About Wyoming Stargazing

Quienes somos

¡Hacemos que el Universo cobre vida!

Wyoming Stargazing is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Jackson Wyoming that excels at making the often difficult to understand concepts of astronomy accessible to everyone. We offer public and private stargazing and astronomy programs as well as working with schools. You?ll leave our programs with a new understanding of the Universe and a sense of how you are connected to everything in the Cosmos. Don?t forget to look up!

Nuestra misión

The mission of Wyoming Stargazing is to inspire curiosity and learning through our extraordinary skies and the Universe beyond.

We know that learning about astronomy has a “wow factor” that can inspire and motivate learners of all ages to explore their world. Astronomy can be a “gateway science” for lifelong curiosity, learning, and exploration of all areas of knowledge.

Wyoming Stargazing provides engaging, entertaining, and educational programs for the many millions of visitors who come through Jackson Hole every year as well as for local residents. We’re particularly interested in promoting nighttime family programming and in assisting our local school districts in promoting scientific literacy. We hope that we can light a spark for learners of all ages to heighten their interest in science and the amazing universe we inhabit.

Our Core Values

At Wyoming Stargazing we share a set of common values that guide everything we do. Whether it’s internal meetings, a stargazing program at night, solar astronomy program during the day, planetarium program, indoor astronomy presentation, or virtual astronomy program, we share our passion for:

Land & Sky Acknowledgment

We acknowledge that we are living, meeting, teaching, learning, and enjoying the night sky as colonizers in the unceded and occupied territory of the Eastern Shoshone, Shoshone-Bannock, Northern Arapaho, Cheyenne and many other indigenous peoples whose past, present and future generations steward these lands and skies. The current arrangement of the stars into constellations that are drawn from the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians, as well as from European colonizers in South America are but one of a myriad of arrangements of stars into constellations created by native peoples living in every corner of the globe. Their arrangements of stars into constellations told their own stories and are no less valid than the currently accepted astronomical constellations. We acknowledge the deep connection to this place including the skies above it established and passed on through innumerable generations living and carrying out their hopes, their dreams, and their lives on these lands and under these skies from which they were forcibly removed. Their stories of the skies predate ours and contain much wisdom. We offer respect to their elders’ past, present and future. We acknowledge the legacies of violence, displacement, migration and settlement that bring each of us together here in the present.

Anti-Discrimination Statement

Wyoming Stargazing does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion, ethnicity, national origin, or disability in our hiring practices, in our programming practices, or in any other aspect of our organization. Despite our best efforts to provide equitable access to our programs, we are acutely aware of how economic disadvantages and other disparities can prohibit students from accessing learning opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. We want to further our mission of educating and inspiring everyone by promoting Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) in STEM. We are also aware that there is currently an imbalance of power among the various demographic groups within our community and within our organization. We are actively trying to make that balance of power more equitable. We always strive to create safe and inclusive spaces for everyone through open and honest communication, compassion, deep listening, and patience. However, we are aware of our own limited perspectives and abilities to be perfectly culturally competent and to get it right every time. We therefore welcome feedback on how the Wyoming Stargazing community can continue to become a safer more inclusive space for all.

Our Objectives

• To offer close to 100 public astronomy programs every year.
• To achieve Dark Sky Certification for Jackson, Teton County, and Grand Teton National Park
• To establish an observatory and planetarium in Jackson Hole that will:
  1. Provide year-round, daytime and nighttime programming opportunities for families and individuals
  2. Establish a multi-use creative lab space for scientific, educational, and artistic programs
  3. Increase the time that visitors stay in Jackson Hole
  4. Create numerous new jobs for our community
  5. Assist surrounding public and private schools in bolstering scientific literacy programs
  6. Represent two new extraordinary reasons for thinking of Jackson Hole as unique
  7. Reach 1 million students by 2030!
• To create a JEDI in STEM Scholarship and Mentorship Program

Nuestra visión

A World-Class Observatory and Planetarium in Jackson Hole

For several years, Wyoming Stargazing has advocated for and promoted an observatory and planetarium on the summit of Snow King Mountain. Now, Snow King Mountain Resort LLC. is bringing that vision to fruition. The facility will be completed by the fall of 2023. The Observatory will have a 24′ AshDome and a 1.0-meter PlaneWave telescope. The telescope will be one of the largest state-of-the-art telescopes in the world dedicated primarily to public outreach. The Facility will also include a Spitz 8-meter digital planetarium with 30-seat capacity, a classroom/theater space, galleries with interactive exhibits, and event space. The facility will be an iconic science learning center in the Rocky Mountain West. Wyoming Stargazing hopes to use this facility to reach our goal of impacting 1 million students through in-person and virtual programming by the year 2030. Check out the progress and initial renderings here!

Samuel Singer, PhD en Educación Científica

Fundador y Director Ejecutivo

Samuel grew up exploring the high desert in Yerington, Nevada, which is where he first fell in love with the night sky. Study for a B.A. in Physics and Astronomy took him to Hampshire College in Amherst Massachusetts. Samuel built a couple Dobsonian telescopes and helped to establish a small observatory at Hampshire College as part of his bachelor’s degree. While at Hampshire, the deciduous forests of the east coast, led Samuel to discover his love for outdoor science education. He earned a Masters in Natural Science–Environment and Natural Resources by way of the Teton Science Schools and the University of Wyoming. Samuel built a second small observatory for the Teton Science Schools in Jackson Hole during his masters program. He has been recognized by NASA as a volunteer Solar System Ambassador, as well as by the IGES and NASA in their Top Stars program for an astronomy lesson plan he wrote. In 2013, Samuel completed his doctorate degree in Science Education from the University of Wyoming. His dissertation research focused on spirituality in outdoor environmental education. After wrapping up his dissertation he founded Wyoming Stargazing as a way to further his passion for helping others explore the Universe. On his time off, he enjoys meditation, backcountry skiing, yoga, and long distance running. Samuel currently splits his time between Jackson and the San Francisco Bay Area where he lives with his partner Becca, their daughter Simone, and two dogs, Monte and Grover.

Samuel@WyomingStargazing.org

Rick Gordon, PhD Education

Director of Education

Rick grew up in upstate New York and developed a love of learning and discovery as he journeyed through college in California, during which he took a semester off to hike the John Muir Trail and work on the edge of Desolation Wilderness near Tahoe. After college, Rick cycled across the US, led wilderness trips in New England and student bike trips in Europe, spent 6 months backpacking in Asia, and eventually settled for a time teaching history at the Putney School in Vermont. Amidst all these travel adventures, Rick received a MA in Organizational Leadership from University of Minnesota and a PhD in Education from CU-Boulder and went on to found the Compass School, an inspiringly idealistic school in Vermont for students in grades 7-12. Along the way, Rick also led outdoor programs for Outward Bound and Interlocken Center for Experiential Education, coached soccer and Nordic skiing, and spent a year traveling around the globe with his family. Rick brings years of experience working with educators at all levels, including extensive connections with schools and higher education on Service Learning (including editing the well-received Problem Based Service Learning Fieldguide: Making a Difference in Higher Education). Rick co-authored Transforming School Climate and Learning: Beyond Bullying and Compliance and has been a Humanities teacher, run several small businesses, and had the honor of visiting thousands of classrooms as an educational ethnographer and consultant over the years. He is thrilled to bring this wealth of experience to Wyoming Stargazing to learn along with the amazing educators involved with the program.

Rick@WyomingStargazing.org

Nicole Riddle

Nicole is originally from Fort Worth, Texas. In May 2022, she received a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University, majoring in Astronomy & Physics and minoring in Mathematics and Sustainability. She was part of an astronomy research group for three out of her four years at TCU and presented research on binary star detection at the American Astronomical Society meeting in January of 2021. Through college, Nicole spent her time working odd jobs such as floral assistant, substitute P.E. teacher, tutor, and legal assistant, but her love of astronomy education was inspired by her job as a guest experience host in the planetarium at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

Rachel Fischer

Rachel is from Savannah, GA and moved to Jackson at the beginning of the summer to stargaze in Wyoming’s beautiful night skies. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelors in Astrophysics in the spring of 2022. She researched diffuse molecular clouds in the Milky Way as an undergraduate and is excited to continue pursuing her passion for Astrophysics here in Jackson with Wyoming Stargazing. When she isn’t out studying the night skies, Rachel also works as a bus driver for a whitewater rafting company. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and baking.

David “JR” Dalby

At a very young age, JR was interested in the sky. He has early childhood memories of the Apollo missions. Watching Neil Armstrong walking on the moon on TV started his interest in astronomy. His mom gave him his first Planisphere at the age of about 10. He spent countless nights looking at the stars and planets. He moved to Jackson in 2012 and became friends with Wyoming Stargazing. He started to volunteer at events, then lead public programs. Now, he leads private programs and shares his love of astronomy. His education is mostly self-taught though the voyage of discovery using a lot of resources including enrolling in Kahn Academy online Cosmology and Astronomy courses. JR looks forward to meeting you and enjoying the night sky.

Andy Vasquez

Andy is from Los Angeles, CA. He?s had a passion for astronomy and stargazing since he was a child. Most of his knowledge was obtained through Astronomy classes at UC Santa Barbara and supplemented by documentaries, articles, books, and museums. Andy has been working with the Griffith Observatory for two years where he polished his knowledge and shares the secrets of the cosmos with peoples of all ages. He joined the Wyoming Stargazing team early in the summer of 2023 to better appreciate Jackson?s darker skies and further share his enthusiasm for the stars and behold their unique unmatched beauty.

Benjamin Weiser

Ben hails from southern Ohio in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. Always close to nature, he developed a love for the sky and the questions it implores us to ponder. From a young age, Ben found great fulfillment in sharing the human experience of the sky with others, which led him to Wyoming Stargazing after studying astronomy at Ohio State University. He now lives in Jackson year round and is happy to be a member of the local community. In his free time, Ben enjoys going to the gym, hiking around Jackson Hole, and experiencing local food and drink.

Josh Cook

Josh originates from Olathe, Kansas. In 2015 he graduated from the University of Missouri – Kansas City with degrees in Physics and Astronomy where he went on to work with an international research group studying the evolution of galaxies across cosmic time. In 2018 he spent a year working at a remote observatory under the dark southern skies of NSW, Australia. Following his passion for science communication and for the outdoors, he came out to Jackson in 2019 to work with Wyoming Stargazing. When he’s not out leading programs, you can find him pouring the best lattes in town at both Picnic and Persephone Bakery.

Ian Edwards, MS Matemáticas Aplicadas

Presidente, Miembro de la Junta

Ian está retirado de una carrera en Electroóptica que abarca 32 años. Tiene una Licenciatura en Física y una Maestría en Matemática Aplicada (Teoría Cuántica) de La Trobe University, Australia. Durante su tiempo en La Trobe, fue responsable del telescopio del Departamento de Física montado en la azotea del edificio. Ha tenido un interés de toda la vida por la óptica y la astronomía. Se retiró a Jackson Hole para dedicarse a actividades al aire libre, como senderismo, ciclismo, kayak y astronomía en este extraordinario entorno.

Mike Adler, PhD Física

Vicepresidente, Miembro de la Junta

Mike se graduó del MIT en 1971 como un doctorado en el área de la física del estado sólido y trabajó en General Electric desde 1971 hasta su jubilación en 2000. Desde su jubilación, Mike ha estado activo en el Instituto de Ingenieros Eléctricos y Electrónicos (IEEE, el mayor sociedad en el mundo), incluido su presidente en 2003. Recientemente, Mike combinó sus pasatiempos de astronomía y fotografía y está tomando fotografías astrópicas con sus telescopios de 6 ″ y 20 ″ en Wyoming. Mike ha estado dando charlas sobre varios temas de astronomía, geología y viajes a grupos en Nueva York y Jackson.

Kathleen Glover

Tesorero, miembro de la junta

Kathleen Glover y su esposo, Mike, han vivido a tiempo completo en Jackson desde 2015, después de dividir su tiempo durante varios años entre el área de Washington, DC y Wyoming. Kathleen es CPA y anteriormente trabajó como directora de finanzas para Martin Marietta (ahora Lockheed Martin) y en firmas de contabilidad pública en DC y Albany, Nueva York. Anteriormente, participó activamente en varias organizaciones benéficas, educativas y comunitarias en el área del norte de Virginia, además de entrenar varios equipos deportivos y académicos. Kathleen disfruta de su jubilación en el área de Jackson y está emocionada de compartir su interés en los cielos de Wyoming con la comunidad y los visitantes.

Liz Moseley

Secretary, Board Member

Como profesional de búsqueda experimentada con más de 12 años de experiencia, Liz ha asistido a más de 200 búsquedas en educación superior, escuelas independientes y en el sector sin fines de lucro, identificando y reclutando líderes académicos y administrativos. , Liz se desempeñó como consultora en la práctica de educación en AT Kearney. Anteriormente, se desempeñó como coordinadora de búsqueda en una firma de búsqueda internacional que coloca a ejecutivos senior en instituciones académicas y sin fines de lucro para clientes con sede en América del Norte y en el extranjero. Antes de ingresar a la industria de la búsqueda de ejecutivos, ocupó un puesto en la práctica de asesoría regulatoria en KPMG Peat Marwick. Liz participa activamente en varias organizaciones comunitarias. Actualmente se desempeña como vicepresidenta de la Junta de la Fundación de Educación de Esquí de Teton Valley (TVSEF). En el verano de 2018 lideró la búsqueda del director ejecutivo de TVSEF. También trabaja en estrecha colaboración con el Comité de Gala de la Escuela Comunitaria de Jackson Hole cada año. Es esposa de un oficial naval jubilado y madre de tres niños. Disfrutan pasar tiempo al aire libre.

Brad Mead

Miembro de la Junta

El Sr. Mead es nativo de Wyoming, ganadero y abogado junto con su esposa Kate en el bufete de abogados Mead & Mead en Jackson. También es el fundador y director ejecutivo de Wyoming Whiskey. Actualmente escribe una columna para Jackson Hole News & Guide y es miembro de varias juntas asesoras. Además, el Sr. Mead es un astrónomo aficionado apasionado, lo que le ha llevado a construir su propio observatorio personal y convertirse en miembro de la Royal Astronomical Society.

Peta Roubin

Miembro de la Junta

Peta Roubin tiene experiencia en salud y negocios, combinando estudios en Enfermería y Economía en la Universidad de Sydney, Australia. Peta pasó su carrera combinando esta experiencia en la industria de dispositivos médicos, con sus responsabilidades principales desarrollando y comercializando productos médicos a nivel mundial, así como mejorando los estándares de atención médica en algunos países del tercer mundo, incluidos China e India. Peta ha estado involucrado en una variedad de organizaciones sin fines de lucro, incluidos refugios para personas sin hogar, hospitales en la ciudad de Nueva York y en Jackson Hole. Sus otros intereses incluyen estar involucrada en brindar oportunidades educativas a todos los grupos demográficos en el área de Jackson Hole, que es la forma en que se conectó con Wyoming Stargazing. Es una destacada defensora de los programas de educación científica que ofrecemos.

David Moxam, MBA y MS en Física

Miembro de la Junta

David Moxam es cofundador de Malibu IQ, LLC y se desempeña como presidente de la junta. También se desempeña como asesor senior y socio de Manti Holdings. David se desempeñó como presidente y director ejecutivo de Authentix, Inc. hasta el 10 de octubre de 2012. David es un empresario exitoso con amplia experiencia en llevar tecnologías avanzadas al mercado. Su experiencia incluye trabajar en una capacidad ejecutiva senior con un líder de Fortune 500 Global y liderar una pequeña empresa a través de un período de crecimiento dinámico, ya que se estableció como pionera y líder en una industria recientemente establecida. David dirige un equipo de doctores, ingenieros y expertos de la industria que desarrollan soluciones moleculares y de nanotecnología que son utilizadas por 5 de las 10 principales compañías farmacéuticas. Antes de unirse a Authentix, David realizó un cambio tecnológico en Goldman Sachs. Starpoint por el que ganó un premio Goldman Sachs Technology TurnAround en 2000. Antes de esto, pasó una década construyendo EDS? Global Financial Markets Group, con sede en Nueva York. David tiene títulos de posgrado en Física y Administración de Empresas de Laurentian University en Canadá.

Jim Rooks, M.S. in Education

Miembro de la Junta

Jim is a fifth generation native of Jackson Hole, who graduated from Jackson Hole High School in 1990 and the University of Wyoming in 1995. ?Jimbo,? as most of his friends call him, went on to earn a master?s degree in education and serve as a teacher, principal and athletic coach for 25 years. Jim has been recognized as Citizen of the Month, Everyday Hero and Teacher of the Year, several times over! He also founded the local chapter of the high school ?We the People? program, which regularly earned state championships and national final qualifications. As of June 2020, Jim is the new Director of Community Engagement, who will offer both programming and leadership for the Wonder Institute.

David “JR” Dalby

Miembro de la Junta

At a very young age, JR was interested in the sky. He has early childhood memories of the Apollo missions. Watching Neil Armstrong walking on the moon on TV started his interest in astronomy. His mom gave him his first Planisphere at the age of about 10. He spent countless nights looking at the stars and planets. He moved to Jackson in 2012 and became friends with Wyoming Stargazing. He started to volunteer at events, then lead public programs. Nowadays, he leads private programs as well as serves on the Board of Directors – in addition to being an Account Manager with Mountain Alarm in Jackson, WY.