of telescopes that enables astronomers to continuously monitor variable stars and other celestial bodies despite the rotation of the earth. In 1997 he was awarded the Maria and Eric Muhlmann Award by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific for his work on the Whole Earth Telescope. Nather died on August 13, 2014 in Austin, Texas following a long illness. His wife Marilane died the following year. References American astronomers 1926 births 2014 deaths People from Helena, Montana People from Austin, Texas Whitman College alumni University of Cape Town alumni American computer programmers United States Navy personnel of World War II University of Texas at Austin faculty