Chiefland Astronomy

Keynote Speaker

Dr. John Panek: Engineering and Science of NASA’s Roman Space Telescope

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Abstract: Dr. Panek will provide a look at our next flagship mission to survey the sky in infrared light and demonstrate technologies needed for future large coronagraphs.

About the Speaker: John Panek is a Senior Mission Systems Engineer at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center with 27-years of experience in aerospace engineering for a range of efforts from science instrument technology development, large mission concept architecture and design, payload preparation at the launch pad, and mission control operations after launch.  He is currently Deputy Mission Systems Engineer for the Space Weather Next L1 Series, a joint NASA/NOAA project with observatories launching in 2029 and 2032. 

Dr. J. Andreas Howell: From Pixels to Light Curves: Using Seestar to Observe Eclipsing Binaries

Alachua Astronomy Club

Abstract: Join us under Florida’s pristine dark skies for a hands-on journey into the fascinating world of variable star observation with the Seestar smart telescope. This session is designed for amateur astronomers eager to contribute meaningful scientific data using Seestar. It will also be valuable for anyone using a one-shot color camera for astroimaging.

We’ll begin by exploring how to choose the best variable stars to observe—considering brightness, variability type, and scientific significance. Next, we’ll dive into using the Seestar telescope, covering setup, imaging techniques, and best practices for capturing high-quality data.

Once the images are collected, we’ll walk through the data analysis process, demonstrating how to use PixInsight’s new VariableStarObserver tool to extract photometric measurements. Finally, we’ll explain how to obtain your personal observer initials and submit your findings to the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO), allowing you to contribute to real scientific research.

Whether you’re new to variable star observing or a seasoned astronomer looking to integrate smart telescope technology into your workflow, this presentation will help get you started to make meaningful contributions.

Bring your Seestar if you have one, and let’s turn photons into data under the Florida night sky!

About the Speaker: Dr. Andy Howell has spent a lifetime chasing the ever-changing light of the cosmos. From naked-eye stargazing to tinkering with the 8-inch reflector he built as a teenager, to commanding the mighty 60-inch at Mt. Wilson, Andy has always had his eyes on the stars. He holds degrees in Earth & Planetary Science from MIT and Caltech and earned a PhD in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech—because uncovering the secrets of the universe requires good engineering.

His career took him to the front lines of space defense, where he tracked orbits and safeguarded the skies for the U.S. Air Force’s Space Defense Center. But even with cutting-edge military technology at his fingertips, he never lost his love for the flickering beacons of variable stars. Now retired, Andy channels his passion into the digital age, wielding the tiny yet formidable Seestar smart telescope to collect scientifically valuable data for the American Association of Variable Star Observers.

Whether through massive observatories or palm-sized tech marvels, Andy Howell’s mission remains the same—deciphering the ever-shifting rhythms of the universe, one photon at a time. 

Dr. Anthony Gonzalez: The Next Generation Very Large Array

University of Florida

Abstract: The Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) is a planned
astronomical observatory set to operate at centimeter and millimeter
wavelengths, aiming to significantly surpass the capabilities of existing
telescopes like the Jansky VLA and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA).
This next-generation observatory is being developed by the U.S. National Radio
Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in collaboration with the international scientific
community. The ngVLA’s proposed design includes approximately 244 antennas
each 18-meters in diameter, with an additional 19 antennas of 6-meters for short
baselines. It’s designed to provide high surface brightness sensitivity and
exceptional imaging fidelity across angular scales from around 1-arcsecond
down to sub-milliarcseconds. The frequency range of the observatory will span
from 1.2 GHz to 116 GHz. The signal processing center will be located at the
existing VLA site in New Mexico, with extended baselines stretching across North
America. The ngVLA will pursue five key science goals, including imaging the
formation of solar system analogues, probing the initial conditions for planetary
systems and life with astrochemistry, charting the assembly and evolution of
galaxies, using pulsars to study fundamental physics, and understanding the
formation and evolution of black holes. The ngVLA is currently in the design and
development phase, with the prototype antenna delivered in April 2025 and
construction underway. The project completed its Technical Conceptual Design
Review in July 2022. Full scientific operations are anticipated to begin around

The ngVLA is expected to significantly advance our understanding of the
Universe by enabling new discoveries in astrophysics.

About the Speaker: Dr. Anthony Gonzalez is a professor in the Astronomy Department at the University of Florida (UF). After receiving his B.Sc. in Astronomy at the California Institute of Technology in 1995, he went on to receive his M.Sc. in Astronomy at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) in 1997 followed by his PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics at UCSC in 2000. He spent one year at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics as a CfA Fellow. He subsequently spent three years as a National Science Foundation Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellow at UF before taking a faculty position at UF in 2005.

His research focuses on the growth and evolution of structure in the universe, with an emphasis on galaxy and galaxy cluster evolution. A significant fraction of his work involves large extragalactic surveys, which are used to find rare objects (e.g. high redshift galaxy clusters) and measure evolution of the properties of the general galaxy population. He is also interested in observational cosmology and has in the past worked on projects to demonstrate the existence of dark matter and to conduct a census of baryons in nearby galaxy clusters. He is participating in the Euclid mission, is a member of the TEMPLATES Early Release Science team for the James Webb Space Telescope, and is using the Hubble Space Telescope to study intracluster light.

Dr, Gonzalez is also a member of the Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) Science Advisory Council (SAC). This council is the interface between the scientific community and National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), providing feedback and guidance directly to the Next Generation VLA (ngVLA) Project Office on issues that affect the scientific design for the ngVLA.

Tom Field, “You can almost touch the stars – An Introduction to Astronomical Spectroscopy.”

Founder and President, Field Tested Systems, LLC

Abstract: Even if you wanted to touch a star, they’re all impossibly distant. In
spite of these great distances, astronomers have learned an enormous amount
about stars. How? The most common method to study the stars is called
spectroscopy, which is the science of analyzing the colorful rainbow spectrum
produced by a prism-like device. Until recently, spectroscopy was too expensive
and too complicated for all but a handful of amateurs. Today, though, new tools
make spectroscopy accessible to almost all of us. You no longer need a PhD,
dark skies, long exposures, enormous aperture … or a big budget! With your
current telescope and FITS camera (or a simple web cam or even a DSLR
without a telescope) you can now easily study the stars yourself. Wouldn’t you
like to detect the atmosphere on Neptune or the red shift of a quasar right from
your own backyard?! This talk, with lots of interesting examples, will show you
what it’s all about and help you understand how spectroscopy is used in
research. Even if you are an armchair astronomer, understanding this field will
enhance your understanding of the things you read and the night sky.

About the Speaker: Tom Field was a Contributing Editor at Sky & Telescope
Magazine for ten years. He is the founder of Field Tested Systems and the author
of the RSpec software (www.rspec-astro.com) which received the S&T “Hot
Product” award. A pioneer in the field of amateur astronomical spectroscopy, Tom
aims to demystify that field and make it accessible to all. He promises to open
the door for you to this fascinating field!

Alex Curry FRAS, “How to (Easily) Capture the Cosmos – Even if You Know Nothing About Astrophotography

Co-Founder, Telescope Live

Abstract: In this talk, Telescope Live Co-Founder Alexander Curry will show you how, using a global network of remote scientific telescopes, you can get into, improve and perfect your astrophotography post-processing skills. Telescope Live provides you with the largest privately owned archive of astronomical data, with hundreds of hours of exclusive tutorials to help you improve your post-processing regardless of experience, software and most importantly, access to clear skies! Alex will also show you how you can get started right away with free datasets and tutorial resources.

About the Speaker: Alexander Curry is the co-founder of Telescope Live, a cloud-based platform that gives astrophotographers access to a global network of professional telescopes. With a passion for deep-sky imaging and astrophotography education, Alex focuses on building tools and experiences that make remote astronomy more accessible and engaging for users worldwide.