Southeastern Planetarium Association

SEPA President

Adam Thanz
Planetarium Director
Bays Mountain Planetarium
853 Bays Mountain Park Road
Kingsport, TN 37660
(423) 229-9447
mtstella@earthlink.net

Birth date: July 7, 1964

My interest in astronomy started back in 1976 when I was only twelve years old. My brother, Ed, gave me a copy of Peterson's A Field Guide to the Stars and Planets by Donald H. Menzel for my birthday. That book, combined with a beat-up pair of binoculars used on our family's sailboat, set a course for me to far away places.

Growing up in the Ft. Lauderdale, FL area, I eventually joined the South Florida Amateur Astronomer's Association while I was in high school. I learned a lot of what I know about observing from that club. This experience allowed me to rejuvenate the Nova High School Astronomy Club and also to use the school's small planetarium.

In 1982, I attended the University of Florida in Gainesville to major in astronomy. After graduating in 1986, I went straight into graduate school at UF and eventually received my Master of Science in Astronomy in 1990. In 1992, I received my Master of Education in Secondary Science Education.

In 1986, I met Robin Byrne, a fellow graduate student in the Astronomy Department. We later married. She, too, is an astronomer and is an Associate Professor of Astronomy and Physics at Northeast State Community College.

In October 1992, I became employed at Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium as their Educational Interpreter. In 2000, I started to teach an astronomy class at Northeast State Community College. I now teach one class per semester in addition to working at Bays Mountain full time.

In March of 2006, I became the Planetarium Director at Bays Mountain. My duties include not only management of the department, but also writing, producing, narrating, and giving planetarium programs for both the public and schools. An interesting recent variation on my daily work is working on creating video content to be shown in conjunction with a performance of Gustov Holst's The Planets with The Symphony of the Mountains. Other duties involve daytime and nighttime observing, care and repair of the theater and its equipment, and being a liaison to the Bays Mountain Astronomy Club.

Since the beginning of my planetarium career, I have been an active member of the Southeastern Planetarium Association (SEPA). My involvement has included an annually produced, unique archive of the year's activities that is distributed to all of SEPA's members. Other activities have included being the door prize chairman for three years as well as producing a DVD version of the planetarium program entitled "Saving the Night." The latest production for SEPA includes the stills and video content and DVD creation for a nationally distributed program called "The Planets." In 2005, I was elected to be on the council for SEPA. This six-year term includes two years as President Elect (2006-2006), two years as President (2007-2008), and two years as Past President (2009-2010). I have also been a member of the International Planetarium Society (IPS) since 2005.

Robin & I have a dog and cat named Laika & Quasar (what else?). We live on 34 acres in a rural area. With our main hobby being astronomy, it's no wonder we moved to a dark site.


About SEPA Membership Conference Journal Fellowship Award Council By-Laws Member Web Sites History Links	SEPA President Adam Thanz Planetarium Director Bays Mountain Planetarium 853 Bays Mountain Park Road Kingsport, TN 37660 (423) 229-9447 mtstella@earthlink.net Birth date: July 7, 1964 My interest in astronomy started back in 1976 when I was only twelve years old. My brother, Ed, gave me a copy of Peterson's A Field Guide to the Stars and Planets by Donald H. Menzel for my birthday. That book, combined with a beat-up pair of binoculars used on our family's sailboat, set a course for me to far away places. Growing up in the Ft. Lauderdale, FL area, I eventually joined the South Florida Amateur Astronomer's Association while I was in high school. I learned a lot of what I know about observing from that club. This experience allowed me to rejuvenate the Nova High School Astronomy Club and also to use the school's small planetarium. In 1982, I attended the University of Florida in Gainesville to major in astronomy. After graduating in 1986, I went straight into graduate school at UF and eventually received my Master of Science in Astronomy in 1990. In 1992, I received my Master of Education in Secondary Science Education. In 1986, I met Robin Byrne, a fellow graduate student in the Astronomy Department. We later married. She, too, is an astronomer and is an Associate Professor of Astronomy and Physics at Northeast State Community College. In October 1992, I became employed at Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium as their Educational Interpreter. In 2000, I started to teach an astronomy class at Northeast State Community College. I now teach one class per semester in addition to working at Bays Mountain full time. In March of 2006, I became the Planetarium Director at Bays Mountain. My duties include not only management of the department, but also writing, producing, narrating, and giving planetarium programs for both the public and schools. An interesting recent variation on my daily work is working on creating video content to be shown in conjunction with a performance of Gustov Holst's The Planets with The Symphony of the Mountains. Other duties involve daytime and nighttime observing, care and repair of the theater and its equipment, and being a liaison to the Bays Mountain Astronomy Club. Since the beginning of my planetarium career, I have been an active member of the Southeastern Planetarium Association (SEPA). My involvement has included an annually produced, unique archive of the year's activities that is distributed to all of SEPA's members. Other activities have included being the door prize chairman for three years as well as producing a DVD version of the planetarium program entitled "Saving the Night." The latest production for SEPA includes the stills and video content and DVD creation for a nationally distributed program called "The Planets." In 2005, I was elected to be on the council for SEPA. This six-year term includes two years as President Elect (2006-2006), two years as President (2007-2008), and two years as Past President (2009-2010). I have also been a member of the International Planetarium Society (IPS) since 2005. Robin & I have a dog and cat named Laika & Quasar (what else?). We live on 34 acres in a rural area. With our main hobby being astronomy, it's no wonder we moved to a dark site.