The Southern Cross Astronomical Society recently dedicated its observatory in Homestead, just west of Miami, in honor of Matthew Tippy DAuria and his wife Pat, of Marion Oaks.

Some people are named after relatives, celebrities, famous singers/musicians or sports figures. And sometimes venues are named after people.

The latter is the case with Matthew Tippy DAuria of Marion Oaks, to whom the Southern Cross Astronomical Society recently dedicated its observatory in Homestead, just west of Miami.

During a ceremony Jan. 28, the society named their new observatory The DAuria Observatory. DAuria, a former resident of Miami, attended the dedication with his wife, Pat. He said he wanted just his last name used on the observatory, So my wife would get credit too.

The plaque of dedication includes the names Tippy and Patricia DAuria. It also reads: Florida amateur astronomer Tippy DAuria (born 1935) is founder of the Winter Star Party. For many years he has worked to encourage both beginning and advanced sky-watchers in the hobby.

The Winter Star Party is not political, but is, in fact, a party. DAuria and Pat started the event in 1985, as an astronomers convention.

Its a gathering of astronomers, he said.

The event is usually held each year in February, in Scout Key in the Florida Keys. As an offshoot of the Southern Cross Astronomical Society, it is attended by astronomy buffs from all over. There are classes and lectures during the day. Attendees bring their own telescopes for sky-viewing at night.

This year's event began Feb. 20 and ended Sunday, according to http://scas.org/winter-star-party.

DAuria has dedicated himself to educating the public about all he has studied and learned about the cosmos. He has been involved with astronomy since 1980. That was the same year he joined the Southern Cross Astronomical Society. He served as vice president of the society for 15 years and now is a life member of the group. He also is currently a board member of the Astronomy Outreach Network.

More than 100 people attended the recent observatory naming ceremony, which was presided over by Mike Reynolds. He was the executive director emeritus of the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, California, from 1991 to 2003. When he retired, center officials named the main observatory The Michael D. Reynolds Observatory in his honor. Reynolds currently is professor of astronomy at Florida State College in Jacksonville and executive director of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers.

Tippy has been a leader in astronomy outreach for over three decades. Tippy loves to share the night skies with others. These celestial treasures inspired him, so he passes that on, Reynolds said, citing reasons DAuria was chosen for the honor.

The observatory is not the first time something has been named in honor of D'Auria. In 1998, he had an asteroid named after him: Asteroid 11378 DAuria.

Before his interest in astronomy, DAuria served from 1954 to 1958 as an electricians mate aboard a diesel attack submarine, the USS Trumpetfish 55425. He attended sub school in New London, Connecticut, and earned his dolphins, similar to a pilots wings. From a starting class of 50 students, only 22 made it to graduation.

I would recommend that anybody who wants to try the submarine service do so. If its not suited for you, youll find out long before you go to sea on a submarine, DAuria said.

He remembers going topside in the North Atlantic and becoming somewhat star struck: There were so many stars, it was like black velvet with diamond dust scattered all over the sky, he said.

DAuria was hired in 1992 at Miami-Dade Community College in Miami as an instrumentation technician, at the same time he was working on earning two degrees. In 1997, he obtained an Associate of Science in electrical engineering and, in 2000, an AS in computer integrated manufacturing. He also taught creative photography and darkroom techniques, and introduction to electronics and DC circuit theory at Miami-Dade.

DAurias interests also include volcanoes. In 2001, he led a National Geographic sponsored expedition to study volcanoes in Costa Rica. His subject was the moons gravitational pull on magma chambers in volcanoes.

This helped predict volcanic eruptions, based on positions of the moon, he said.

Parade magazine featured his photo and a cover story in the March 14, 1999, issue.

D'Auria also is affiliated with the Deep Sky Observers, Institute for Planetary Research Observatories, Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers and the Astronomy League. He is a frequent guest lecturer and speaker on astronomy at universities, high schools, star parties, civic groups and astronomy clubs. He often is invited to state and national parks to share his knowledge. He said he is not a fan of science fiction novels or films because, Theyre too far fetched.

The nickname Tippy comes from when D-Auria was a toddler and cut his feet walking on broken glass from a dropped baby bottle. He walked "tippy" as a result and his father started calling him tippy toes.

DAuria married Pat in 1980. After retiring in 2006, they visited Ocala on vacation and liked it so much they bought a home here. The house is spacious and his many awards and citations of recognition line the walls and his office, along with deep sky photographs.

A large framed photograph of Hollywoods famed Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin, shown playing pool), looks out on one room with a pool table in the center.

Pat D'Auria loves to quote one of her husbands favorite slogans: Theres no sense in retiring if you dont have a pool table!

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Society names new observatory for Marion Oaks astronomer - Ocala