Celebrating 135 years!
Preparing Communities
for an Awe-inspiring Celestial Event
Welcome
I am delighted to present the 2023 Annual Report of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP). This past year has been filled with remarkable achievements, discoveries, and innovations, not only in the field of astronomy but in the commercial technologies and media that support it. It is the ASP’s mission to communicate this excitement to the public using the latest tools and media, and we are filled with optimism for the future and are excited to continue our journey of exploration with all of you.
In just the past year, the JW Space Telescope has captured stunning images of distant objects in ways that have never been seen or imagined before, we have seen multiple robotic landings on the Moon, OSIRIS-Rex returned asteroid samples to Earth, and we made important discoveries in astrophysics such as gravitational waves that have increased our understanding of black holes.
Equally exciting is the immense potential that modern media technologies, social media platforms, and artificial intelligence offer in revolutionizing the communication of astronomy to the public. These tools offer us unprecedented opportunities to engage with audiences around the world, share the wonders of the universe in captivating ways, and inspire a new generation of astronomy and space enthusiasts. Through innovative content creation, real-time interactions, personalized experiences, and data-driven insights, we can amplify the reach and impact of astronomical discoveries, making the cosmos more accessible and engaging than ever before. A recent milestone is the ASP’s historic magazine Mercury, now online and accessible to anyone.
It is the fusion of these new technologies with the timeless wonder of astronomy that will create a powerful synergy that will shape the future of science communication and ignite a passion for astronomy and science in minds everywhere.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your continued support to the ASP. Your passion and dedication are what drives our Society forward, and we are grateful to have such a vibrant and engaged community of supporters. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey.
Finally, in closing I would like to pay tribute to Linda Shore who retired as CEO of the ASP after 10 years of achievement and I know that I speak for us all, that we wish her well in her retirement.
Chris Ford, CEO
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
A Warm Goodbye
Linda Shore in India, Science for Monks Project, 2016
The ASP says goodbye to Linda Shore, CEO of the ASP, as she retires after leading the ASP from 2014 to 2024. Shore came to the ASP after a 20-year career in informal science education at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, serving as the museum’s Senior Scientist, and the Director of the Exploratorium Teacher Institute. As the first woman to be the ASP’s chief executive, Shore made it one of her major goals for the ASP to become actively involved in national efforts to make astronomy more inclusive. Her efforts also led to a more diverse leadership of the Board of Directors, the launch in 2016 of the Arthur B.C. Walker II Award recognizing the accomplishments of African-American astronomers in both research and diversity, and the Nancy Grace Roman Award (launched in 2023) for achievement by individuals or groups in increasing gender equity in astronomy and related fields. During her tenure at the ASP, Shore spearheaded numerous initiatives, including the development of programs and resources to help professional astronomers improve how they communicate with and engage a wide range of public audiences. In addition, she introduced a program bringing astronomy learning experiences to elementary school classrooms designed to engage very young children in age-appropriate science thinking. Shore will continue to work part time with the ASP on special projects as a Senior Advisor.
Introductory Science Course, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Sikkim
Credit: Science for Monks Project (2018), Courtesy of Linda Shore, former ASP CEO