Francis G. Graham: Biography and
Archives of Graham's Corner & SpaceWatchtower Blog Posts

Weblog Column By Francis G. Graham
Originally scheduled at the beginning of each month on the web site of
Friends of the Zeiss / History of Buhl Planetarium
Now published periodically in the SpaceWatchtower Blog

Long-time Planetarium Lecturer Francis G. Graham is shown at the
Planetarium Control Console for the historic
Zeiss II Planetarium Projector of Pittsburgh's original
Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science in September of 1982.

Francis G. Graham is Professor Emeritus of Physics at Kent State University, who founded the American Lunar Society in the 1980s. He can be contacted at:

< fgg@planetarium.cc >

Edited By Glenn A. Walsh *** Sponsored By Friends of the Zeiss
Electronic Mail: < gcorner@planetarium.cc > *** Internet Web Site Cover Page: < http://www.planetarium.ccB >
2006 April, Updated 2014 January

Biography *** Brief Resume *** Short Fact Sheet

Archives of Blog Posts:

SpaceWatchtower *** Graham's Corner

Other Reports Published on the Web Site of the History of The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh

Francis G. Graham: Archive of SpaceWatchtower Blog-Posts

Good, Kenneth J., Former President of the Tripoli Rocketry Association. "RE-SCHEDULED: Launch of Student Rocketeer Turned NASA Astronaut to Space Station." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2023 March 1. First retrieved 2023 March 1.

Good, Kenneth J., Former President of the Tripoli Rocketry Association. "UPDATE: Student Rocketeer Turned NASA Astronaut Travels to Space Station." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2023 Feb. 27. First retrieved 2023 Feb. 27.

Graham, Francis G. "American Lunar Society Founder on 50th Anniversary: 1st Humans Walk on Moon !, KOKH’S QUESTION: After 50 Years, Why No Lunar Settlements ?" Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2019 July 16.
The author of this essay is Francis G. Graham, Professor Emeritus of Physics, Kent State University, and Founder of the American Lunar Society. Earlier in his career, he was a Planetarium and Observatory Lecturer at the original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science (a.k.a. Buhl Science Center), Pittsburgh's science and technology museum from 1939 to 1991.

Graham, Francis G. "American Lunar Society Founder on 50th Anniversary: 1st Humans Orbit Moon, The Incredible Legacy of Apollo 8." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2018 Dec. 24.
The author of this essay is Francis G. Graham, Professor Emeritus of Physics, Kent State University, and Founder of the American Lunar Society. Earlier in his career, he was a Planetarium and Observatory Lecturer at the original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science (a.k.a. Buhl Science Center), Pittsburgh's science and technology museum from 1939 to 1991.

Walsh, Glenn A. "Photo: Rare Phenomenon - Toronto Skyline Seen Across Lake Ontario in NY State!" Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2018 March 6.
So, how is it that the skyline of Toronto, 42 miles / 68 kilometers away, can be seen across Lake Ontario?
The author put this question to Francis G. Graham, Professor Emeritus of Physics at Kent State University. Professor Graham, who earlier in his career was a Planetarium and Observatory Lecturer at Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, provided the following explanation:
Your question was asked of me in regards to Cleveland.
From the Key Bank top floor in Cleveland, one should not be able to see the shore of Canada across Lake Erie. The straight-line distance to the horizon places the horizon in the middle of Lake Erie. But due to refraction from warm air, Canada is occasionally glimpsed from the Key Bank building. I have not witnessed it, but it is reliably told.
The straight-line distance to the horizon is given by d in the Pythagorean Theorem,
d = square root of [ (R + h ) ^2 - (R)^2 ]
where h is the height of the structure and R is the radius of the Earth (which varies slightly).
Refraction can extend this. So it would be possible to see Toronto on some days across (Lake) Ontario.
Key (Bank) Tower, referred to by Professor Graham, is the tallest building in the state of Ohio, located on Public Square in the center of Downtown Cleveland. With 57 floors, the building rises 947 feet / 289 meters to the top of the spire (the top floor is at a height of 888 feet / 271 meters).

Graham, Francis G. "155th Anniversary of Allegheny Observatory: The Very 1st Director." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2016 Nov. 27.

Graham, Francis G. "50th Anniversary: Kecksburg, Pa. "UFO" Incident." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2015 Dec. 9.

Graham, Francis G. "Advanced ET Societies Can Never Be Ruled-Out." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2015 May 7.

Graham, Francis G. "960th Anniversary: Supernova That Created Crab Nebula." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2014 July 3.

Graham, Francis G. "Mars Rover Sees Mystery Rock Suddenly Appear." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2014 Jan. 20.
Source: Francis G. Graham, Professor Emeritus of Physics, Kent State University;
former Planetarium Lecturer & Observatory Observer, Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium
and Institute of Popular Science;
Steering Commitee Member, Friends of the Zeiss;
Reporting for SpaceWatchtower, a project of Friends of the Zeiss.

Graham, Francis G. "Partial Sunrise Solar Eclipse Sunday Morning." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2013 Nov. 2.

Graham, Francis G. "Eclipse of Nothingness: Friday Night Lunar Eclipse." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2013 May 24.

Also Blog-Posts Regarding Professor Graham ---

Walsh, Glenn A. "Former Buhl Planetarium & Observatory Lecturer Bestowed as Kent State University Professor Emeritus." Blog-Post.
SpaceWatchtower 2012 Feb. 17.

Francis G. Graham: Archive of Graham's Corner Blog-Posts

* 2006 May 12: THE NORTH KOREAN SATELLITE ATTEMPT OF 1998

* 2006 April 14: THE SENSIBILITY OF ZOAR

Francis G. Graham: Archive of Other Reports Published on the Web Site of the History of The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh ----

Graham, Francis G. "Observing Session of Hybrid Total/Annular Eclipse of the Sun, Observed as Very Slight Partial Solar Eclipse at Christina Alley Observatory, East Pittsburgh PA 2005 April 8." Web Site Report.
History of The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh 2005 May 26.