Prior Events

Wednesday August 26th, 2026, 7:00 PM. Monthly Zoom Meeting – Members Only:

Mark Pond

Senior Director, NASA Programs

Northrop Grumman Space Systems

As Director of NASA Programs, Mark Pond is responsible for the execution and financial performance of Northrop Grumman’s critical NASA programs, including the largest solid rocket motors in the world for use on NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) and the propulsion for the Orion Launch Abort System (LAS).

Mark has been with Northrop Grumman for over 25 years and has held various leadership positions in rocket motor nozzle manufacturing, project and design engineering; space shuttle and Ares nozzle program management. He has also served as team lead for nozzle, mix/cast and final assembly value stream, as manager of the non-destructive testing group, and SLS booster integration program manager. Most of his career has been working on NASA programs, but he also served in the RS-68 nozzle program. His background in several areas and functional roles has given him a broad knowledge of solid rocket design and processing. Mark earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Utah State University.

Northrop Grumman is a technology company, focused on global security and human discovery. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with capabilities they need to connect, advance, and protect the U.S. and its allies. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our 95,000 employees define possible every day.

 
Saturday July 25th, 2026, Robinson Preserve NEST area. Time 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM:

10299 9th Avenue Northwest, Bradenton

This is our annual Summer Doldrums event where we feature solar observing in both White and H Alpha light.

 
Saturday July 25th, 2026, Robinson Preserve NEST area. Time 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM:

10299 9th Avenue Northwest, Bradenton

This is our annual Summer Doldrums event where we feature solar observing in both White and H Alpha light.

 
Wednesday July 22nd, 2026, 7:00 PM. Monthly Zoom Meeting – Members Only:

Alex Martin founded the Sidewalk Science Center program in 2018 while living in Savannah, Georgia, then operated in Florida for several years before transitioning to life as a traveling astronomer. Now known as the Hiking Astronomer, he visits cities across the United States to provide free sidewalk astronomy and private stargazing tours. Over the years, he has hosted more than 1,300 sessions and welcomed 260,000 visitors to his telescopes and science experiences.

 
Wednesday June 17th, 2026, 7:00 PM. Monthly Zoom Meeting – Members Only:\

High Point Scientific Managing Partner Robert Dugan Jr. will join us to discuss the growth and evolution of one of the astronomy industry’s leading retailer. Built on a foundation of personal service, trust, and a genuine passion for the hobby, High Point Scientific has carefully cultivated a culture centered around supporting amateur astronomers and astrophotographers at every level. Through steady growth, strategic vision, and a deep understanding of the community it serves, this family business has become the recognized leader in the industry while remaining true to its customer-first values. This is a great opportunity to hear about the business side of the hobby we all love and the philosophy that continues to drive High Point Scientific forward.

Wednesday May 27th, 2026, 7:00 PM. Monthly Zoom Meeting – Members Only:

Suncoast Stargazer member Kaya Lewis is an illustrator, game designer, author, educator, astronomer, and overall wearer of many hats. A lifelong nerd of all sorts, her work tends towards the fantastical and spooky. This month, Kaya will be sharing a look at astronomical art throughout history, and the connection between art and science that is far deeper than any of us really tend to acknowledge.

Saturday April 25th, 2026, Robinson Preserve. Evening Stargazing. Time 8:30 PM to 10:00 PM:  

10299 9th Avenue Northwest, Bradenton

Wednesday April 22nd, 2026, 7:00 PM. Monthly Zoom Meeting – Members Only:

Pranvera Hyseni is a planetary astronomer and Ph.D. candidate in Earth and Planetary Sciences at UC Santa Cruz. Her research combines NASA telescope observations, laboratory spectroscopy, and geochemical modeling to investigate organic matter in asteroids, with the broader goal of tracing how water and organics formed and moved through early planetesimals, shaping the ingredients for life. In 2020, she discovered the main-belt asteroid 2020 SS13. In addition to her academic research, she conducts astrometry and time-critical observations using her own observing equipment. She is the founder of Astronomy Outreach of Kosovo, the country’s first astronomy organization, and runs Astronomy with Pran, through which she leads hands-on astronomy education and public engagement programs.

Topic: Building Kosovo’s First National Observatory and Planetarium and Expanding Access to Astronomy

The development of Kosovo’s first national observatory and planetarium represents a major step in expanding access to science education in a country that previously lacked dedicated astronomical infrastructure. Pranvera will discuss how the project developed from an idea into a functioning science center, the challenges faced along the way, and the role of international collaboration and community support. The talk also highlights how hands-on astronomy outreach continues to bring telescope access and science experiences to students and the public, both in Kosovo and beyond.

 
Saturday March 28th, 2026, The Bay Common Ground. Evening Stargazing. Time 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM.

1055 Blvd of the Arts, Sarasota     

 
Saturday March 21st, 2026, Robinson Preserve. Evening Stargazing. Time 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM:

10299 9th Avenue Northwest, Bradenton

 
Wednesday March 18th, 2026, 7:00 PM. Monthly Zoom Meeting – Members Only:\

The founder and owner of Clear Sky Events, Kevin Rehberg, will tell us all about his visionary company and how it all got started. I attended one of his events and it’s best described as the first smart telescope-based event experience bringing the wonders and beauty of the universe to your outdoor space. This is a very different kind stargazing event.