Alan Longstaff 1950-2016

alan

It is with great sadness that we have to report the death of long-time Astronomy Now contributor Alan Longstaff. He passed away peacefully early Tuesday morning, surrounded by family. For many years he penned the popular Ask Alan and Cutting Edge columns of the magazine.

The Astronomy Now team was devastated to learn from Alan in late-October that he had pancreatic cancer. The heartbreak was compounded by the news that Alan’s wife and beloved partner of 35 years, Tricia, had died of breast cancer just two weeks after Alan’s diagnosis.

Ask Alan first appeared in October 2002 and since then Alan answered hundreds of questions submitted by readers. His illness forced him to step down from writing and his last column appears in the December issue.

Our thoughts go out to Alan and Tricia’s family. A full tribute to Alan will appear in the January issue of Astronomy Now.