Guiding Star Gazers

FAU Dean Helps Shape Weekly PBS Astronomy Show

Ata Sarajedini, Ph.D, grew up in a small-town in northern Pennsylvania where night skies are very dark and constellations brilliantly visible. He became fascinated by the heavens, borrowing his high school’s telescope to study at home and wondering whether his passion could be turned into a career.

“Could you even be a professional astronomer?” wondered a young Sarajedini. “I didn’t know, so I wrote to a university and asked. They sent me information — I would need a bachelor’s, a master’s, and a Ph.D., and postdoctoral research experience — and I decided then that’s what I would do.”

He completed his degrees at Yale, served as a Hubble Fellow at two universities in California, and became an assistant professor at Wesleyan University and a full professor at the University of Florida, attaining goals he’d had since he was 13. He is currently the dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science at FAU and scientific editor for the Journals of the American Astronomical Society.

He is also now the new creative and scientific consultant for “Star Gazers,” South Florida PBS’ national astronomy television show, helping design and draft scripts and spreading the word about astronomy and FAU to the homes of millions.

“This is a great opportunity for publicity and recognition to FAU as a research university,” Sarajedini said. “Ours will be a constructive collaboration between FAU and a public media outlet, informing the public about the latest discoveries and research in astronomy.”

Since 1976, “Star Gazers” has been the world’s only weekly television series about naked eye astronomy — that is, without aid of a telescope. Now, the show is being revamped with a new season on public television with a new host, Trace Dominguez, and FAU as an academic partner as of Dec. 1, 2019. Dominguez is widely praised as an award-winning and inspiring science communicator, content creator and curiosity explorer.

Public television stations air Star Gazers episodes either between regularly scheduled programming or online. Each weekly episode has two parts. The one-minute segment guides viewers to search skies for key constellations, stars, planets, lunar eclipses and other events during the upcoming week based on visibility in the eastern United States. But viewers across the country in different time zones can still benefit.

The four-minute segment follows the weekly guide, explaining interesting aspects of the universe or astronomy. “These scientific vignettes cover phenomena that the public might be particularly interested to know more about,” Sarajedini said. “The shows are designed to be understood by the everyday person, the lay audience." The episodes may also be used as part of classroom teaching plans.

“We couldn’t ask for better support in this endeavor than Dr. Ata Sarajedini and the team at Florida Atlantic University, or for a more enthusiastic guide for our viewers than Trace Dominguez,” said South Florida PBS Chief Operating Officer Jeff Huff.