My name is Maria, and I lead the Community Outreach Program for the Denver Astronomical Society. I am not an astronomer.

I’m 26 years old, and I work as a park planner. My only professional or educational experience in astronomy is from my high school physics class. I didn’t look through a telescope until I was 22, and I couldn’t identify a single star in the sky aside from Orion’s Belt until I was 23. I am an astronomer only by passion, and a very new one at that. I joined DAS, asking myself, “How can I meaningfully contribute to this community when I don’t know half as much about the cosmos as some of these folks do?” No one could answer that question for me, but I’d like to answer that question for you.

The first time I attended an Outreach event, I spent most of my night with a young girl who had a developmental disability. She couldn’t look through the eyepiece of a traditional telescope, but my Seestar was displaying a live, stacking image of the Andromeda Galaxy. She sat with my iPad in her lap for 15-minutes marveling at the galaxy. At the next event I attended, I led a Girl Scout troop meeting and presented on the moon. The light in those girls’ eyes when they excitedly got to talk about their favorite stars and planets made me realize I don’t need to be a professional astronomer to make an impact.

You don’t need to be a professional astronomer to make an impact, either. Anyone with a love of the night sky can make a difference. I encourage you, the reader, to consider volunteering with our outreach team. Volunteering can look like bringing your telescope to an event and showing someone the rings of Saturn for the first time, or it can look like walking around an event and answering the public’s questions about the stars.

If I’ve successfully piqued your interest in volunteering, there are many opportunities throughout the year to get involved with Denver Astronomical Society outreach as a member. Volunteering can look like bringing your telescope to an event and showing someone the rings of Saturn for the first time, or it can be as simple as walking around and answering questions about the night sky. You’d be surprised how many people have never even looked at the Moon through binoculars, let alone a telescope. Whether you’re pointing out a lunar crater, a bright planet, or just sharing your enthusiasm, even small moments of engagement can be deeply inspiring.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering with the outreach team or joining us at future outreach events, please feel free to reach out to me at outreach@denverastro.org. Volunteering with the outreach team is truly one of the most rewarding things I’ve done, and I would love to welcome more DAS members—whether you’re a seasoned observer or someone just beginning your journey under the stars.