundation, he later moved to become
department manager at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.
After his return to Guernsey, he became heavily involved in the
Guernsey Astronomical Society.
1) Although not connected with the 1968 rocket burn the following link illustrates the ever increasing importance that is attached to more recent recording of rocket launches. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlPfHV36G-g&ab_channel=CuriousDroid
16.11.20, 26.02.2023