The Joys of Astronomy Outreach

Throughout its 70-year history, public astronomy outreach events have been a major priority of HAS. This it is clearly stated in our mission statement “Fostering the science and art of astronomy through programs that serve our membership and the community.” With 5 regular star parties and a few other similar events officially reported or not, HAS reaches over 5,000 people a year in our area.

Most amateur astronomers are passionate about our hobby, and this passion leads many to share their joy of observing the night sky with others.  The positive feedback we get from the public, and the excitement we see in the faces of the school children we introduce to the night sky motivates some to find ways to organize new astronomy outreach events in new locations beyond friends and family.

For those who are new to amateur astronomy, participating in organized outreach events is a great way to learn by trying different instruments that may also include smart telescopes. By participating in outreach events, you will also meet and establish relationships with other HAS members who can help you along your journey in amateur astronomy.

At our November 6th regular meeting, we will hold a panel discussion about astronomy outreach. You will meet several of our members who are fully involved in doing astronomy outreach in different ways and at different locations. Each of them will describe what they do to engage the public and introduce them to the night sky. They will also explain why they are so dedicated to Outreach.

HAS Regularly Scheduled Outreach Events to be presented are:

STEM In The Park, Rustic Oaks Park, League City -Dan Roy

Dan Roy is currently HAS Outreach Coordinator. Dan is happily retired in League City TX where he leads monthly STEM parties (microscopy and astronomy) for the park services and volunteers for the Foundation for International Space Education (FISE) United Space School (USS) program which brings 50 most brilliant kids from 25 countries to Houston for an intensive workshop about the space program. 

Astronomy in the Park – Memorial Park Eastern Glades

Joyce & Matt Almaguer-Reisdorf

 Joyce and Matt coordinate the regular HAS public outreach program at Memorial Park. Matt is an engineer in the energy business working on both fossil fuels and renewables. Joyce has a background in ecology and appreciates seeing astronomy as an extension of the wonderful natural world here on Earth.
 

Outreach at Challenger 7 Memorial Park

Michael Segura

Michael Segura is a retired Navy nurse with a lifelong passion for astronomy. He is a regular feature of Astronomy and Microscopy in the park in League City and leads our monthly event at the Challenger 7 Memorial Park in Webster often with his wife Amy.

Mike has the most impressive collection of optical instruments from spotting scopes to an 8” Dobs. He also owns a few binoculars and somehow manages to show them all at once to the public.

John Paul Landing Park – Bill Spizzirri

Bill Spizzirri is a retired computer software engineer who has been studying astronomy for over 65 years. His favorite thing to do is to teach astronomy to the public, especially children. He has been doing that more or less continuously for over 40 years. He now does it at Houston area schools and community centers. The pay is excellent, in the form of great questions from the students.

Kleb Woods Nature Preserve - Matt Boerlage and Erica Coenen

Matt and Erica organize the four annual astronomy outreach nights at Kleb Woods Nature Preserve near Tomball. They enjoy sparking people’s curiosity and encouraging them to explore the night sky for themselves. Matt is the HAS President, and Erica serves on the board as Membership Chair. Both work in Houston’s energy industry and enjoy exploring everything from astrophotography and radio astronomy to data science.

In Person and Online Meeting

Our next meeting will be on Friday, November 6th, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm and you can participate in one of two ways, either face to face at HAS’s new meeting location:

HCC Alief Hayes Campus

2811 Hayes Rd

Houston, TX

or virtually via Zoom. To attend via Zoom, you must register for the meeting. You can use the link below. You will receive an email with the details of the meeting and a link that will allow you to join in.

Register here.

You only need to register once!

Join us on Friday, November 6th, 2026, at 7:00 pm CT.

See you then!

“Aurora: The Science Behind Nature’s Light Show”

By Peggie Mueller

This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. To attend, you must register for the meeting. You can use the link below. You will receive an email with the details of the meeting and a link that will allow you to join in.

Register here.

You only need to register once!

Join us on Thursday, November 5^th, at 7:00 pm CT. See you then!

People have always been fascinated with the rings of Saturn. Per ChatGPT (Ok, I'm cheating):

Galileo Galilei was the first person to observe Saturn's rings in 1610 using a telescope.

However, Galileo's telescope was not powerful enough to show the rings clearly. He thought Saturn had two large companions on either side.

Christiaan Huygens, a Dutch astronomer, correctly explained the rings in 1655. He proposed that Saturn was surrounded by a thin, flat ring that did not touch the planet.

<ChatGPT end>

Here is a composite image of Saturn from 2018 to 2026 showing how the rings appear to us on Earth. Saturn’s rings appear to open and close because Saturn is tilted on its axis as it orbits the Sun, changing the angle at which we see the rings from Earth.

Images taken by Sonny Manley of the Ft. Bend Astronomy Club.    

“Navigating the Autumn Sky”

By Heather Charron

To see the video, click Navigating the Autumn Sky.

“Becoming Friends with the Moon”

With

Robert Reeves

Renowned astronomer Robert Reeves will take us on a private tour of our closest celestial neighbor. Along the way, Robert will point out some of the most interesting sights by way of his awesome lunar images. He will delve into detail about some of his favorite areas of the moon and provide both new astronomers and seasoned observers with tips for observing these areas in our own telescopes. 

Robert has been a regular presenter to HAS and has always managed to both enlighten us with his knowledge and to share his unique perspective. In addition, he has inspired us to explore the night sky in new ways. This presentation is sure to be one you won't want to miss!

Robert is the author of the books Exploring The Moon With Robert Reeves: Observing and Understanding Our Natural Satellite, released by Firefly books in 2002, and Photographic Atlas of the Moon which was released by Firefly in 2004. Robert’s third book on the Moon's History of Lunar Exploration, was released by Firefly this past September, 2026.

Our Speaker: Robert Reeves is an amateur astronomer who has become well known both within the am-Astro community here in Texas as well as internationally. He has been exploring the night sky since 1958 and took his first lunar photograph in 1959. Robert has been publishing articles about astronomy since 1984 which have appeared in Sky and Telescope, Astronomy, as well as other publications for amateur astronomers. He has written seven books about the Moon, space exploration and astrophotography.

Robert enjoys speaking about astronomy and spreading his passion for astrophotography of both Moon deep sky targets.

To see the video, click Becoming Friends with the Moon.

“NASA’s Moon Base Program (MBP) - Surface Mobility Office”

By: Carl Dunn

Moon Base Program - Surface Mobility Risk Manager

The Surface Mobility Office supports the Moon Base Program by providing crew transport via the Lunar Terrain Vehicle, surface logistics including utility rovers, and robotic construction.  These projects will serve an integral role in providing crew transport on the lunar surface and help build a sustaining presence on the Moon. Based at the Johnson Space Center, the program is a cornerstone of the Artemis initiative, focusing on humanity's return to the Moon and preparation for future human missions to Mars.

Carl will provide us with an overview of the program, its objectives the technology and equipment it is currently developing, and its future use in the Artemis Program.

Speaker Bio: Carl is an amateur astronomer, space exploration historian, and military veteran.  He grew up in a small town in Lacon, Illinois. He enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard, training in the Infantry, and served two tours during his six-year enlistment.  In 2005, Carl responded to Natural Disaster Relief in New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2008-2009.  

In 2016, Carl moved to Houston, TX to pursue a career in space exploration, starting his career with an IT consulting business, Patriotic Solutions, that built the IT infrastructure for the Nanoracks Mission Control Center.  He later coordinated education programs at Space Center Houston including scouting and overnight experiences.

In 2022, Carl started work at the Johnson Space Center through a NASA subcontractor, ARES Corporation, as a Support Specialist. He trained on EVA Operations and supported the Integrated Testing Facilities including the Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL), vacuum chambers, and field tests.  

Carl begun working full time on the Lunar Terrain Vehicle Project as a Data Integrator in 2023.  Shortly after the Moon Base Program was announced this spring, he became the Risk Manager for Surface Mobility. He is proud to support NASA's return to the surface of the Moon and beyond! 

To see the video, click NASA’s Moon Base Program (MBP) - Surface Mobility Office.