ASP Annual Report 2023

Celebrating 135 years!

Preparing Communities
for an Awe-inspiring Celestial Event

Welcome

I am delighted to present the 2023 Annual Report of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP). This past year has been filled with remarkable achievements, discoveries, and innovations, not only in the field of astronomy but in the commercial technologies and media that support it. It is the ASP’s mission to communicate this excitement to the public using the latest tools and media, and we are filled with optimism for the future and are excited to continue our journey of exploration with all of you.

In just the past year, the JW Space Telescope has captured stunning images of distant objects in ways that have never been seen or imagined before, we have seen multiple robotic landings on the Moon, OSIRIS-Rex returned asteroid samples to Earth, and we made important discoveries in astrophysics such as gravitational waves that have increased our understanding of black holes.

Equally exciting is the immense potential that modern media technologies, social media platforms, and artificial intelligence offer in revolutionizing the communication of astronomy to the public. These tools offer us unprecedented opportunities to engage with audiences around the world, share the wonders of the universe in captivating ways, and inspire a new generation of astronomy and space enthusiasts. Through innovative content creation, real-time interactions, personalized experiences, and data-driven insights, we can amplify the reach and impact of astronomical discoveries, making the cosmos more accessible and engaging than ever before. A recent milestone is the ASP’s historic magazine Mercury, now online and accessible to anyone. 

It is the fusion of these new technologies with the timeless wonder of astronomy that will create a powerful synergy that will shape the future of science communication and ignite a passion for astronomy and science in minds everywhere.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your continued support to the ASP. Your passion and dedication are what drives our Society forward, and we are grateful to have such a vibrant and engaged community of supporters. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey.

Finally, in closing I would like to pay tribute to Linda Shore who retired as CEO of the ASP after 10 years of achievement and I know that I speak for us all, that we wish her well in her retirement.

Finances

The year in numbers: Statement of activities and financial position for the year ending September 30, 2023 are presented below.

Acknowledgments

A community dedicated to helping people everywhere explore the wonders of the universe

Board of Directors - Board Officers

* served in 2023, + serves in 2024, *+ served in 2023 and serves in 2024

President
Derrick Pitts*+

Vice President
Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz*+

Treasurer
Chris Lewicki*+

Past President
Sunil Nagaraj*+

Secretary
Edna DeVore*+

Board Members
Rachael Beaton*+
Jeffrey Bennett*+
Katy Caouette*+
Abdul Dremali*+
John Keller*+
David Krasny*+
James Negus*+
M. Katy Rodriguez Wimberly*+
Sabrina Stierwalt*+
Jr. Board Fellow Jack Lubin*+

Advisory Council in 2023

Bruce Carney
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Edna DeVore
SETI Institute (retired)

Lynn D. Dierking
Oregon State University and Institute for Learning Innovation

Timothy Ferris
University of California, Berkeley

Richard Fienberg
American Astronomical Society

Alex Filippenko
University of California, Berkeley

Christopher Ford
Prezi Inc.

Andrew Fraknoi
Foothill College (retired)

Catharine D. Garmany
National Optical Astronomy Observatory (retired)

Marc Gineris
Incyte Capital Holdings, Dallas, Texas

Mary Kay Hemenway
University of Texas at Austin (retired)

Jim Hesser
Dominion Astrophysical Observatory and Strategic Advisor, Herzberg Astronomy and
Astrophysics Programs, National Research Council of Canada

Catherine Langridge
Recology

Gordon Myers
IBM (retired)

Schyleen Qualls
Arkeon Entertainment & Arkeon Education

Ron Rosano
Astronomy Educator, Virgin Galactic Spaceflight Participant

Jeffrey D. Rosendhal
NASA (retired) Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at George Mason University

Wayne Rosing
Las Cumbres Observatory

Dennis Schatz
Pacific Science Center

Constance Walker
National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory

Al Whaley
Internet Travel Network (retired)

 Our Partners

 Meet the Team

ASP Conference Series Office
Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah
Joseph Jensen, Managing Editor
Jonathan Barnes, Associate Editor
Beth Wardell, Publication Manager
Micah Laing, e-Book Specialist

Publications of the ASP
Jeff Mangum, Editor (National Radio Astronomy Observatory)
Daniel G. Fabricant, Associate Editor (Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)

Acknowledgments
Chief Executive Officer
Chris Ford  

Project Manager
Joycelin Craig 

Editor
Joycelin Craig
Pablo Nelson

Designer
Mando Daniel 

Image Credits (top to bottom)

Welcome:
Main Image I Solar Eclipse – Digital artist composite
Credit: Mando Daniel

Finances:
Main Image I Uranus
Taken from NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope; Includes
14 of the planet’s 27 moons: Oberon, Titania, Umbriel, Juliet, Perdita, Rosalind, Puck, Belinda, Desdemona, Cressida, Ariel, Miranda, Bianca, and Portia
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

Acknowledgments:
Main Image I An orbital sunrise
Orbital sunrise begins illuminating Earth's atmosphere as the Expedition 71 crew aboard the International Space Station orbited 266 miles over the Indian Ocean
Credit: NASA

Eclipse Ambassadors:
Main Image I 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Composite
This composite image of seventeen images shows the progression of a total solar eclipse at the NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio on Monday, April 8, 2024.
Credit: (NASA/Jordan Salkin)

Eclipse Stars:  
Main Image I Total Solar Eclipse
Credit: Brian Kruse - Powell, Ohio, April 8, 2024

Learn @ASP:
Main Image I Pierced Canadarm2 of the International Space Station 
Pierced Canadarm2 of the International Space Station in front of Earth captured on 2 December 2023 by ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen
Credit: (©ESA/ Andreas Mogensen)

Summer Symposium:
Main Image I Flight support equipment
Flight support equipment is pictured descending toward the Earth's atmosphere after being jettisoned from the grips of the Canadarm2 robotic arm. The flight hardware secured a pair of roll-out solar arrays inside SpaceX Dragon cargo ship’s trunk during its ascent to orbit and rendezvous with the International Space Station in November 2022. The jettisoned support equipment drifted safely away from the station and will eventually harmlessly burn up in the atmosphere with no chance for recontacting the space station
Credit: NASA (Jan. 31, 2023)

Publications:
Main Image I Waxing Gibbous Moon
The waxing gibbous Moon is pictured above the Earth's horizon in this photograph from the International Space Station as it orbited 262 miles above a cloudy Western Europe.
Credit: NASA (February 21, 2024)

Figure 1. A schematic illustration of the magnitude of the brightness differential between the Sun and a hot, young exo-Jupiter in the NIR and the Sun and a reflected light Jupiter in the optical. The brightness differential for a young Jupiter analog is ∼10−6, comparable to the brightness differential between a lighthouse and a firefly. Once a Jupiter-like planet has radiated most of the energy of formation and no longer glows brightly in the infrared, this differential drops to 10−9, akin to the brightness differential between a lighthouse and a single bioluminescent alga cell. 

From “An Introduction to High Contrast Differential Imaging of Exoplanets and Disks” by Kate Follette, 2023, PASP 135, 093001.

ASP Conference Series Volume #533© 2023 The Astronomical Society of the Pacific

2023 ASP Awards:
Main Image I Godzilla Nebula
This colorful image shows a nebula – a cloud of gas and dust in space – captured by NASA's now-retired Spitzer Space Telescope located is in the constellation Sagittarius, along the plane of the Milky Way, which was as part of Spitzer's GLIMPSE Survey (short for Galactic Legacy Infrared Mid-Plane Survey Extraordinaire). With a little imagination, you might be able to see the outlines of Godzilla. Stars in the upper right (where this cosmic Godzilla's eyes and snout would be) are an unknown distance from Earth but within our galaxy. Located about 7,800 light-years from Earth, the bright region in the lower left (Godzilla's right hand) is known as W33. When viewed in visible light, this region is almost entirely obscured by dust clouds. But infrared light (wavelengths longer than what our eyes can perceive) can penetrate the clouds, revealing hidden regions like this one.
Credit:  NASA/JPL-Caltech (October 25, 2021)

Our Donors:
Main Image I Aurora
An aurora intersects Earth's airglow beneath a starry sky in this photograph from the International Space Station as it orbited 261 miles above western Kazakhstan near the Caspian Sea
Credit: NASA (September 25, 2023)

Ways to Give:
Main Image I Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia A (Cas A) is a supernova remnant located about 11,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cassiopeia. It spans approximately 10 light-years. This new image uses data from Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to reveal Cas A in a new light.
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Danny Milisavljevic (Purdue University), Tea Temim (Princeton University), Ilse De Looze (UGent); Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI) – April 7, 2023

Eclipse Ambassadors

Eclipse Ambassadors together with the ASP, gave a boost to science literacy

The NASA Partner Eclipse Ambassadors off the Path program was wildly successful in 2023. Getting more than 700 Ambassadors prepared to share the awe and science of an annular eclipse in 2023, followed by a total eclipse in 2024 has been exhilarating. Partnerships primarily consisted of an undergraduate student with an eclipse enthusiast/amateur astronomer. 

From recruiting, partnering, and training Ambassadors to shipping toolkits and badges and seeing the events the partners are holding, a small but mighty team at the ASP worked hard bringing all the pieces together. 

At schools, libraries, parks, and community centers, Eclipse Ambassadors reached more than 200,000 people through the April 8 Eclipse, and a majority of efforts focused on underserved audiences. 

Often intergenerational, partnerships led to great learning and friendships, including Ambassadors Khady and Dan.

Eclipse Ambassadors Khady and Dan Share Their Story

“Thank YOU, particularly whoever paired me with Khady, now I have another granddaughter, you guys are awesome! I’ve got to let you know how impactful your program has been for me and for my partner. This partnership has been life changing on both sides and we are now holding events as an extended family twice a month on average.  We will always be grateful for this and for all you have done and continue doing.” 

- Dan, Eclipse Ambassador

“You might not believe it but I am so grateful for last evening; it brought tears to my eyes. The gift of knowledge is the best gift one could ever give any one and you have given me it, ways to expand it and find it and for that, I am eternally grateful! Anyway, I wanted to express my gratitude to you and your wife and for all of your guys' support.” 
- Khady, Eclipse Ambassador to Dan

Eclipse Ambassador Engagement Event for
2023 Solar Annular Eclipse

In preparation for the October 14 Solar Annular Eclipse, ASP staff Tony Smith and Shanil Virani joined museum Exploratorium filming in Ely, Nevada joined by invited Eclipse Ambassadors to plan and host a public engagement event during the eclipse.

Smith and Virani shared their experience in an ASP Members AstroBeat article, “Public Engagement in Nevada for October’s Annular Solar Eclipse.”

Eclipse Stars

Astronomy educators and research astronomers receive professional development to prepare for engaging people in various Solar Eclipse events

The ASP Eclipse Stars project, funded by National Science Foundation’s Division of Astronomy, began just nine months prior to the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse with the intent to train and support astronomers, K-12 science teachers, and other educators to engage a broad audience in the awe and wonder of totality.

The program reached 218 educators and 69 scientists planning events and engaging people located along the path of totality on April 8, 2024. One program strand, designed to meet the needs of the scientists, introduced research astronomers to successful strategies for engaging public audiences in the solar eclipse, emphasizing a relevant, inclusive, and awe-inspiring outreach experience. The educator strand for school teachers and informal educators focused on the pedagogical aspects of delivering instruction on eclipse science in a formal classroom setting.  Both strands offered an interactive online workshop and access to ASP training videos, astronomy activities, and educational resources, including a toolkit filled with materials and activities for learners to experience the scale of the Sun-Earth-Moon system.  ASP Eclipse Stars engaged almost 95,000 children, students, and people of all ages and backgrounds. 

ASP Eclipse Star Shares His Experience

ASP Eclipse Star, Enrique de Luna, traveled 750 miles with citizens from Guerrero, México to Torreón, Coahuila in México to experience a total eclipse.

I worked in underprivileged communities] with kids, teenagers and adults that haven´t seen a solar eclipse nor understand them, all the skills, resources, interactions with astronomy and educational colleagues got through the ASP training workshops plus all the tools received on the kit, were therefore the key for having a perfect experience, from understanding through experience the solar eclipse, changing their life and mine forever and empowering all the community to break the science barriers and being connected with the nature and others.

On April 8th, we were on the Plaza Mayor in Torreón, Coahuila, a dedicated spot for seeing the solar eclipse in the downtown. We [shared] with dozens of persons our eclipse knowledge and we [allowed all of them] to see the eclipse through the telescope. I don’t even have words to explain how I felt [during totality]. After waiting all my life and sharing the moment with my community, I´m so grateful [for] having the chance of making this project, especially with ASP [making] all of this possible and [making] a long-term dream better than expected.

Translated into Spanish:
Al trabajar con niños, jóvenes y adultos en una comunidad con alto índice de marginación que no han tenido acceso a los diferentes recursos para presenciar un eclipse solar, o tan siquiera entenderlos; todas las habilidades, recursos e interacciones con colegas astrónomos y profesionales en educación obtenidos a través de los talleres de la ASP, aunado a todos los materiales recibidos en el kit, fueron recursos claves para promover experiencias perfectas, desde el entendimiento intelectual hasta experimentar un eclipse solar, cambiando tanto su vida como la mía para siempre y empoderando a toda la comunidad a romper las barreras de la ciencia, estar conectados con la naturaleza y con los demás. 

El 8 de abril, estuvimos en la Plaza Mayor en Torreón, Coahuila; un lugar dedicado para observar la totalidad del eclipse solar en el centro de la ciudad. Compartimos con docenas de personas nuestro conocimiento sobre el eclipse y permitimos que todo mundo observara el eclipse a través de un telescopio. No tengo palabras para explicar lo que sentí durante la totalidad. Después de esperar toda mi vida por este y teniendo la oportunidad de compartirlo con mi comunidad, me encuentro muy agradecido de tener la oportunidad de desarrollar este proyecto, especialmente con la ASP que hizo posible todo esto e hizo un sueño de largo plazo, mejor de lo esperado.

Educators and scientists received training and materials for their eclipse events – here are a few sharing their experience along the path of totality

"The eclipse was amazing. I could see the corona and Baily's Beads. When totality started, our street lights went on. It felt a little bit colder when totality hit. It also turned super dark, and my neighbor thought the world was ending." 
– Benjamin C. - 6th Grade

"Before this session, I didn't understand what the big deal was about the eclipse. I thought it would just get dark. Now I am excited to teach my students and to view it with them!"
– Eclipse Stars Educator

“The best part for me was listening to the students afterwards. I think they had all heard about it so much, they couldn't figure out what the big deal was because it's an event that happens not all the time but over and over. Afterwards, their attitudes were totally different. I had many come up and say they had no idea an eclipse would be that cool”
– Eclipse Stars Educator, Jacqueline Dunn, Prosper, Texas

Learn @ASP

Learn@ASP is the ASP’s new online learning and professional development portal, launched in summer 2022.

Since 2006, ASP has hosted online training in astronomy communication for museum educators, park rangers, scientists, and classroom teachers, and Learn@ASP is the new home for all of these offerings. It allows for both live and asynchronous learning activities for participants, and detailed participation tracking for us to monitor participant progress in order to offer better support and reporting.

Since the launch, 244 amateur astronomers, 287 undergraduate students, 257 teachers, and 71 scientists have participated in workshops to support them in engaging their students and communities around the 2024 total solar eclipse. We’ve also hosted workshops for teachers on optics and stellar evolution, and a workshop for museum educators on inclusive practices.

ASP Summer Symposium

Our 134th Annual Conference, ASP2023: Exploring the Art, Culture, and Science of Solar Eclipses, included guest speakers and panelists in anticipation of the October 2023 and April 2024 Solar Eclipses

Speakers who each shared their craft, stories, and experiences at our one-day online event included E.C. Krupp, Director of Griffith Observatory; Nancy Maryboy, Diné (Navajo) and Tsalagi (Cherokee) and David Begay, Diné (Navajo) along with Guest Cultural Astronomers; Julia Bradshaw, Art Professor, Artist Filmmaker Kevin Jerome Everson, and Astronomer & Artist, Tyler Nordgren; Kate Russo, Author, Psychologist, Eclipse Consultant. 

E.C. Krupp, Director of Griffith Observatory 

DEVOURED BY DARKNESS

INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES ON ECLIPSES

Indigenous Cultural Astronomers 

Guest Indigenous Cultural Astronomers

Tyler Nordgren, Astronomer and Artist

Guest Panel: THE ART OF SOLAR ECLIPSES

Julia Bradshaw, Art Professor

THE ART OF SOLAR ECLIPSES

Kevin Jerome Everson, Artist and Filmmaker

THE ART OF SOLAR ECLIPSES

Kate Russo, Author, Psychologist, Eclipse Consultant

BEYOND INDIVIDUAL AWE AND PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION

Publications

The ASP reaches out with a wide variety of publications for amateur and professional astronomers alike

Mercury Magazine – Setting itself up for an exciting new future

In the spring of 2023, Mercury Editor, Liz Kruesi, published a double issue packed with a variety of astronomy news, columns, and exciting feature articles. Our long-time, member-only magazine special features included the history of amateur astronomy clubs in the United States, as well as terrific advice to plan eclipse-watching events. The American Astronomy Society Solar Eclipse Task Force deemed the latter so important it requested we provide it freely to the public, which we did.

The majority of 2023 was spent preparing for a big change to Mercury, researching a new platform to feature not only a new look, but new content as well. Mercury Editor, Liz Kruesi, designed the newly evolved publication’s look and content and prepared it for its big reveal in December. 

Publications of the ASP (PASP) and the Global Research Community

PASP—the technical journal of the ASP—publishes refereed manuscripts on astronomical research by scientists worldwide, in 2023 serving authors in 32 countries.

PASP continues to expand its impact by providing researchers with more seamless publication and article access. PASP’s publisher, the Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP), has negotiated an increasing number of agreements with global research institutes to make their work available to PASP on an open-access basis.  PASP has also expanded the number of articles that it publishes using an open-access model, allowing for immediate access by researchers all over the world. As open-publishing models become increasingly popular, PASP is excited about the prospect of making the research it publishes available to a wider audience.

ASP Conference Series for Professional Astronomers and Space Scientists

The ASP Conference Series (ASPCS) is happy to share our latest Monograph 9, Protostars and Planets VII, with the world. This impressive 1100-page volume is part of a reputable series containing a comprehensive overview of the fields of planet and star formation, including planetary compositions and structure, planetary atmospheres, molecular clouds, protostars, debris disks around young stars, and much more. 

We are also helping undergraduate research students learn how to communicate their results with publishing articles by undergraduate students and their mentors in a special open-access Compendium of Undergraduate Research in Astronomy and Space Science, Volume 525, 2023.

2023 ASP Awards

ASP Recognized 2023 Award Recipients for Astronomy Research and Education

Through our prestigious annual awards, the ASP recognizes significant achievements in astronomy research, education, and public outreach. Recipients of our awards have included luminaries such as Edwin Hubble, Vera Rubin, Isaac Asimov, and Katherine Johnson. The ASP held its Annual Awards Gala on November 11, 2023, featuring the inaugural Nancy Grace Roman Award. It was a special evening with all of the awardees present to accept their award.

The Catherine Wolfe Bruce Gold Medal, our most prestigious, was established by Catherine Wolfe Bruce, an American philanthropist and patroness of astronomy and awarded annually through the ASP since 1898 to a professional astronomer in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding achievement and contributions to astrophysics research.

Catherine Wolfe Bruce Gold Medal honoring Marcia Rieke, Regents Professor of Astronomy and Elizabeth Roemer Endowed Chair, Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona and Principal Investigator on the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) for the James Webb Space Telescope. Rieke's research has focused on infrared observations of the center of the Milky Way and high redshift galaxies in the early universe. Marcia Rieke is considered by many to be one of the "founding mothers of infrared astronomy,” and it is for her groundbreaking contributions to astronomical research at these wavelengths that she is being recognized and celebrated.  Rieke ultimately received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before joining the University of Arizona as a postdoctoral fellow in 1976, where she ultimately remained and made her seminal contributions to infrared astronomy. 

Rieke served as Deputy Principal Investigator for the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) on the Hubble Space Telescope and Co-Investigator for the multiband imaging photometer on the Spitzer Space Telescope. Dr. Rieke was also involved with several infrared ground-based observatories, including the Multiple Mirror Telescope Observatory in Arizona.  

Rieke’s leadership is credited for the success of JWST’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam). As one of her nominator’s stated, “The NIRCam was the JWST Program’s most challenging instrument development effort. The instrument’s outstanding performance is due largely to the outstanding performance of its PI. Marcia’s consistent focus, diligence, and ‘lead from the front’ approach under extremely difficult technical and programmatic circumstances presents an example for others to follow.”

Rieke has authored 310 refereed publications which have over 30,000 citations. Her deep knowledge and expertise were put into service as Vice Chair for Program Prioritization for the Astro 2010 Decadal Survey Committee’s "New Worlds, New Horizons.”  Her landmark contributions to astronomical research, instrument development, and service to public policy and public outreach have been recognized nationally, being elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2007, a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences in 2012, and a Legacy Fellow of the American Astronomical Society in 2020.  Dr. Rieke has also been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal (2023) for her contribution to the field of astronomy and key role in the development of cutting-edge instruments for the James Webb Space Telescope. 

The Robert J. Trumpler Award is given each year to a recent recipient of the PhD degree in North America whose research is considered unusually important to astronomy.

Robert J. Trumpler Award to Deborah Lokhorst, who received her doctorate in astronomy from the University of Toronto. Her dissertation, “Ultra-Narrowband Imaging with the Dragonfly Telephoto Array: Toward the Cosmic Web,” is a rare thesis that combines theory, observation, and instrumentation. In her thesis, Lokhorst describes the conception, design, fabrication, and use of an innovative new imaging device for the Dragonfly telescope – an array of lenses working in tandem like the compound eye of a dragonfly – to detect extraordinarily dim astronomical objects.  She designed, machined, and assembled a prototype for a new component of the Dragonfly Telephoto Array that could detect these gases at the observational limit.  Named “the Filter-Tilter,” Lokhorst’s invention helped Dragonfly’s narrowband imager reveal what had been undetectable before – a giant ionized gas cloud surrounding the starburst galaxy, M82.  Lokhorst’s dissertation has also been recognized by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and the Canadian Astronomical Society who jointly presented her with their J.S. Plaskett Medal for most outstanding astrophysics doctoral thesis in Canada. Expanding upon her work on the Dragonfly Telescopic Array, she is now project and science lead for the Dragonfly Spectral Line Mapper with the goal of directly imaging the faintest and largest structures in the Universe.

Nancy Grace Roman Award – Inaugural Year

Named for an icon in the history of astronomy research and space exploration, ASP’s Nancy Grace Roman Award was introduced in 2023 to recognize an individual or group for significant contributions to promoting gender equity and inclusion in astronomy and related fields. The award celebrates the achievements of individuals, groups, or organizations working to encourage participation in astronomy and related fields by people traditionally or currently excluded from these fields because of their gender, including girls, women, and transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people.

Nancy Grace Roman Award, in its inaugural year, to Francesca Primas, Full Astronomer at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and renowned observational astrophysicist studying the formation and evolution of the Milky Way and its satellite galaxies via their chemical histories. The Nancy Grace Roman Award recognizes her extensive commitment and contributions to the promotion of women in astronomy and against gender biases in science.  Primas began her work in gender equity 15 years ago, publishing a study on the status of women at the ESO. This work sparked important discussions and led to the creation of diversity and inclusion initiatives at ESO in which she continues to be actively engaged. Primas went on to serve as an advisor and then chair of International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Working Group on Women in Astronomy.  To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the IAU, Francesca spearheaded the AstroVoices project. Through the creation of short video clips, this initiative gave over 600 women from 60 different countries an opportunity to share their passion for astronomy with the goal of encouraging young girls to follow their path.   Dr. Primas has organized and participated in numerous task forces, forums, panels, and presentations focused on the status of women in astronomy and strategies for creating safe and encouraging work environments.  She has also been an active member of the American Astronomical Society Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy.

The Klumpke-Roberts Award is given for outstanding contributions to the public understanding and appreciation of astronomy.

Klumpke-Roberts Award to Don McCarthy, for his four decades of commitment and dedication to the field of astronomy, impacting the lives and careers of thousands of astronomy enthusiasts throughout his career, as well as bringing his leadership, humility, and determination as a model to emulate those whose lives he touched. Throughout his scientific career, McCarthy has enjoyed explaining technical concepts (like “infrared interferometry” and “brown dwarfs”) to people of all ages. Beginning with his children who wondered what Dad did on mountaintops at night, he sought to provide behind-the-scenes experiences at modern observatories. His most well-known educational endeavor began in 1989, with the development of the teenage Astronomy Camp programs and creating one of the most revered outreach programs in its field.  The Camps still emphasize a hands-on, project-oriented approach at mountaintop observatories. In 2001, the Astronomy Camp model became the foundation for Arizona’s education proposal to build the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). As a member of the NIRCam Science Team, McCarthy created a 15-year partnership with the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) to “Train the Trainers” on age-appropriate STEM concepts so that young girls would understand upcoming JWST discoveries and consider STEM careers. Signifying this collaboration, the NIRCam instrument was physically etched “Go Girl Scouts!”

The Gordon Myers Amateur Achievement Award is given for significant observational or technical achievements by an amateur astronomer.

Gordon Myers Amateur Achievement Award to Dan Caselden for reshaping the understanding of what is possible in volunteer-research. A Principal Software Engineer at Netskope by trade, Caselden is also a revered citizen scientist whose dedication to science research began in 2017 when he created an interactive browser tool to visualize data from any part of the sky using imaging from NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and NEOWISE missions. Caselden’s selfless contributions to brown dwarf research, and the timing of the discoveries prior to Spitzer’s retirement in 2020 and prior to the start of JWST’s mission, accentuates his immense technical abilities in machine learning as well as his deep commitment to creating publicly accessible astronomy tools. A continued dedication to supporting citizen science has led Caselden to three important collaborations beyond his “day job” as a computer security researcher.  All on his own time, Caselden is a collaborator at Caltech on the CatWISE astronomical source catalog of over ten years of WISE images; co-investigator on NSF’s NOIRLab’s Backyard Worlds: Cool Neighbors, a NASA-funded, citizen science in development spinoff of Backyard Worlds: Planet 9; and lastly a volunteer affiliate at the American Museum of Natural History as a Research Associate.

Fraknoi Supporters Award
Named in honor of Andrew Fraknoi, former ASP Executive Director who shaped the Society’s educational mission and left an enduring mark and profound impact on the organization, the award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions towards ASP’s mission of advancing public understanding of science through astronomy.

Fraknoi Supporters Award to Edna DeVore, former Director of Education and Public Outreach and CEO for the SETI Institute. Longtime friend, advisor, and supporter of the ASP, DeVore has also served on the ASP’s Board of Directors 2007-2013 and currently serves as Board Secretary, a position she has held since 2017. She is honored for her decades of support and dedication to the Society’s mission, including helping the ASP build a national reputation for supporting astronomy education. Working closely with Michael Bennett (ASP’s Executive Director, 2002-2007), DeVore helped the ASP forge a successful 10-year partnership between NASA and the SETI Institute to develop and implement the education and public outreach component for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) mission. DeVore included the ASP in another landmark NASA initiative designed to engaged young girls in astronomy. Spearheaded and lead by DeVore, the principal investigator, this initiative created NASA space science badges for Girl Scouts in grades K-12. The materials and approaches developed for NASA Reach for the Stars are now part of almost all the ASP’s programs and critical to ensuring that astronomy is equally accessible to all regardless of background or ability. DeVore is also being honored for the many decades of mentorship she has provided to ASP staff, and especially to women in the organization.  

Our Donors

Our sincere thanks to the following individuals and organizations for their generosity during the 2023 calendar year

Thank You for Believing in the ASP
Funds raised support our ongoing mission to foster curiosity, advance scientific literacy, share the joy of exploration and discovery, and encourage the development of tomorrow’s science, technology, and academic leaders.

Joycelin Craig**
Patrick Crane 
Sara Denning-Bolle 
Virginia Fontana 
James Fry 
Dennis Goedken
Thomas Greene 
James Hesser in memory of Dr. Wayne H. Warren, Jr. 
Deidre Hunter 
Tim Hunter 
David Illig 
William Istone 
Liz Keim 
Catherine Langridge in memory of Robert Langridge
Timothy Livengood 
Marie Lott 
Tim Lynch 
Robert Matcovich 
Grant McKinney 
Jeremiah Ostriker 
Leslie Proudfit  
Angela Putney 
Eric Rydgren 
Suzanne Sheridan in honor of Raúl Martínez
Gregory Shields in Memory of J.B. Oke
Janet Simpson
Evan Skillman in memory of Jason Cardelli
W. Thomas “Bud” Stalker III
Robert Wing 

Supporter’s Circle 

Michael Beckage 
Jeffrey Bennett+ 
Stephen Burroughs 
Brian Casey SupCir 
Lynne Hillenbrand
Lynn Cominsky 
Edward Conklin 
Andrea Dobson
Mary Dussault 
Marc Gineris
Alan Gould 
Alison Graham
Thomas Greene
Victor & Katharina Grossi 
David Jenner 
Richard Joyce 
Patricia Lawton & Joel Offenberg 
Pamela Lewis 
Robert O’Dell 
Stephen Pompea 
Jeffery Puschell 
Richard Rairden 
Roland Roberts 
René Walterbos 
Don & Grace Wheeler 
Susan Wyatt

The ASP thanks our donors who participated in their Employers Matching Donation Program  

Great American Insurance Group  

Program Support 

Jeffrey Bennett+
Great American Eclipse
Harold L. Wyman Foundation 
Jet Propulsion Laboratory 
NASA
National Science Foundation 
Rainbow Symphony

ASP2023 Conference Sponsor 

Douglas Duncan
Rainbow Symphony
SETI Institute

ASP Volunteers 

Vandana Ganesan Kaushik 
Jessica Harris – Membership Advisor
Billy Hix – Membership Advisor
Ron Rosano – Membership Advisor
Steven Su 

+ ASP Board Member and/or Officer
** ASP Staff Member  

Our Partners

Ways to Give

There are several ways you can be a part of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and our community of passionate educators, students, and members

We’ve invested in smarter ways to bring the cosmos to you! With our partner FreeWill, you can give back to ASP in a way that benefits you while sharing the wonders of astronomy with everyone.

Honor Our Roots, Grow Our Future
For 135 years, the mission of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific has bloomed -and today, you can plant a seed that will grow for the next 100 years. By including a legacy gift in your will, you’ll honor our roots and  support the future of science literacy for years to come. Our partner, FreeWill, makes it simple to create a free estate plan and grow your legacy this season.

 Grow my impact with my legacy

In gratitude for supporting the ASP, we invite you to use the planning tools
below to plant your own roots for a brighter future

If you want to expand your legacy…
Use FreeWill’s free, online estate planning tools to give a gift that lasts forever. A gift in your will costs nothing today but ensures that our work can expand for generations to come.

Begin your legacy today

Report a Gift in Your Will If you have already included ASP in your estate plans, Please fill out this form to let us know your gift intentions.

If you Own Stocks or Mutual Funds:
By donating appreciated assets, you can save on two types of taxes:  avoiding capital gains tax and often getting a full deduction for the value of your gift.

Save on taxes with a stock gift

If you’re 70.5 or older and want to lower your taxable income: Donations from your IRA to the ASP reduce your taxable income and can help meet a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD).

Give from your IRA