Our Founder's History
Axis Squared was founded by Michael Bradshaw, who has a background in astronomical research as well as instrumentation. Mike got his Bachelor’s degree in Astronomy from the University of Illinois, and a Master’s degree in Physics, with a concentration in Optical Physics, from DePaul University.
Mike is a study in contrast; he likes both astronomical research and instrumentation. He is as comfortable in the observing room of a major telescope as he is in the machine shop below. Most importantly, he is both a professional AND an amateur astronomer, which is surprisingly rare.
“Very few amateurs have the interest or opportunity to become a professional astronomer, and very few professionals can point out the Messier objects or align a telescope. I consider a blessing to be able to do both.”
After graduate school, Mike packed up his life and moved to Tucson, Arizona to start his career. He didn’t have a job lined up, but there was so much astronomy going on there, he figured they were JUST WAITING for some young hungry guy like him…he was sadly mistaken.
“I knocked on doors. I mean, I actually drove to observatories and knocked on the doors! That’s when I learned that most observatories are vacant during the day, and all of the door knocking in the world won’t do me any good…”
Eventually, perseverance paid off, and Mike started the first of three jobs that defined his career.
SkyWatcher’s Inn
SkyWatcher’s Inn (no longer open) was a bed and breakfast in Benson AZ, an hour East of Tucson. It was owned by Ed and Pat Vega, two scientist and philanthropists who wanted to bring astronomy to more people. Guests could stay the night, and professional astronomers would come and would show the guests the night sky, using some of the 6 or 7 large telescopes on the grounds. Over the years, Mike taught hundreds of people about the night sky, about telescopes, and about film and CCD imaging. He also spent lots of time tweaking, adjusting and maintaining various large amateur class telescopes. Mike spent many years working at the Inn, and in the process spent time with dozens of interesting people…ranging from movie stars (ones you would recognize…) to professional in various fields, to researchers, to children who might one day become astronomers themselves.
“Relationships are important, and relationships in one’s career are extra important. I think that the time I spent on cold dark nights with new people helped fire my passion for astronomy, and Axis Squared is a chance to help future generations as well.”
Florida International University
During these early years in his career, Mike took a position in the Physics Department of Florida International University, in Miami, Florida. He was teaching basic astronomy classes, but more importantly, he was building up the evening lab program. While at FIU, he was responsible for a dozen Celestron C8 type telescopes that were used by the astronomy labs; cleaning, aligning and maintaining them, setting them up for labs and for star parties, and various other public interactions. Just as important for his career was the connection that FIU had to the SARA telescope consortium. SARA (Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy) was 6 smaller schools in the Southeast who had pooled funds and effort to run a 36 inch remote telescope on Kitt Peak, the major observatory site outside of Tucson. Mike’s connections with FIU made his connection with SARA, who got him connected with Kitt Peak, which ultimately got him a job with the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory.
“Steward Observatory is the center of astronomy in the Western Hemisphere; it is where EVERYTHING happens, and where I wanted to be when I first moved to Tucson.”
Steward Observatory
Mike was finally where he needed to be, working with one of the premier astronomical groups in the world. His initial position was with the Super-LOTIS collaboration. Super-LOTIS was a 24 inch, highly customized automated telescope on Kitt Peak that was specifically searching for Gamma Ray Bursts. Mike was a key part of the local team that fixed, upgraded and maintained the telescope and observatory facilities. He spent all day every day working on site, working with the specialized Boller & Chivens telescope. Mike also started splitting his time between Super-LOTIS and the larger Steward Observatory instrumentation crew. Over the next 7 years, he spent nearly every day on site at various observatories working with telescopes with mirrors between 24 inches and…well, about 33 feet across. Yes, BIG telescopes. The kind that you actually climb into when you are adjusting gears, the kind that have ladders mounted on them to access the cameras.