Tom is a NASA Solar System Ambassador. The Solar System Ambassadors (SSA) program is run by NASA/JPL/Caltech. It is comprised of trained, dedicated volunteers across the nation that share the latest science and discoveries of NASA's missions through a variety of events designed to inspire their communities.
The Anchorage based Solar System Ambassadors (Aaron Slonecker, Tim Taber, Omega Smith, and me (Tom)) put on a star party the third Friday of each month at the University of Alaska campus in Anchorage.
The party begins at 6:30 in the UAA Planetarium in the Connoco/Phillips Science Center with a discussion of a current NASA mission (different one each time). That is followed by a planetarium show highlighting the Alaskan nighttime sky.
After the planetarium show is over, there is a Q&A session we refer to as "stump the astronomer". It is surprisingly easy to do. There is always at least one question that we can't answer.
The photo to the right was an event at the Anchorage Museum where we set up a couple solar telescopes out on the sidewalk and showed people the Sun and sunspots.
Sorry I had to fuzz out the faces in the photo. I didn't have the permission forms with me to have people sign so I can post their pictures. I assure you, the people of Anchorage are all attractive. The two faces not fuzzed out are Aaron (gray vest) and Tim (behind Aaron). They are also Solar System Ambassadors. They were operating the other solar telescope.
Important note: You cannot look at the Sun with just any telescope!!! It requires a telescope that is specially built or modified for observing the Sun.
Star Party - Kenai, Alaska - April 2022
We started with 2 solar 'scopes before sunset to look at the Sun. We also had two nighttime 'scopes for when it got dark. The Moon was already visible during the daylight, so we wasted no time in looking at that too. We had about 50 people there. Two unplanned events gave it a uniquely Alaskan feel:
1.) Around sunset, but before it got dark, two moose trotted through the parking lot.
2.) Once it got dark, we had a beautiful display of Northern Lights overhead.
Youth Empowerment Services (YES) - Anchorage, Alaska June 2021
This was a group of a dozen high school aged kids. We began the day with a discussion of killer asteroids and the NASA DART mission to defend our planet.
Next we moved outside with the solar telescopes. There was a large complex sunspot to see that day. They and their teachers loved the experience.
Important note: You cannot look at the Sun with just any telescope!!! It requires a telescope that is specially built or modified for observing the Sun.
Denali Montessori School - Anchorage, Alaska March 2021
The topic this day was "How will spaceweather impact Mars habitats?"
As always, I was impressed with how well they received the subject matter and their excellent, insightful questions; real thinkers!
They really liked the videos of solar flares and coronal mass ejections!
Wasilla Public Library - Wasilla, Alaska June 2019
This was a group of 8 - 12 year olds. After a brief presentation about the Sun and the NASA Parker Solar Probe, we went outside and observed the Sun with the Higher Horizons solar telescope.
Important note:
You cannot look at the Sun with just any telescope!!! It requires a telescope that is specially built or modified for observing the Sun.
International Astronomy Day 2017 at the Anchorage Museum
Important note: You cannot look at the Sun with just any telescope!!! It requires a telescope that is specially built or modified for observing the Sun.
There were two smallish sunspots on the visible solar disk that day that people got to see through the Higher Horizons solar 'scope.
Denali Montessori School, Anchorage, Alaska November 2019
Tom spoke to a group of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders about solar flares, space weather and the NASA Parker Solar Probe.
After the talk, the Higher Horizons new solar telescope made its first public appearance as the students all got to observe the Sun.
Important note: You cannot look at the Sun with just any telescope!!! It requires a telescope that is specially built or modified for observing the Sun.
Once Tom gets a signed consent form, he will un-fuzz the teacher's face.
College Gate Elementary School, Anchorage, Alaska January 2018
This was just two days before the January 2018 lunar eclipse. Two days after this session they got to watch the full moon turn from white to red with their own eyes - and they knew the reason why it was happening.
Here, Tom is talking about lunar eclipses in a 2nd grade classroom.
