What An Great Experience At The Astronomy Camp With Over 200 Young Explorers!
What an great experience at the astronomy camp with over 200 young explorers!
We kicked off the day by setting up tents, firing up the BBQ, and indulging in delicious s’mores. As the sun began to set, the kids got their first glimpse through the telescope, watching the sun in all its glory.
Later that night, we dived into an Astronomy 101 session and embarked on a breathtaking constellation tour. Through my 8-inch telescope, they marveled at the Moon (they LOVED it!), Jupiter and its satellites, and the mysterious Mars.
With the Seestar, we explored deep-space wonders like M13, M42, M81, and M82 bringing distant galaxies and nebulae to life.
To wrap up this magical night, we lit floating lights, sending glowing lanterns into the sky—just like stars finding their way home.
This night was more than just stargazing, it was an adventure beyond Earth, sparking curiosity and awe in every child.
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Today, I was deeply honored by the Clark County Board of Commissioners for my work in educating our community about the wonders of the universe. I owe this recognition to the unwavering support of my family, friends, and the incredible organizations that have partnered with me over the years.
It's been an incredible journey fueled by curiosity and a passion for space. I am humbled by this recognition and committed to continuing my mission of promoting scientific literacy.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey, with special thanks to Commissioner Gibson and Commission District Liaison Blanca Vazquez for their incredible support and encouragement. Your enthusiasm makes all the difference.
Let's keep looking up and exploring the cosmos together!
First sunset of the spring
Tonight, we had an incredible discussion about living in space, focusing on the Moon and Mars! The highlight was getting to peek through my telescope, we look at Caldwell 14, Saturn and the Moon. Although clouds played a bit of a trick on us, making Jupiter a little hard to see, the kids and groups still had a blast exploring the cosmos!
Thanks to everyone who joined us for this cosmic adventure. Here’s to more nights filled with stargazing and learning!
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Had an amazing morning at career Day.
Today, I had a full rotation of classes where I talked to the children about exciting careers in space, the importance of healthy eating, and gymnastics for keeping the bones healthy.
The children were so engaged and curious, I have a few who had fantastic questions. It was inspiring to see their interest in topics like black holes.
One of them tell me that after her PhD, she dreams of becoming a marine biologist on a moon base!
Just got back from an amazing time at the Death Valley Dark Sky Festival! I had the privilege of supporting the event with my telescope, and the experience was unforgettable.
The skies were incredibly clear and dark on Friday and Saturday nights, perfect for stargazing despite the chilly weather. We had the chance to see Jupiter and its satellite, Mars, Venus, as well as deep-sky objects like M42, M36, M31, M44, and M45.
During the day on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 to 4, I was at the Visitor Center with my solar telescope, observing the Sun.
We welcomed over 1000 stargazers each night and more than 500 visitors during the day. I absolutely love this event and can't wait for the next one!
Excited to celebrate Spring the Japanese way at the annual Japanese Spring Festival hosted by Kizuna! A day filled with cultural delights - from Japanese Tea Ceremonies to Kimono fashion, Origami, Calligraphy, Ikebana, traditional music and dance, and the delicious food.
Today, I had going to Kizuna Japanese Spring Festival: Haru Matsuri, and it was absolutely amazing! 🌸
It was a true journey into Japanese culture, filled with incredible arts, activities, and performances. I shared a special moment with my mom during the Japanese Tea Ceremony, marveling at the meticulous beauty of this tradition. I also discovered something new—the refreshing ice yuzu tea, which I absolutely loved trying.
I love the calligraphic and origami, ikebana, taiko drumming, koto music, yosakoi dancing, martial arts, delicious food.
It was a day brimming with culture and joy!
Have you ever walked on a volcano?
Yesterday I did! The otherworldly landscape was incredible.
I had an amazing hike with Mom exploring the breathtaking volcanic landscapes of Little Hebe Crater and Ubehebe Crater! The highlight of the day was descending into the Ubehebe caldera to capture an impressive selfie and panoramic view.
We were blessed with perfect weather, allowing us to fully appreciate the vastness of the Ubehebe Crater, which is a staggering 600 feet deep and half a mile across.Walking on the sandy volcanic rocks was a unique experience, and in several spots, I sank up to my ankles!
Nature never ceases to amaze me with its wonders. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend visiting these incredible craters.
Did you know that the Milky Way has over 150 globular clusters?
One of the most striking globular clusters in our Milky Way is Messier 3 (M3) I came across an amazing image of the globular cluster M3 taken with the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope. For comparison, I share a photo that I have taken through the DWARF II.
Did you know that M3 is a collection of several thousand to millions of stars, all gravitationally bound?
It's approximately 34,000 light-years distant and contains around 500,000 stars!
You can spot it high above the disk of the Milky Way after sunset and before sunrise. Take a look with binoculars or a telescope and see if you can spot T Cor Bor (which is about to go nova, one of these days!)
