Solar System Ambassadors
Jose Castro
As a young kid growing up in the rural area in Puerto Rico, Jose Castro used to climb on the roof of the house to observe the night sky. He used to wonder what was beyond. Would he someday be able to see with his own eyes and up close such beauty? After joining the military many years later, he became involved in satellite communications and wanted to become an inflight satellite repairman. When he retired, with lots of free time, he finally purchased his first telescope, a 114mm reflector with an equatorial mount. Then he bought another, and another until there were 15 in his family room. He ended up donating some of them to students engaged in organizing outreach events at their schools. The rest he uses in a backyard space dedicated to observing. Whenever he has the chance, he retires to his observatory to enjoy the wonders of the universe in his own solitude.