Born and raised in Oxford, Ohio, where his father was a professor of organic chemistry at Miami University.
One child, Chris, who is married with twin 2-1/2-year-old girls.
Editor-in-Chief of Astronomy Magazine for 23 years, with a tenure on the magazine’s staff of 43 years.
Founder and Editor of Deep Sky Monthly and Deep Sky magazines.
Author of 26 books on science and history, including 17 books on astronomy. Among them: Galaxies (Random House), The New Cosmos (Cambridge University Press), Mission Moon 3-D (with coauthor Brian May; London Stereoscopic Co.), and Cosmic Clouds 3-D (with coauthor Brian May, London Stereoscopic Co.).
A member of the boards of the Starmus Festival, an international science festival, and of Lowell Observatory.
A veteran of many astronomy clubs, star parties, and events, for 49 years, from age 15 to the present day.