Steve Mandel
Encyclopedia
Steve Mandel is an American communication
s coach for professional executives
, the founder and the president of the Mandel Communications company, which aims to teach
effective communication and public speaking. He is also a keen amateur astronomer
and astrophotographer
. He owns a small observatory
, called Hidden Valley Observatory, in Soquel, California
. He has been acknowledged especially for his wide-field
photographs of the Milky Way
nebula
e and for public outreach.
grew in the 1970s. Later, his wide-field images became recognized by professional astronomer
s. In 2005 he took pictures of high latitude
areas of the sky and experimented with different wavelength
s using various photographic filter
s and managed to take pictures of very faint unexplored nebula
e above the plane of the Milky Way
. The pictures were investigated by Adolf Witt, an astronomer of the University of Toledo
in Ohio
, who found out that the nebulae surprisingly contained carbon
. Subsequently, his images became a subject of several scientific papers. These interstellar structures, labelled by Mandel as the integrated flux nebulae, are illuminated by the light from the entire galaxy
, which distinguishes them from the typical reflection nebula
e, illuminated by a nearby star
. In 2004 Mandel started to work on the Mandel-Wilson Unexplored Nebulae Project aimed at their discovering, cataloguing and photographing.
constellation in the Sky and Telescope magazine, and since that time his pictures have been introduced in various other periodicals, including the NASA
web page Astronomy Picture of the Day
. In 2006 he published some of his astronomy photographs in his book Light in the Sky: Photographs of the Universe.
Steve Mandel has also cooperated with the Kitt Peak National Observatory
Visitor Center, presenting educational Nightly Observer Program and Advanced Observer Program to the public. In 2004 he founded the Advanced Imaging Conference in San Jose, California
, where about 250 amateur astronomers and manufacturers of astronomical equipment and software meet annually to discuss technology, imaging techniques and possibilities of scientific contributions. He created the so called Hubble Award, given at the conference to an astronomer who made significant contributions to astrophotography.
awarded him with their international Amateur Achievement Award, especially for his CCD imaging achievements and public outreach. The American Astronomical Society
awarded him with the Chambliss Amateur Achievement Medal
, annually given to North-American amateur astronomers, again for his contributions to wide-field imaging.
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
s coach for professional executives
Senior management
Senior management, executive management, or management team is generally a team of individuals at the highest level of organizational management who have the day-to-day responsibilities of managing a company or corporation, they hold specific executive powers conferred onto them with and by...
, the founder and the president of the Mandel Communications company, which aims to teach
Executive Education
Executive Education refers to academic programs at leading graduate-level business schools worldwide for executives, business leaders and functional managers. These programs are non-credit and non-degree granting...
effective communication and public speaking. He is also a keen amateur astronomer
Amateur astronomy
Amateur astronomy, also called backyard astronomy and stargazing, is a hobby whose participants enjoy watching the night sky , and the plethora of objects found in it, mainly with portable telescopes and binoculars...
and astrophotographer
Astrophotography
Astrophotography is a specialized type of photography that entails recording images of astronomical objects and large areas of the night sky. The first photographs of an astronomical object were taken in the 1840s, but it was not until the late 19th century that advances in technology allowed for...
. He owns a small observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
, called Hidden Valley Observatory, in Soquel, California
Soquel, California
Soquel is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 9,644 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Soquel is located at ....
. He has been acknowledged especially for his wide-field
Field of view
The field of view is the extent of the observable world that is seen at any given moment....
photographs of the Milky Way
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
nebula
Nebula
A nebula is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen gas, helium gas and other ionized gases...
e and for public outreach.
Astrophotography
Steve Mandel's interest in astrophotographyAstrophotography
Astrophotography is a specialized type of photography that entails recording images of astronomical objects and large areas of the night sky. The first photographs of an astronomical object were taken in the 1840s, but it was not until the late 19th century that advances in technology allowed for...
grew in the 1970s. Later, his wide-field images became recognized by professional astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
s. In 2005 he took pictures of high latitude
Ecliptic coordinate system
The ecliptic coordinate system is a celestial coordinate system that uses the ecliptic for its fundamental plane. The ecliptic is the path that the sun appears to follow across the celestial sphere over the course of a year. It is also the intersection of the Earth's orbital plane and the celestial...
areas of the sky and experimented with different wavelength
Wavelength
In physics, the wavelength of a sinusoidal wave is the spatial period of the wave—the distance over which the wave's shape repeats.It is usually determined by considering the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same phase, such as crests, troughs, or zero crossings, and is a...
s using various photographic filter
Photographic filter
In photography and videography, a filter is a camera accessory consisting of an optical filter that can be inserted in the optical path. The filter can be a square or oblong shape mounted in a holder accessory, or, more commonly, a glass or plastic disk with a metal or plastic ring frame, which...
s and managed to take pictures of very faint unexplored nebula
Nebula
A nebula is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen gas, helium gas and other ionized gases...
e above the plane of the Milky Way
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
. The pictures were investigated by Adolf Witt, an astronomer of the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, who found out that the nebulae surprisingly contained carbon
Carbon
Carbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...
. Subsequently, his images became a subject of several scientific papers. These interstellar structures, labelled by Mandel as the integrated flux nebulae, are illuminated by the light from the entire galaxy
Galaxy
A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system that consists of stars and stellar remnants, an interstellar medium of gas and dust, and an important but poorly understood component tentatively dubbed dark matter. The word galaxy is derived from the Greek galaxias , literally "milky", a...
, which distinguishes them from the typical reflection nebula
Reflection nebula
In Astronomy, reflection nebulae are clouds of dust which are simply reflecting the light of a nearby star or stars. The energy from the nearby star, or stars, is insufficient to ionize the gas of the nebula to create an emission nebula, but is enough to give sufficient scattering to make the dust...
e, illuminated by a nearby star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
. In 2004 Mandel started to work on the Mandel-Wilson Unexplored Nebulae Project aimed at their discovering, cataloguing and photographing.
Public outreach
In 1984 Steve Mandel published his portrait of the CygnusCygnus (constellation)
Cygnus is a northern constellation lying on the plane of the Milky Way. Its name is the Latinized Hellenic word for swan. One of the most recognizable constellations of the northern summer and autumn, it features a prominent asterism known as the Northern Cross...
constellation in the Sky and Telescope magazine, and since that time his pictures have been introduced in various other periodicals, including the NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
web page Astronomy Picture of the Day
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Astronomy Picture of the Day is a website provided by NASA and Michigan Technological University . According to the website, "Each day a different image or photograph of our universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer."The photograph is not necessarily...
. In 2006 he published some of his astronomy photographs in his book Light in the Sky: Photographs of the Universe.
Steve Mandel has also cooperated with the Kitt Peak National Observatory
Kitt Peak National Observatory
The Kitt Peak National Observatory is a United States astronomical observatory located on 2,096 m Kitt Peak of the Quinlan Mountains in the Arizona-Sonoran Desert on the Tohono O'odham Nation, southwest of Tucson...
Visitor Center, presenting educational Nightly Observer Program and Advanced Observer Program to the public. In 2004 he founded the Advanced Imaging Conference in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, where about 250 amateur astronomers and manufacturers of astronomical equipment and software meet annually to discuss technology, imaging techniques and possibilities of scientific contributions. He created the so called Hubble Award, given at the conference to an astronomer who made significant contributions to astrophotography.
Acknowledgement
Steve Mandel received two awards for his contributions to astronomy, both in 2008. The Astronomical Society of the PacificAstronomical Society of the Pacific
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is a scientific and educational organization, founded in San Francisco on February 7, 1889. Its name derives from its origins on the Pacific Coast, but today it has members all over the country and the world...
awarded him with their international Amateur Achievement Award, especially for his CCD imaging achievements and public outreach. The American Astronomical Society
American Astronomical Society
The American Astronomical Society is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC...
awarded him with the Chambliss Amateur Achievement Medal
Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award
The Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award is awarded by the American Astronomical Society for an achievement in astronomical research made by an amateur astronomer resident in North America. The prize is named after Carlson R. Chambliss of Kutztown University, who donated the funds to support the prize...
, annually given to North-American amateur astronomers, again for his contributions to wide-field imaging.
External links
- Galaxy Images – astrophotography web site by Steve Mandel