GRAND CANYON — Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC) and Grand Canyon National Park are proud to announce the selection of the second Grand Canyon Astronomer in Residence, renowned educator, author, and astronomy expert, Dean Regas. He will live and work at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park from November 16 to December 8, 2021.
Regas has been the astronomer for the Cincinnati Observatory since 2000 and was co-host of the PBS program “Star Gazers” from 2010 to 2019. He is the author of the books “Facts from Space” and “100 things to See in the Night Sky,” and is a contributing editor to Sky and Telescope Magazine and a contributor to Astronomy Magazine, from which he won the 2008 “Out-of-this-World” Award for astronomy education. Regas has written over 150 astronomy articles for the Cincinnati Enquirer, has blogged for the Huffington Post, and is regularly featured on television and radio. He is also a frequent guest on National Public Radio’s Science Friday and NPR’s Here & Now, and hosts his own astronomy podcast with Anna Hehman called “Looking Up!” He is currently working on a new book called “How to Teach Grown-Ups about Pluto.”
“My main goal during my time as Grand Canyon’s Astronomer in Residence is to share my passion for the universe with visitors,” said Regas. “In 2016 I attended my first Grand Canyon Star Party and volunteered as a guest speaker. I was so impressed by the group of rangers and amateur astronomers and the way they entertained more than 1,000 people each night under a dark sky. Seeing the Milky Way and the dimmer Zodiacal Light from the rim of Grand Canyon is a sight I will never forget, but more importantly, it’s a grand venue for others to explore.”
The Grand Canyon Astronomer in Residence program, launched in the summer of 2021, offers professional and amateur astronomers, educators, scientists, writers, and artists the opportunity to practice and share their discipline under one of the most pristine night skies in the United States.
“As an International Dark Sky Park, Grand Canyon is the perfect location to host an Astronomer in Residence program,” said Theresa McMullan, GCC Chief Executive Officer. “Thanks to a grant from the Flinn Foundation, the insights learned during the residencies will be beneficial to our understanding of the skies above and will provide unique educational experiences for our visitors and the local Grand Canyon community.”
Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Ed Keable echoed McMullan’s sentiments, adding, “the night skies at Grand Canyon are unparalleled and I am looking forward to engaging with the astronomers who will be spending time at the park. I marvel at the night skies and often ask our staff to provide additional information to me about the wonders of our star-scape.”
Grand Canyon Conservancy, 1824 S. Thompson St., Suite 205, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (928) 638-2481 www.grandcanyon.org
The program is modeled after the Artist in Residence program popular in parks across the country. The park hosts a chosen applicant on-site for a short-term residency; the resident, in turn, completes projects in their discipline through direct experience of the park’s resources and engages in public programming.
About Grand Canyon Conservancy — Grand Canyon Conservancy is the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, raising private funds, operating retail shops within the park, and providing educational programs about the natural and cultural history of the region. Our members fund projects including trails and historic building preservation, educational programs for the public, and the protection of wildlife and their natural habitat. Grand Canyon Conservancy inspires generations of park champions to cherish and support the natural and cultural wonder of Grand Canyon. For more information, visit www.grandcanyon.org