Observatories

Smolen Observatory volunteers in front of the 14" Celestron, the tracking software on the left screen, and an 8" Dobsonian to the right. I am pictured second from the right.

• Volunteering at the Muriel & Jack Smolen Observatory at SUNY New Paltz in New Paltz, New York for various Public Nights (especially after Public Planetarium Shows and for Astronomical events) from August 2021 to May 2024, when I graduated.

• I conducted Spectroscopic research at this observatory, analyzing the atmospheres of planets in the Solar System and troubleshooting saturation and telluric contamination issues. See my research from this observatory here!

• Volunteering at the Fuertes Observatory at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York as a part of the Cornell Astronomy Society

• I volunteered for the Open Houses every Friday in Summer 2023 during my Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Cornell University's Astrophysics and Planetary Science Department. See my research here!

• Volunteering involved the operation of several small telescopes, the main telescope pictured to the right, manually finding astronomical objects, providing tours of the facilities, and providing tours of the museum.

• In addition to my volunteer work at this observatory, I volunteered extensively both in Ithaca during my summer research experience and in my general undergraduate experience. These volunteer experiences can be found here!

• A special shout-out to my childhood observatory in Lowell, Michigan just outside of my hometown in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

• I was randomly selected and featured in their local newspaper one night, immortalizing my early fascination with the universe.

• Photo taken of me (right, blue) with my sister (left, pink) c. 2010 when I was around 7-8 years old