Astronomer in Residence: Dean Regas
Meet Dean Regas
Renowned educator, author, and astronomy expert Dean Regas lived and worked at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park as the second Astronomer in Residence from November 16 - December 8, 2021.
Regas has been the astronomer for the Cincinnati Observatory since 2000 and was co-host of the PBS program “Star Gazers” from 2010 to 2019. He is the author of the books “Facts from Space” and “100 things to See in the Night Sky,” and is a contributing editor to Sky and Telescope Magazine and a contributor to Astronomy Magazine, from which he won the 2008 “Out-of-this-World” Award for astronomy education. Regas has written over 150 astronomy articles for the Cincinnati Enquirer, has blogged for the Huffington Post, and is regularly featured on television and radio. He is also a frequent guest on National Public Radio’s Science Friday and NPR’s Here & Now, and hosts his own astronomy podcast with Anna Hehman called “Looking Up!” He is currently working on a new book called “How to Teach Grown-Ups about Pluto.”
“In 2016, I attended my first Grand Canyon Star Party and volunteered as a guest speaker. I was so impressed by the group of rangers and amateur astronomers and the way they entertained more than 1,000 people each night under a dark sky. Seeing the Milky Way and the dimmer Zodiacal Light from the rim of Grand Canyon is a sight I will never forget, but more importantly, it’s a grand venue for others to explore.”
For more information about Regas, visit Cincinnati Observatory.
Dean's Time at Grand Canyon
As Grand Canyon Astronomer in Residence, Dean spent his time providing public programs for visitors both on the rim and in the canyon at Phantom Ranch. His goal was to connect visitors to the canyon's dark skies, sharing his passion for astronomy and the universe through telescope viewings, tabling, and constellation talks. Here's a look at Dean's accomplishments:
- November 17: "Meet Astronomer in Residence, Dean Regas" Facebook Live interview
- November 18: "Fly Me to the Moon - To the Moon and back with Dean Regas, in preparation for the lunar eclipse on Nov 19." Shrine of the Ages Auditorium - 50 attendees
- November 20: "Constellation Talk: Join Dean Regas to learn the science, mythology, and history of the stars under one of the darkest night skies in the world." Grand Canyon Visitor Center - 165 attendees
- November 24, 25, 26: "Constellation Talk: Join Dean Regas to learn the science, mythology, and history of the stars under one of the darkest night skies in the world." Phantom Ranch- 120 total attendees
- December 3: "Tour of the Universe: Join Dean Regas as he uses the latest software to tour through space among billions of stars and galaxies." Shrine of the Ages Auditorium - 75 attendees
- December 4: "Constellation Talk: Join Dean Regas to learn the science, mythology, and history of the stars under one of the darkest night skies in the world." Grand Canyon Visitor Center - 200 attendees
- Informal telescope viewing sessions (four total): 255 visitor contacts
- Solar viewing sessions (two total): 195 visitor contacts
- December 6: "Residency Recap with Dean Regas" Facebook Live interview
Dean's Astro Notes
During Dean's residency, he shared a weekly journal of astronomical events that were shared on GCC's social media channels. View his entries and get a glimpse of what was happening in the night sky during Dean's time at Grand Canyon National Park.
Learn more about the program
Learn about the Grand Canyon Astronomer in Residence Program and other past residents.