Volunteer for Public Outreach Events

Monday, 2 October

Mission Library Event
3134 Roosevelt Ave San Antonio, TX 78214
6:00 - 8:00 pm

Hosted at San Antonio Public Library’s Mission Branch, near the historic Mission San Jose, this free event includes family activities in preparation for the two upcoming solar eclipses in the San Antonio area (October 14, 2023 and April 8, 2024). Astronomers, educators, and storytellers will share ideas on ways to participate and celebrate these celestial events including advice on best viewing techniques. Attendees will have the opportunity to view the Sun with telescopes through sunset at ~7:09 pm, and planets afterward.

Tuesday, 3 October

American Astronomical Society Planets Party Hosted by Trinity University 
Laurie Auditorium
One Trinity Pl, San Antonio, TX 78212
7:00 - 9:00 pm

This large venue public outreach event features local amateur astronomy expert Robert Reeves as our keynote speaker, additional professional scientists for ask-me-anything style Q&A (volunteers solicited!, email Kurt Retherford), ample amateur astronomer “planets-party” viewing through telescopes including (TBD) the rooftop observatory, and educational exhibits suitable for all ages.

Volunteers Welcome

Thursday, 5 October

Sagan Medal Lecture at UTSA Downtown
UTSA Downtown Campus Buena Vista Theater, 7:00-9:00 pm

A publicly accessible lecture provided by the AAS/DPS Sagan Medal winner. This year’s Sagan Medal Awardee is Dr. Tracy Becker from Southwest Research Institute.

Tracy’s lecture is titled “San Antonio in Space: Exploring our Solar System from the Alamo City”. 

Buena Vista Theatre is a 25-minute walk from the conference hotel. Guests arriving by car should park in the Cattleman’s Square Lot directly across the street from the Buena Vista building (marked BV on the map). Guests arriving via rideshare should set their destination as ‘Buena Vista St. Building’. Seating within the theatre is available on a first come, first serve basis. View the campus map

Saturday, 7 October

Pow-wow event hosted by tbc 

(Not DPS organized, but recommended friends-of-DPS)

San Antonio Amateur Astronomy & Clubs (friends-of-DPS helping with events)

• SALSA: San Antonio League of Sidewalk Astronomy
• SAAA: San Antonio Astronomical Association
• Robert Reeves
• Trinity University Astronomy Club

Saturday & Sunday, 7-8 October

Sacred Springs Powwow: A celebration of the native Coahuiltecans in nearby San Marcos at The Meadows Center, 201 San Marcos Springs Dr. (half-way to Austin, a ~50 min drive)

Not DPS organized, but recommended friends-of-DPS

DPS Virtual Classroom

The DPS Education Subcommittee will be hosting virtual school/classroom visits where scientists across different aspects of Planetary Science will discuss their career paths (how did they get to where they are?) and tell the students what a typical day in their lives looks like! We will then open it up for a Q&A. This event will be 45-60 min depending on teacher availability. Virtual visits are likely to occur September 18-29, 2023, prior to the week of October 1-6, 2023. Interested middle-school educators (especially local teachers & principals, 6-8th grades) can sign up here.