Michael Prokosch

If you were to ask me to tell you where my favorite place is on this pale blue dot, I
could tell you my house but more likely I’ll talk your ear off about the Sam Houston
State Observatory…or the SHSU Planetarium. It kinda depends on the weather.
We don’t have the darkest skies or the largest telescope and our planetarium is by
no means the biggest theater, but a visit to either place is something our students
and guests remember fondly, often returning for either the incredible “knock your
socks off” views through our telescopes or for one of our spectacular planetarium
shows.

I have worked for the SHSU Physics department since Fall of 2002 and I feel
fortunate that I have been able to see and do so many different things. If you really
want a complete list of programs and projects I’ve worked on I’d be happy to share it
with you if you have the cup of coffee, but I’d have to say by far the single best thing
has been participating as an ambassador in the ACEAP 2015 cohort which has in
turn lead to many other opportunities. More recently I have worked on the IDATA
project first as a teacher and again as a developer. Between that, the local
Huntsville Amateur Astronomy Society, planetarium shows, and the occasional
newspaper article, I stay pretty busy. Now as the Director of the SHSU Observatory
and Planetarium I’d like to take the opportunity to invite you to pay us a visit.

*Not responsible for the loss of any socks.