AstroEvents
I love to teach! In the past, I’ve spent hundreds of hours giving tours of the sky through my telescopes at astronomy outreach events. I’ve presented for a wide range of organizations, from 4-H clubs to the Houston Astronomical Society and the American Association of Variable Star Observers. COVID-19 has put a real damper on in-person outreach events, but at the same time it’s broadened access and participation by pushing meetings and workshops online, for a different kind of learning experience. If you’d like to request my participation in an event for your organization, please contact me.
AAVSO Webinar Series
The American Association of Variable Star Observers’ stated mission is “to enable anyone, anywhere to participate in scientific discovery through variable star astronomy.” One way that the AAVSO works to accomplish that mission is by offering monthly webinars on varying topics. My job, as AAVSO Webinar Coordinator, is to find engaging speakers to present on topics that are both interesting and relevant to astronomers of all experience levels; then act as master of ceremonies during each webinar.
As of 2023, AAVSO How-To Webinars occur on the 1st Saturdays of each month, and are free and open to everyone — AAVSO members and non-members alike. You can view our upcoming schedule on our Programs & Events page: aavso.org/programs-events
For archival purposes, a (mostly complete) list of our 2021 speakers is given below. Click on each speaker name and/or presentation title for details.
- Dr. Matthew Kenworthy — Shadows of Circumplanetary Disks: J1407 and J0600 — Click for recording — January 9, 2021
- Dr. Hans Moritz Günther— Variability in young stars: From the AAVSO to X-rays — Click for recording — January 9, 2021
- Melanie Crowson — Study of and Reclassification Evidence For Four Candidate RR Lyraes – TY Cam, V0363 Dra, NSV 13109, V1386 Aql — Click for recording — Jan. 23, 2021
- Dr. Sarah Antier & Dr. Michael Coughlin — Kilonova-catcher project at GRANDMA and how AAVSO observers can help. — Click for recording — January 23, 2021
- Blake Crosby — AAVSO How-To: Variable Star Classification and Light Curves Course Overview — Click for recording — February 6, 2021
- Dennis Conti — Using AstroImageJ for Exoplanet Analysis — Click for recording — February 13, 2021
- Dr. Luisa Rebull — Stellar Rotation in Young Clusters using K2 and TESS — Click for recording — February 27, 2021
- Dr. Margarita Karovska — Why is it important to observe/monitor LPVs? — Click for recording — February 27, 2021
- Dr. Barbara Harris — AAVSO How-To: How to Do Variable Star Photometry With Your DSLR — Click for recording — March 6, 2021
- Dr. Steve Howell — Using AAVSO photometry to understand and characterize variable giant stars. — Click for recording — March 13, 2021
- Dr. Juan Echevarría — Spectroscopic and photometric observations of the intermediate polar DW Cnc. — Click for recording — March 13th, 2021
- Dr. David Whelan — Classifying Algol C, the Non-Eclipsing Member of the beta Persei System — Click for recording — March 27th, 2021
- Lauren Herrington — AAVSO How-To: Spectrography on a Budget — Click for recording — April 3, 2021
- AAVSO Short Period Pulsator Observing Section — SPP Webinar Description — Click for recording April 10th, 2021
- Dr. Adam Burgasser — Stormy with a Chance of Iron: Weather and the Dynamic Atmospheres of Cold Stars and Brown Dwarfs — Click for recording — April 24, 2021
- Dr. Boris Gänsicke — The end of the worlds. — Click for recording — April 24, 2021
- Bob Buchheim — AAVSO How-To: CCD Photometry — Click for recording — May 1, 2021
- Dr. Christian Knigge — Cataclysmic Variables as Universal Accretion Laboratories — Click for recording — May 8, 2021
- François Cochard — Spectroscopy: which hardware for which observations? — Click for recording — May 8, 2021
- Trevor Dorn-Wallenstein — Solving the Red Supergiant Problem with a New Class of Pulsators — Click for recording — May 22, 2021
- Dr. Burçin Mutlu-Pakdil — The Faintest and Smallest Galaxies — May 22, 2021
- Richard Berry — AAVSO How-To:Your First Observatory: Keep It Simple! — Click for recording — June 5, 2021
- Dr. Dan Milisavljevic of the Supernova Early Warning System (SNEWS) Team — Observing the Next Galactic Supernova — Click for recording — June 12, 2021
- Tom Calderwood — A Romp With Betelgeuse — Click for recording — June 26, 2021
- Sebastián Otero — AAVSO How-To: A Quick Guide on VSX — Click for recording — July 3, 2021
- Dr. Sanlyn Buxner — Celebrating Amateur Astronomers Engaging in Exploration, Outreach, and Research — Click for recording — July 10, 2021
- AAVSO Bright Star Monitor Observing Section — The BSM Remote Telescope Network — Click for recording — July 24, 2021
- John Toone — AAVSO How-To: Visual Photometry of Variable Stars — Click for recording — August 7, 2021
- Dr. Elmé Breedt — The Gaia Science Alerts Transient Survey — Click for recording — August 14, 2021
- Dr. Gibor Basri — Information and Illusions in Starspot Light Curves — August 28, 2021
- Ana Parra — Ana’s Journey into Exoplanet Transit Analysis — August 28, 2021
- Gary Billings — AAVSO How-To: Information from Periodic Star LCs — September 4, 2021
- George Silvis — Using AAVSO’s Exoplanet Database for Reporting and Retrieving Exoplanet Observations — September 11, 2021
- Francois Cochard — New to Spectroscopy? A few tips to start succesfully — September 25, 2021
- Gary Billings — AAVSO How-To: Eclipsing Binaries and O-C diagrams — October 2, 2021
- Dr. Emily Levesque — Topic TBA — October 9, 2021
- Dariusz Kubicki — Topic TBA — October 9, 2021
- Dr. Nancy Morrison — How to Write an Astronomical Research Paper — October 23, 2021
- Dr. Mario Motta — “Dark and Quiet Skies,” a UN effort at light pollution control and more. — October 23, 2021
- Dr. John Thorstensen — Topic TBA — November 13, 2021
- Dr. David Turner — Topic TBA — November 13, 2021
- Dr. Kristine Larsen — Topic TBA — November 27, 2021
- Gabriel Murawski — Topic TBA — November 27, 2021
- Chris Colvin — AAVSO How-To: Slooh — December 4, 2021
The AAVSO webinar series relies on the generous contributions of sponsors and donors in order to make these beneficial events come to life. To contribute, please visit the official AAVSO website: aavso.org.
TieDyeAstronomer Online Talks
The social distancing that came with the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how I interact with the astronomy community. I still love to teach, and learn, but most interaction now happens through Zoom calls and webinars.
On May 18th, 2021, I gave a 1hr 30 minute talk on via Zoom to students participating in the Bush School Astronomy Cascade in Seattle. I was invited to speak about “Experiences of a young astronomer”, and began by talking about my bumpy entrance into the amateur astronomy community, as well as sharing some tips from experience for being taken seriously as an astronomer who’s dramatically younger than those around her (be assertive, be persistent, keep asking questions, find a science-focused group). I then began talking about my present-day studies in spectrography, and giving a light introduction to the kind of science which the students would be doing later on in the cascade. Finally, I gave a speech about how the pressure thickly laid onto teenagers by adults to have the entire rest of their life figured out by age 17 is bogus, and closed with a quote from Zach Weinersmith which has personally helped my outlook on life greatly.
On March 5th, 2021, I gave a 60-minute presentation on the drift scanning method — DIY Spectrography on a Budget — to the Houston Astronomical Society, via Zoom. Since the average audience member was unlikely to have any previous experience with spectrography, I kept things simple, starting with an introduction to spectrography in general (as well as my motivations for pursing it) before moving on to a step-by-step tutorial for using the drift-scanning method. I displayed some of my own drift-scanned spectra, talked through their interpretation, and answered questions from the audience.
On Nov. 6th, 2020 I gave a 45-minute presentation on the drift scanning method — Let the Earth do the work! High Quality Spectra at Low Cost with the Drift Scanning Method — via Zoom during the AAVSO’s inaugural spectrography workshop, ASW2020. During my presentation, I told the story of how I came up with the drift scanning method, gave step-by-step instructions on how to use the method, and displayed some of my drift scanned results — including the resolution of blueshifted absorption lines in P Cygni’s atmosphere. You can watch a recording of that presentation here.
On August 22nd, 2020, I gave a 15-minute talk on the drift scanning method — How to Shoot Stellar Spectra with a Dobsonian — during an AAVSO Spectroscopy Observing Section webinar. My goal with this talk was to reveal how recording high quality spectra of the stars is easier than ever before believed… and I think I succeeded! I began by sharing the story of how I came up with the drift scanning method, a way to record scientific spectra using any telescope, even those without tracking drives. I showed how dark skies aren’t required when drift scanning, and how the large aperture of most telescopes means that your limiting magnitude will be much deeper using an untracked dobsonian than a standalone DSLR, even if the DSLR is on a tracking mount. Finally, I showed off some examples of spectra recorded with the drift scanning method. You can watch a recording of my presentation here.
In-Person Astronomy Events – A.K.A. “Outreach”
Astronomy outreach events can take several different forms. One of the most popular types is the “starparty”; a (usually) nighttime event where astronomers set up their telescopes and allow visitors to look through the scopes while the astronomers talk about the visible targets and answer any questions about astronomy. Other types of astronomy events include classroom talks, lectures, webinars, and online livestreams that use cameras to show the view through a telescope. I do all of the above!
Below, you will find a small sample of the in-person outreach events for which I’ve volunteered. These are posted as examples of what you might expect to see, hear, and do if you choose to attend an astronomy event in your area. I have taught at many more events than I’ve included here, both on my own and with a variety of astronomy organizations, but I just don’t have time to document them anymore.
Children’s Lighthouse
I must say that this was not the ideal situation or environment for an astronomy talk. The kids were great, but the people putting the event together didn't really know what they were asking for.At first, they said that they just wanted someone to talk with the kids, and hold a conversation about astronomy. Perfect! I didn’t particularly want to do a formal presentation in a daycare environment, but a conversation with kids [...]
Texas Buddhist Association
We were invited to take some telescopes out to a camp held for Buddhist youth, quite a ways out of town compared to our usual outreaches. Objects shown included the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, and the Cat’s Eye Nebula.Night Sky Network Log:Event Date: Saturday, 7/1/2017Name of Event/Service: BYC CampType of Service: Public Outreach# of Hours: 2Description of Service Performed: We arrived sometime before sunset and I set up my XT8. The kids came out around 8:45 and left sometime just before [...]
Brentwood Baptist Church
In churches all across the country, an event called “Galactic Starveyors” was being put on by VBS. One participating church, Brentwood Baptist, reached out to HAS and asked if we could bring out some telescopes and give a talk about the stars. We wound up showing the full Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn (and a very red star).Night Sky Network Log:Event Date: Thursday, 6/8/2017Name of Event/Service: Brentwood Baptist Church VBS “Galactatic Starveyors”Type of Service: Public Outreach# of Hours: 1Description of Service Performed: We [...]
Middlelands Music Festival
Well, I think Steve summed this one up best when we arrived and he greeted me with “Welcome to Woodstock!” A modern Woodstock, indeed. I didn’t mention this in the Night Sky Network log, but there’s definitely a reason the crowd was so easy to impress. I think that, except for the couple who hung around all night, most everyone there was “chemically influenced” in some way or another, which made their experience at the eyepiece (and [...]
Shadydale Elementary
I brought my Z12 to this one, because I left directly from the outreach to have an extended stay at the HAS dark site! It was paradise. Night Sky Network Log:Event Date: Friday, 4/21/2017Name of Event/Service: Shadydale Lock-InType of Service: Public Outreach# of Hours: 2Description of Service Performed: I set up my Z12 in the parking lot of the school alongside 6 scopes brought by others. A combination of the severe light pollution, partial cloud cover, and being set up directly underneath [...]
George Observatory
Event Date: Saturday, 4/15/2017Name of Event/Service: Public Observing Event – George ObservatoryType of Service: Public Outreach# of Hours: 2Description of Service Performed: We arrived around sunset, and I set my up my XT8 near the eastern stairs. There were some thick cirrus clouds over the western portion of the sky that came and went throughout the night. Ten or so minutes after setting up and pointing at Jupiter, the first people started to come by, and it became fairly busy after [...]
St Francis Episcopal School
It took a bit longer than we had hoped to get to this outreach, as initially we went to the wrong campus… Oops! Fortunately we realized our mistake and arrived at the correct campus with enough time to set up, and it was a fun night. There was one quiet kid who I didn’t mention in the Night Sky Network log, who I tried for a minute or two to help look through the eyepiece, but he [...]
Cross Creek Ranch
This was my first outreach with the Houston Astronomical Society, and little could I know at the time just how much it would change my life! Here I am just over two months later, and I’ve already found incredible friends and mentors among the club. Good people, who take me seriously and treat me well, and it all started here, with meeting Ed, Steve, and Amelia. Before this point, while I had done plenty of outreach and [...]