Long-time CCAS member, mentor to many, and master of the skies with his 20-inch StarSplitter
If you ever lined up at a CCAS star party and caught your first view of Saturn’s rings through a towering 20-inch Dobsonian, chances are Kent Wallace was the one at the eyepiece, grinning as you whispered “Wow!” Walt Reil captured the moment perfectly:
“Seeing Saturn for the first time through Kent Wallace’s huge 20″ Dobsonian telescope… Kent exudes excitement, fascination, and wonder of it all.”
That contagious wonder made Kent the heartbeat of CCAS star parties for decades. During the COVID lockdowns, he inspired thousands of folks to go outside and look up through monthly Virtual Star Parties that drew thousands of viewers from around the world. Each session was a live, questions-welcome tour of constellations and deep-sky treasures, and Kent led in-depth stargazing tours without even glancing at a star chart.
Beyond sharing bright showpieces, Kent had a deep love for the faint and elusive. His self-published Planetary Pages and comprehensive planetary-nebula observing lists became inspiring guides for amateurs worldwide.
Kent’s legacy was threefold. He inspired at the eyepiece – Hundreds of first-time observers fell in love with astronomy after looking through Kent’s scope and hearing his animated descriptions and history. He helped continue people’s education during isolation with his Virtual Star Parties that kept our astronomy community connected when we needed it most, turning kitchen tables into planetariums. And with his deep-sky scholarship – his meticulous observing notes and nebula catalogs continue to challenge and delight observers everywhere.
At our next in-person Star Party we’ll dedicate “Kent’s Corner”—a spot where his big Dob would stand, right in the center of everything —and invite members to share a favorite Kent story at dusk. We’re also assembling a photo montage and welcome your pictures or memories (email them to us!)
Clear skies, friend. May your new vantage point be darker than Navajo Flats and your telescope aperture truly unlimited.
—Aurora Lipper
Central Coast Astronomical Society
P.S. You’ll find our Star Tours featuring Kent here.
Shared Memories 
He was SO devoted full-time to astronomy, going as far as Australia for several months every year for 5 years where he had a duplicate 20” Dobsonian to observe nebulae in the Southern Hemisphere. He would drive around the Outback and find a place to set up his scope, entertaining visitors who would stop to see what he was up to. And occasionally during his many years of astro work, he would contact major observatories around the globe to notify them that some of the information they were reporting for nebulae was incorrect — to which the observatories would reply with confirmation of Kent’s observations. He was a true Superstar of amateur astronomy, known around the world for his expertise in nebulae. And he started it all when he was just a youngster, laying on the grass in his backyard to learn the constellations, utilizing his favorite book The Stars by H A Rey. ~Walt
Kent is who sparked my interest in the cosmos when I was just a little kid attending star parties. I had many first sightings through his telescope, but I still remember the cat’s eye nebula being a “wow” moment at a young age. At every star party I’ve ever attended, I made it a point to stand near him at every opportunity just to learn from him. Thanks to his family and to CCAS for the wonderful memories and a lifelong love of space. ~Linnea
Memories, when you created your sky shows and Kent was on his dial phone with his super descriptions—Amazing-interesting and looked forward then to your efforts. Thank you Kent for sharing your passion. ~Anne & Andy Brennan
