GUEST SPEAKERS & PRESENTERS
Mr. Gib Brown
Broadcast Meteorologist
Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory Board Member
Gib has been a member of the ASC for about 15 years. He has taught both High School and College level courses for over 45 years. In addition Gib has served as broadcast meteorologist for WPTZ (NBC affiliate) for 37 years.
Sessions
Activity: The Curious Path of the Sun and Moon
Activity: Cereal Box Viewer with a Twist
Panel Discussion
Dr. Edward DeLuca
Retired Senior Scientist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Dr. DeLuca's background is in solar magnetohydrodynamics. He has worked with instrumentation scientists at SAO for more than 30 years on NASA and NSF solar missions including the TRACE, Hinode/XRT, SDO/AIA and IRIS space missions and the AIRSpec airborne eclipse experiment. Dr. DeLuca has also done extensive research on the role of active region magnetic fields on the structure and dynamics of the solar corona.
Sessions
Lecture: NSF & NASA Eclipse Expeditions
Lecture: NASA Solar and Space Physics Missions
Panel Discussion
Ms. Elaine Fortin
NASA Solar System Ambassador
Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory Board Member
Elaine Fortin has taken several university astronomy courses and worked at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. She has followed astronomy in the news all her life and can present a vibrant presentation on many topics in astronomy. She holds a Masters degree from Harvard University in Information Technology. She has an understanding of how things fit together in space exploration: from the building of telescopes, to the launch into space or Earth based observatories, to orbits to daily operations, to transmission of data between Earth and spacecrafts, to the control centers and delivery of end products to scientists and the public.
Sessions
Activity: Modeling Meaningful Eclipses
Activity: Why Eclipses Don't Happen Every Month
Panel Discussion
Mr. Bryson Mariano
NASA Solar Eclipse Ambassador
Bryson Mariano was born and raised in Saranac Lake, NY, and is currently an honors student at Stony Brook University. Bryson has always had a love for the stars which has continued into college and inspired his major of Astronomy and Pre-Medical Sciences. After his graduation, Bryson would like to study Astrobiology and Astrophysics.
Sessions
Star Lab Planetarium
Ms. Amanda Marra
Amanda Marra is currently an undergraduate student at Stony Brook University studying astronomy. Amanda always had a major interest with the physical sciences and was constantly questioning the world around her. This curiosity led to the career goal of pursuing research in the field of astronomy and astrophysics.
Sessions
Beach Ball Activity
Mr. Seth McGowan
NASA Solar Eclipse Ambassador
Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory Board Member
Seth was born in the Bronx, NY, and resides in Tupper Lake with his wife, Susan. He and his wife raised their three grown children, Laura, Scott, and Sarah in Tupper Lake. He started his career in 1987 in education as an instrumental music teacher in Indian Lake. He took the same position with the Tupper Lake Central School District in 1990 where he later became the computer technology coordinator for the District, LP Quinn Elementary School Principal, Middle/High School Principal, and served as the Superintendent of Schools from 2007 until his retirement in 2020. He spends much of his time doing astronomy outreach to schools and communities, and deep-space astrophotography. Seth is the President of the Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory.
Sessions
Panel Discussion
Dr. Carlos Miranda
Planetarium Director (P-Tech Planetarium)
NASA Solar System Ambassador
NASA Eclipse Ambassador
Globe Educator
Carlos is a science educator with over 15 years of experience teaching in Miami, FL, the Bronx, NY, and Paterson, NJ. Through both formal and informal education, he has instilled a love for science in countless students. Carlos's passion for hands-on learning led him to establish a nonprofit science club, providing students with unforgettable experiences such as camping, whitewater rafting, and expeditions to the rainforest in Costa Rica. He has also conducted teacher professional development, empowering educators with innovative strategies. Recently appointed as the new planetarium director, Carlos has taken the program to new strides amongst the school district and community, further enhancing opportunities for exploration and discovery in STEM-related fields. Currently leading a team recognized as the national winner of the NASA Tech Rise Student challenge, Carlos continues to inspire students to explore, innovate, and excel in the field of science.
Sessions
Citizen Science: Citizen CATE 2024
Mr. Marc Staves
Co-Founding Board Member of the Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory
Marc Staves is one of the original co-founders of the observatory here in Tupper Lake. He is a retired Electrical Department Superintendent/lineworker for the village of Tupper Lake. In addition to being an avid astronomer, he has also been a licensed general class amateur radio operator for over 45+ years.
Sessions
Citizen Science: NASA/HAMSCI QSO Party
Mr. Nathan Tetrault
Nathan is an undergraduate at Stony Brook University studying Physics, Astronomy, and Pure Mathematics. After graduating, he plans on earning a graduate degree to pursue either research or education. Nathan is an avid enjoyer of various aspects of physical science and mathematics—being most interested in studying numerical modeling of astrophysics/planetary science and number theory. Before attending university--Nathan grew up near Boston, involving himself in various miscellaneous activities, among the most notable being his involvement in Scouting. Nathan has achieved his Eagle rank and is involved in Scouting to this day.
Sessions
Modeling Eclipses & Phases of the Moon
Dr. Seth Redfield
Professor of Astronomy and Director of the College of Integrative Sciences
Professor Seth Redfield is a Professor of Astronomy and the Director of the College of Integrative Sciences at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. By using telescopes around the world and in space, he studies the atmospheres of nearby exoplanets and the gas and dust floating between the nearest stars, the local interstellar medium. Professor Redfield earned a double bachelor’s degree from Tufts University, where he studied physics and astronomy, and the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied oboe performance, music theory, and composition. Prof. Redfield obtained his PhD from the University of Colorado and was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas.
Sessions
Lecture: Eclipses of Other Worlds
Activity: Cereal Box Viewer
Panel Discussion
Mr. Jim Webster
SciStarter Ambassador
Jim Webster, amateur astronomer and astro-photographer from New Jersey, president of the Astronomical Society of the Toms River Area. Dark-Sky International advocate. SciStarter Ambassador for citizen science projects. SciStarter and citizen science are now part of the growing number of available presentations he has on astronomy, photography, light pollution, and citizen science of both Earth and space sciences.
Sessions
Citizen Science: GLOBE Observer—Eclipse
Solar Viewing