10: Joe DalSanto The Firsts in Astronomy
After beginning to read about astronomy, Joseph DalSanto wanted to observe the night sky himself. So, he purchased a telescope as a freshman in high school and, during the past 40 years, has developed an in-depth knowledge and familiarity with the night sky due to hundreds of evening observations. \xa0
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\u201cI\u2019ve used and built numerous telescopes and observed thousands of objects from my home observatories as well as from locations in such places as Florida, New Mexico, Indiana, Wisconsin and California,\u201d he said.
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DalSanto first worked as an IT support professional for Hewlett Packard, where he worked on onsite and remote system hardware support for 15 years and then moved into IT project management. In this role, he helped lead HP\u2019s early system web support.
But it was his love of the sky that eventually led DalSanto to the classroom. He began making presentations to astronomy clubs and groups and was invited to perform public outreach and oversee the observatory at Waubonsee Community College. His growing love for teaching led to the pursuit of a master\u2019s degree in astronomy, and he began teaching credit classes part-time at Waubonsee.
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When a full-time astronomy position opened up at College of DuPage in 2012, he left HP to pursue his passion. He teaches two rigorous courses on planetary astronomy and stars and galaxies as well as honors versions of each.
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\u201cI set high standards for my students, but I want them to enjoy learning about our amazing universe,\u201d DalSanto said. \u201cI put tremendous planning and effort into my courses and I want them to walk out with not just knowledge but also appreciation for what we know and how we know it through the process of science.
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\u201cI\u2019ve been told repeatedly that my passion for astronomy shows. I want to share that passion and so I take great interest in my students\u2019 success. I\u2019m especially proud of the quality of the research projects done by my honors students, with several going on to pursue careers in astronomy.\u201d \xa0
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DalSanto continues his deep appreciation for the universe and wants others to experience it.
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\u201cI have never lost my love for standing under a truly clear, dark sky and experiencing the universe first hand personally,\u201d he said. \u201cI am thrilled with new discoveries but also in how we discover things and how new knowledge either fits into what we know or forces us to adjust what we know.
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\u201cWe can have an exciting future exploring the solar system and universe, and one of my favorite quotes captures this: \u2018The human adventure is just beginning.\u2019\u201d
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In this episode, Beth and Joe discuss:
- \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0Some of the major firsts in astronomy.
- \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0How astronomy changed between Ptolemy and Copernicus.
- \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0The invention of the telescope and its rise to popularity.
- \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0How women played a role in the early days of astronomy.
- \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0Studying the universe at different wave lengths.
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Key Takeaways:
- \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0William Herschel\u2019s son John was the one to catalog the Southern night sky.
- \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0How parallax allows us to find an estimate of the distance of the stars.
- \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0All of science, especially in this field, is a global effort, not just small groups in one country or another.
- \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0How seemingly small discoveries and basic research can lead to massive growths in science.
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\u201cI really think with Herschel, and probably with most early astronomers, it was just their love of astronomy, their curiosity. They wanted to understand our universe, and that continues today.\u201d \u2014 Joe DalSanto
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Connect with Joe DalSanto:
http://www.cod.edu/spotlights/faculty/dalsanto.aspx
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About Beth Mund:
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Beth\u2019s love for space started as a Space Camp attendee at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where she would return years later as an instructor. \xa0After grad school, Beth worked as a journalist, a technical writer for Motorola, and then went on to serve as a Public Affairs Officer for the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. In addition, Beth worked to support the International Space Station program as a communication specialist. In Chicago, Beth worked as an corporate communication advisor to Fortune 50 companies including Allstate and United Airlines. She\u2019s worked as a college instructor, a political advisor, and public relations manager for her hometown city. Beth recently founded Stellar Communications, LLC and travels the country as a keynote speaker- inspiring audiences with her lessons learned from our nation\u2019s space program. \xa0She\u2019s the host of the Casual Space Podcast, and a self-proclaimed space geek.
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Connect with Beth Mund:
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Email: bethisbeth@me.com & \xa0askbeth@casualspacepodcast.com
Website: bethmund.com
Facebook: @BethMund
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Show notes by show producer/podcastologist: Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie