Ambassadors

Dave has been a life-long amateur astronomer. He first became interested in astronomy as a pre-teen when his father took him to a show at the Holcolm Planetarium in Indianapolis. He became hooked and has had an interest in astronomy ever since. As a teenager, he ground a 6” mirror and built his first telescope. He was captivated by NASA’s manned space program of the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Dave joined the US Navy in 1973 and served for 20 years. During that time Dave earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and a MS in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. As a Naval Officer stationed in Monterey, California he was involved with the Friends of MIRA (Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy) where he conducted outreach to local schools associated with the return of Halley’s Comet in 1986.
After retiring from the US Navy Dave settled in Minnesota and became an active member of the Minnesota Astronomical Society (MAS). He has served as its President from 2011 – 2014 and again from 2019 – 2020. As a member of the MAS, Dave enjoyed performing astronomical outreach often speaking to groups at libraries, nature centers and schools. In 2015 Dave was selected to be a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador where he educates the general public about space, space exploration and NASA missions in particular. In 2018 Dave was the Chairperson of the Astronomical League National Convention held in Minneapolis.
In 2011 Dave traveled to Tucson, AZ to view the Transit of Venus at the Mount Lemmon Observatory in Tucson and visited Kitt Peak National Observatory while he was there. In 2017 he traveled to Casper, WY to view the total eclipse of the Sun.
Along with his outreach activities Dave has taught beginning Astronomy classes at a local community college and has published three books; two editions of “Mythology of the Night Sky” and the book “The Stories of Astronomers and Their Stars.”
Dave is excited about being selected to join the 2020 ACEAP expedition, visiting the amazing observatories in Chile and sharing his experience and the research being conducted with the public upon his return to Minnesota.

I became addicted to astronomy when I was 11 years old. For most of that time, it turned into a avocation. I enjoy astrophotography, and sharing astronomy with others, especially young minds. Before I was 18, I was giving presentations at Mid-States Regional Conventions, a bank, grade schools,and was featured on local television for my astronomy shed and information regarding the appearance of comet Kohoutek in 1973. I appeared in local newspapers about my interest in astronomy, and was the observing chairman for the Astronomy Club of Tulsa.

While in the army, I performed astrophotography at a elevation of 9,200 ft above MSL, in eyesight of the Sacrament Peak solar observatory. I wrote papers on film selection and usage in astrophotography, as well as the timing of grazing occultations of the moon by planets, stars, and suspected binaries. I gave a presentation to grad students at New Mexico State University, and met and befriended Clyde Tombaugh, who was kind enough to allow me to visit him at his home, where he mentored me.

In college, I was a teaching assistant at the astronomy/physics department, and gave classroom presentations and held formal question and answer discussions. I have visited several major observatories, including Kitt Peak, Lowell Observatory, Sacramento Peak solar observatory, Lick Observatory, the 200″ Hale telescope, the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Johnson Space Flight Center, McDonald Observatory, and the South African Astronomical Observatory, where I spent nights watching and learning scientific research.

I am a member of the Astronomy Club of Tulsa, the Astronomical League, TWAIN, Astronomy Without Borders, IOTA, and visit many other clubs. I continue to share public outreach at schools, The Jenks high school planetarium, and public observing programs at our club’s observatory and at sidewalk astronomy events. I am eager the share and instill thought to young boys and girls about the STEM sciences, and to this day hold astronomy and astronomical research close to my heart.

Abbas is a structural engineer, amateur astronomer and volunteer astronomy instructor in Charlotte, NC. He holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Iran University of Science & Technology, M.Sc. of Structural Engineering from Tabriz University and Ph.D. of Structural Engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology.

Born in 1966 in Iran, Abbas found an affinity to astronomy early in life. He joined Tabriz University’s amateur astronomy club ‘Nasir Tusi’ while in high school and published numerous articles in the club journal. He later moved from Iran to Toronto and then again to Denver, Houston and finally Charlotte, sharing his passion for astronomy through public presentations, star parties, volunteering and outreach in the local astronomical communities.

He is currently an active member of the Royal Astronomer Club of Canada, Astronomical League, and Charlotte Amateur Astronomical Club. He also holds informal and inclusive programs to introduce astronomy to Pre-K students at Cyrus Childhood Academy. Abbas continues to contribute and share his passion to the community by providing volunteer programs, sharing astronomical information, and hosting telescope observations of starry sky to his network.

Abbas has visited different astronomical professional and amateur observatories around the world and is excited to join ACEAP and enhance his astronomical outreach to the general public.