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 
Fellow Astronomer and good friend Kent Wallace was a truly extraordinary observer and Astronomer. I always thought I was quite good at Celestial Navigation and finding dim objects. Then I met Kent and found out how much of a piker I am. Most of us have become experts at using Planetarium Software or Star Charts to find our way around. But Kent- he “don’t need no stinkin’ charts or ‘puters”. He just simply knew where it was. At our star parties he would have his giant scope on an object and people looking through it while the rest of us were still looking it up on our charts. One of my favorites was what I call his “M 22 Red Giant Tour”. He would take his telescope at dusk and point it at the Globular Cluster M-22 in Sagittarius. He would do this shortly after sunset before it was dark enough to see a single star. I would have no idea where to look yet there he had it centered. The Globular Cluster looked like an Open Cluster with just the very brightest stars visible against a brilliant blue background. Wow! Here are two images. the first is my image of the cluster. The second is the closest I can get to what it looked like through Kent’s scope. Except the background was not dark but a brilliant blue. Some shoes are hard to replace. Others are impossible. Kent is in the latter category. ~Dave
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
Kent was one of the giants. I’m such a newby in this field where I’m looking for shiny, bright or familiar, I was in absolute awe listening to him as crowds formed around his equipment as he shared his extensive knowledge. Listening to him explain what target he was looking at, it’s history and relation to others and even in complete darkness, you could just tell mouths were agape in silence, hanging on every word. I was repeating a story to some of my close buddies in the N.county of a flat earther driving my insane with his constant memorized talking points. I insisted he come to a Star party. He did. Kent hollered out “Does anyone want to see Saturn?” Our friend moseyed over. I could see him climbing the ladder to Kent’s scope. Kent was explaining something to him out of my ear shot as he was looking through the giant Dobsonian. Our friend came over and sheepishly admitted he was wrong and said about Kent “That guy knows his Sh*t” and I later thanked Kent, told him the story and he simply said “Glad I could help” and chuckled. He made such an impact on those around him. I know the star parties will have a black hole where a shining star once shone. ~Scott
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
