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Looking Through Telescope

Astronomy is for EVERYONE

Promoting Public Passion

When was the last time you took in our shared sky?
Astronomy is a fantastic way to bring people together to share in our collective heritage and cosmic origins. In an age where scientific literacy and critical thinking are dwindling, astronomy is an accessible and amazing way to promote  those values and to help people foster their own personal appreciation for and connection to the wonders of the sky.

Home: Welcome
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A Little About Me

My Story

I found my connection to astronomy through some amazing mentors and a local amateur astronomy group. I went on to take courses from high school through grad school in astronomy completing my bachelor's at San Francisco State University and my master's from Swinburne University.
My passion has taken me from my hometown to the Big City, from California to New York, from Alaska to Chile and from coastal California to 47,000 ft into the air!
I take pride in calling myself an astronomy communicator and a facilitator of that human connection to what exists beyond Earth's atmosphere.
I can find no greater joy than sharing what I love about astronomy and its affiliated sciences with those who have an interest in hearing it.

Home: About Me

Upcoming Events

  • Worlds Far, Far Away
    Thu, May 04
    San Francisco
    May 04, 7:00 PM – May 05, 7:00 PM
    San Francisco, 55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
    Come see me relive my planetarium days at Morrison for May the Fourth!
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  • Introduction to the Night Sky
    Multiple Dates
    Wed, Mar 29
    South San Francisco
    Mar 29, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    South San Francisco, 1121 S San Francisco Dr, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
    Join me for a class on Urban Astronomy through South SF Parks and Rec!
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  • Astro Everywhere @ Ounces Outdoors
    Mar 04, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    San Rafael, 5800 Northgate Dr, San Rafael, CA 94903, USA
    Come see the telescopes at Ounces Outdoors - The coolest spot to bend an elbow in Marin!
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Home: Events

My Projects

Sharing Space

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Cultural
Connections

A critical component of my work is establishing an individual's connection to the shared heritage of astronomy - and no one knows someone better than one knows oneself. It is critical to let the public build and share their experiences and understanding of the sky in a welcoming environment. This allows them to address long-held beliefs or understanding without the anxiousness that can all too often accompany it.

What an interesting slice of my life..._

Program Production

My day job is facilitating public events for Sci-Comm, where I am privileged enough to get to work alongside scientists and communication experts, artists and storytellers, educators and researchers in a dazzling array of fields. I work hard to take what I have learned from them and distill what I can into engaging and scientifically accurate storytelling.

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Approachable Astronomy

When the public imagines an astronomer, they are often in a lab coat looking through the back-end of a telescope. I want to help folks see astronomers as approachable - every person is just that - another person. 
Through humor and openness, I aim to ensure that the public can see astronomers and all scientists not as unapproachable geniuses in an ivory tower, but as people living their passions who have been trained to carefully tease out accurate information in some pretty amazing ways.

Home: Research

Published Work

The Fruits of My Labor

Popular Mechanics: Best Telescopes of 2021

Astronomers for Planet Earth — Lessons from Venus and Mars

Learning from Light

Science and Environmental Media Lab, California Academy of Sciences​

Southern Skies: Astronomy from Chile

Universe Update, Morrison Planetarium

The Great Repeller 

Universe Update, Morrison Planetarium

NISEnet presentation on creating interactive science presentations for teens and young adults.

National Informal Science Interpretation Network periodical

Paper: Student-Created Content in WorldWide Telescope

Volume: 483, Ensuring STEM Literacy: A National Conference on STEM Education and Public Outreach

Page: 223

Authors: Roberts, M. J.

Home: Publications
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Recent Papers

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Tour of the Solar System (LIVE!) in the OpenSpace software

The Morrison Planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences (https://www.calacademy.org/) took us on a live tour of the Solar System in OpenSpace on May 27, 2020.

Home: Video
Earth and Space

Contact Me

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