Dennis Mammana
Encyclopedia
Dennis Mammana is an astronomy writer, lecturer and sky photographer. His newspaper column "Stargazers" has run weekly since 1992, and his photos can be seen in national and international media.
, Mammana's interest in "unseen worlds" began with a microscope, but his attention shifted skyward shortly after the launch of the first Earth-orbiting satellites Sputnik I and Echo I in the late 1950s. By the mid-1960s, he began regularly observing and photographing the sky, and built a basement darkroom where he developed and printed his own sky photographs. His first published photo was of the total lunar eclipse of April 12, 1968, which appeared in The Express-Times
the following day.
, he was awarded a one-year internship at the Strasenburgh Planetarium
in Rochester, New York
.
's National Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
from 1975-1978, the Flandrau Planetarium of the University of Arizona
in Tucson from 1978-1986, and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
in San Diego, California
from 1987-2001.
.
, designated in 2009 as California's first International Dark-Sky Community by the International Dark-Sky Association
. Here he writes and lectures about—and photographs—the stunning sky above the Anza-Borrego Desert.
Early years
Born in Easton, PennsylvaniaEaston, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
, Mammana's interest in "unseen worlds" began with a microscope, but his attention shifted skyward shortly after the launch of the first Earth-orbiting satellites Sputnik I and Echo I in the late 1950s. By the mid-1960s, he began regularly observing and photographing the sky, and built a basement darkroom where he developed and printed his own sky photographs. His first published photo was of the total lunar eclipse of April 12, 1968, which appeared in The Express-Times
The Express-Times
The Express-Times is a daily newspaper published in Easton, Pennsylvania, with an emphasis on local news. It has won awards in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.-Ownership:...
the following day.
Education
In 1969, Mammana graduated from Easton Area High School, and studied physics and astronomy at Otterbein College where he received his B.A. in 1973. After completing work toward his M.S. in Astronomy Vanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
, he was awarded a one-year internship at the Strasenburgh Planetarium
Strasenburgh Planetarium
The Strasenburgh Planetarium is a public planetarium located at 663 East Avenue in the city of Rochester, New York. It is named after its benefactors, Edwin and Clara Strasenburgh. It is a department of the Rochester Museum and Science Center. The Planetarium was dedicated on September 14, 1968....
in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
.
Planetarium Production
Mammana has held positions at the Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
's National Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from 1975-1978, the Flandrau Planetarium of the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
in Tucson from 1978-1986, and the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is a science museum in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. Established in 1973, it was the first science museum to combine interactive science exhibits with a planetarium and an IMAX Dome theater, setting the standard that most major science museums follow today...
in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
from 1987-2001.
Writings
Mammana has authored six astronomy books for adults and children, as well as hundreds of magazine, encyclopedia and web articles. Since 1992 he has written the weekly column "Stargazers", which is the only nationally-syndicated newspaper column on astronomy, distributed through Creators SyndicateCreators Syndicate
Creators Syndicate is an independent distributor of comic strips and syndicated columns for daily newspapers. It was founded in 1987 by Richard S. Newcombe, and is based in Los Angeles. Creators was one of the first syndicates to allow its clients to maintain creative control of their material...
.
Lecturing and teaching
Mammana lectures frequently about the wonders of the heavens at resorts, on cruise ships, schools, and as an after-dinner speaker.Enrichment Travel
Mammana leads national and international expeditions for the general public to view and photograph celestial phenomena such as total solar eclipses and the aurora borealis.Photography
Mammana’s sky photography captures the heavens in ways rarely seen, and incorporates the celestial with the terrestrial to provide a unique perspective for the viewer. He is an invited member of TWAN(The World at Night), an international team of sky photographers.Media
Mammana is a frequently invited astronomical expert on radio and television and, in the mid-1990s, “starred” in an Emmy-award-winning documentary San Diego Night Sky produced by KPBS-TV.Currently
Mammana currently resides in Borrego Springs, CaliforniaBorrego Springs, California
Borrego Springs is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. The population was 3,429 at the 2010 census, up from 2,535 at the 2000 census. Many residents are seasonal while others remain year round...
, designated in 2009 as California's first International Dark-Sky Community by the International Dark-Sky Association
International Dark-Sky Association
The International Dark-Sky Association is a U.S.-based non-profit organization incorporated in 1988 by founders Dr. David Crawford, a professional astronomer, and Dr. Timothy Hunter, a medical doctor/amateur astronomer...
. Here he writes and lectures about—and photographs—the stunning sky above the Anza-Borrego Desert.
External links
- Dennis Mammana Official Web Site.
- Dennis Mammana Official Travel Web Site.
- Stargazers at Creators SyndicateCreators SyndicateCreators Syndicate is an independent distributor of comic strips and syndicated columns for daily newspapers. It was founded in 1987 by Richard S. Newcombe, and is based in Los Angeles. Creators was one of the first syndicates to allow its clients to maintain creative control of their material...
- Dennis Mammana at MWT Associates.
- Dennis Mammana at TWAN.
- Stargazers newspaper column.