Along with my spouse Abby Gancz, I co-run an event series called Stories Under the Sky. We tell myths and folktales about the stars, Sun, Moon, and sky from cultures all around the world. We also talk about how people have used the sky for navigation, timekeeping, and understanding the cosmos. Following the stories, we give a guided tour of the sky, including pointing out constellations and letting attendees look through a telescope. Past events have taken place at the Penn State Arboretum (funded by the Tygel Endowment), the Lemont Village Green, the Davey Lab Planetarium, and AstroFest. Please contact me if interested in learning more or collaborating.

Upcoming Stories Under the Sky

Past Stories Under the Sky

Thursday, August 5, 2021 in the Penn State Arboretum

Thursday, August 12, 2021 in the Penn State Arboretum

Thursday, August 26, 2021 in the Penn State Arboretum

Thursday, September 2, 2021 in the Penn State Arboretum

Friday, June 3, 2022 in the Penn State Arboretum

Friday, July 8, 2022 in the Penn State Arboretum

Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at AstroFest

Thursday, July 14, 2022 at AstroFest

Friday, July 15, 2022 at AstroFest

Saturday, July 30, 2022 on the Lemont Village Green

Saturday, August 27, 2022 on the Lemont Village Green

Friday, September 2, 2022 in the Penn State Arboretum

Monday, September 12, 2022 at Easterly Parkway Elementary School *stories in Spanish/cuentos en español*

Friday, November 4, 2022 at the Davey Lab Planetarium

Friday, April 7, 2023 in Bernel Road Park

Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at Easterly Parkway Elementary School *stories in Spanish/cuentos en español*

Friday, May 26, 2023 in the Penn State Arboretum

Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at AstroFest

Thursday, July 13, 2023 at AstroFest

Friday, July 28, 2023 in the Penn State Arboretum

Friday, August 25, 2023 in the Penn State Arboretum

Friday, September 29, 2023 in the Penn State Arboretum

Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at Easterly Parkway Elementary School *stories in Spanish/cuentos en español*

Friday, May 3, 2024 in the Penn State Arboretum

Friday, May 24, 2024 in the Penn State Arboretum

Special Thanks to the Following Collaborators

Tygel Endowment

Penn State Arboretum

Lemont Village Association

AstroFest

State College Area School District

Astronomy Department

Central Pennsylvania Observers

Tim Gleason

Tim Gould

Rebecca Horwitt

Jenn Hooven

Abdul Rahman Latif

Qian Zhang

Abiola Ibirogba

Chiamaka Anyanwu

Brock James

Laura Perez

Bill Arden

Kelly Kutz

Eric Feigelson

Sue Smith

Ron Smith

Melina Porro

Mary Ogborn

Chris Palma

Cooper Palma