Resume for Dennis J. Webb

Dennis J. Webb is an experienced and entertaining public speaker, writer and practicing amateur astronomer. He is available for speaking engagements, panel discussions, writing assignments, distance learning events, and related activities.

Astronomical Lectures

• Origin and Structure of the Universe - Fort McKavett Star Party October 1999, Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society Fall 1999, Houston Astronomical Society February 2000.
• History of Astronomy - Afternoon Lecture at Fort McKavett Star Party, March 1998
• Astronomy for Normal People - A five-night class to introduce adults, families and kids to the special joys of amateur astronomy. Spring and summer of 1996 and summer, fall 1997, and summer 1998 Pearland Parks and Recreation Center. Also a condensed program at two Rotary luncheons, spring 1997
• A Supernova Search for TSP '97 - The Revised Shapley Ames Catalog of Bright Galaxies an exploration of the potential for amateur astronomers to discover a supernova in the reference catalog of brighter galaxies. Texas Star Party, May 1997.
• Hiking the Great Wall of Galaxies, Amateurs Can Observe The Large Scale Structure of the Universe an amateur's observing list of galaxies in Geller and Huchra's landmark slice of the universe. Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society, March 1996; Texas Star Party, May 1996.
• Arp's Catalog of Peculiar Galaxies: Observing Challenge for the New Millenium, Texas Star Party - May 1996; ALCON '95, the Astronomical League Convention - July 1995. Also presented to local clubs: Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society and the Astronomical Society of South East Texas (Beaumont) in 1995, Austin Astronomical Society, the Fort Bend Astronomical Society in 1996, and Texas Astronomical Society (Dallas) February 2000.
• An Old Telescope, A New Observatory, Texas Star Party 1995. The story of how one club was touched by the death of a local but unfamiliar amateur telescope maker and the restoration of his remarkable instrument into a facility for public education.
• Drawing the Virgo Galaxy Cluster, Texas Star Party 1994. The interesting results of a challenging observing plan to draw 100 galaxies of this nearest galaxy cluster on one piece of paper.
• To Touch The Light Of Faraway Planets, Texas Star Party 1993, Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society 1993, and Fort Bend Astronomical Club 1994. An entertaining and thought-provoking thought experiment which combines telescope design, physics, belief, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Accompanied by a humorous outdoor demonstration at Texas Star Parties '93, '94, '95, '96 (special neutrino feature), and '97 (special protestant IR filter).
• The Scale of the Universe in the Amateur Eyepiece, Texas Star Party 1992 and Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society 1992 and 1996. An observing plan for visiting 14 orders of magnitude from the moon to a remote quasar.

Published Writings

• Better Astronomical Club Meetings, Astronomical League webpage February 2000.
• NASA's Astronomical Data Center's Catalog 7192, A contemporary index into Arp's Peculiar Galaxies, data tables and interpretation, October 1996.
• An Arp-Inspired Adventure/A Cyberspace Adventure, Sky and Telescope, July 1996, page 92.
• Choosing a Starter Telescope, StarDate Magazine, Nov/Dec 1995
• Travels With Chuck's Telescope, Amateur Astronomy #7, Fall 1995
• To Touch the Light, Amateur Astronomy #4, Winter 1994
• Monthly Column, STARSCAN, newsletter of the Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society, 1994-95
• 24 years of professional engineering writing and management written communications including papers for the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Astronautical Society and the Mechanical Failures Prevention Group

Hosting, Chatting, and Performing

• Distance Learning Lecturer in Astronomy, Johnson Space Center's Learning Outpost, 2000
• Afternoon Talk Host, Texas Star party 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1999.
• On-line Chat Guest, Prodigy's Astronomy Chat Room, Sept 1996
• On-line Chat Guest, Delphi's Galaxies Astronomy Club, Fall 1995 and Spring 1996.
• "Goddess and Wizard Review Altars", A performance art piece written and performed with Madeline Jones, September 1996, Firehouse Gallery, Houston, Texas.
• Master of Ceremonies, Dedication of the Astronomical Observatory at Armand Bayou Nature Center, July 1995.
• President and Meeting Facilitator, Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society, 1994 and 1995.
• Bassist, Brass Rhythm and Reeds (18 piece big band) 1980 through 1994, playing the big band classics.
• Thirteen years of running efficient professional management and engineering meetings

Astronomical Observing Experience

• Active astronomical observer since 1989.
• Messier Certificate 1992 (Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society).
• Making large-scale drawings of remarkable views - 1993 to 1995. Mostly galaxy clusters but the most beautiful is a drawing of the Trifid/Lagoon nebular region.
• Working on the Herschel 400, in a leisurely fashion.
• CCD imager since 1997.

Leadership Experience

• President, Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society, 1994 and 1995
• Senior Manager, NASA, 1989 to present

Education

B. S. Electrical Engineering (cum laude) 1976, University of Houston