Irene Pease
Irene began observing and sharing astronomy with the public as a student in Tucson, Arizona, first with public viewing nights at Steward Observatory’s 21″ telescope on the University of Arizona campus, then as a presenter at Flandrau Planetarium. For several years she led observing sessions at the Vega-Bray Observatory of SkyWatcher’s Inn (later renamed Astronomer’s Inn) in Benson, Arizona. During that time, she built the telescope that would become known as Brooklyn’s Prettiest Telescope (see below), and observed with it at many-a star party.
Irene moved to New York City to work at the American Museum of Natural History as an Astrophysics Educator, where she developed and taught astronomy lesson for ages. In addition to astronomizing around Brooklyn, she was a frequent presenter and co-host of Astronomy on Tap NYC, and a presenter for Hayden Planetarium’s Astronomy Live series. Irene produced the Hayden video blog, Skylight, served as President of the Amateur Astronomers Association of NY (AAA), and still teaches online astronomy courses with AAA. She currently co-hosts astronomy outreach events in Sullivan County and observes from the dark skies of the Catskills.
Contact:
FriendlyNeighborhoodAstronomer@gmail.com
Brooklyn’s Prettiest Telescope
BPT was built in Tucson, Arizona, near the doorstep of Saguaro National Park East. Her dobsonain design was based on the work of telescope maker Pierre Schwaar; her 10″ f/5 primary mirror made by Parks Optics. While in Tucson, she attended many local star parties, showing off the relatively dark skies of the town and surrounding areas. She also attended regional star parties, engaging hundreds of viewers during the public hours of the Grand Canyon Star Party and the White Sands Star Party.
A regular at Vega-Bray Observatory BPT helped inspire seasoned astronomy enthusiasts and young, budding astronomers alike.
As part of an Adaptive Optics support crew, she observed from the MMT Observatory parking lot on Mt Hopkins, while Irene watched for planes (before fish-eye cameras were installed, “plane-spotters” sat outside all night with a walkie-talkie, a kill-switch for the laser, and, if they were lucky, a friendly telescope to keep them company).
BPT has travelled across the US, and to Western Canada, observing under dark skies and on sidewalks along the way. After settling in Brooklyn, she took up her current moniker, and has been astronomizing around NYC and in upstate NY as weather allows. Her favorite spots for sidewalk astronomy in NYC were right around her neighborhood – at the Brooklyn Museum Plaza, and outside The Way Station. For slightly darker skies she often sliped into Mt Prospect Park, or Prospect Park’s Nethermead. She now has much darker skies to explore in the Catskills.
Contact:
PrettyTelescope@gmail.com