Enrichment

Cruise lines engage me as a space exploration lecturer and “resident astronomer.” I enjoy my role immensely! Sea days usually find me delivering talks on topics in space science and space travel — ranging from the latest discoveries about the Solar System to the complex world of commercial spaceflight.

On clear nights, I enjoy hosting stargazing sessions on the upper deck of the ship. If you’ve never seen the sky from the middle of the ocean, far away from the lights of cities, you are missing out on quite a treat. On cruises in the Southern Hemisphere, guests are invariably delighted to see the Southern Cross. Northern Hemisphere sessions focus on sky lore of the ancient Mediterranean civilizations, as well as the legends from the indigenous peoples through whose seas we are sailing.

One of the things I love about my role is that you never know what insight will inspire a guest. After a stargazing session as our ship sailed between the Canary Islands on a recent transatlantic crossing, one guest felt compelled to create a watercolor illustration of me using my laser pointer to highlight the stars of Orion!