Tony Jenzano – Michael G. Neece, Author

I Write… Children’s Books?

One of the most surprising events this year has been my unexpected excitement about writing a children’s book called When Astronauts Came to Town. This desire overwhelmed my creative energy already committed to creating books for adults about this same Morehead Planetarium history. It’s my kids who made it inevitable. Helping them grow up means a constantContinue reading “I Write… Children’s Books?”

Tonight at The Frontier

Update: Check out the replay here: https://video.unctv.org/video/rtp-180-outer-space-michael-neece-5xtrqn/ Update: Thanks to everyone who showed up or who streamed this live. A replay link will be provided soon for anyone who missed it or who wants to hear about it again. Previous: Tune in to stream my five-minute version of what happened when astronauts came to ChapelContinue reading “Tonight at The Frontier”

Apollo Astronaut Alan Bean has died

Al Bean with Tony Jenzano at Morehead Planetarium, 1970Feb01, courtesy of Carol Jenzano, copyright 2018

Chapel Hill, NC May 26, 2018 by Michael G. Neece The fourth man to walk on the surface of the moon, Alan Bean, took ill on May 11 and today has died. It was widely misreported that he died yesterday, and as much as this writer wishes this were a continuation of misreporting, it sadlyContinue reading “Apollo Astronaut Alan Bean has died”

Unsung Heroes get to Sing out

Sheet Film 24023: Morehead Planetarium: Tony Jenzano, Major Gordon Cooper, Commander Alan Shepherd, Dr. Jocelyn Gill, Dr. Franklin Roach, William Huch, 6 April 1963: Scan 1, in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Photographic Laboratory Collection #P0031, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

While writing a book about astronaut heroes coming to Chapel Hill to train at Morehead Planetarium, it would be easy to overlook contributions of some hidden heroes, like Dr. Jocelyn Gill (fourth figure from the left in the photo above, between Gordon Cooper and Alan Shepard). With her experience at MIT and her PhD fromContinue reading “Unsung Heroes get to Sing out”

Part of the Club

Pete Conrad, Commander of Apollo 12, with Carol Jenzano, daughter of Morehead Planetarium director Tony Jenzano. (1965, Courtesy of Carol Jenzano)

I traveled to Carol Jenzano’s home this past weekend to conduct more research about Morehead Planetarium’s astronaut training program in the 1960’s and 70’s. I drank from a fire hose of stories, documents, and photographs, and supped on finally-solved mysteries and good company. Carol has kept much of her father’s memorabilia from when he wasContinue reading “Part of the Club”