Dr. Cameron Pace, Associate Professor of Physics at Southern Utah University (SUU), recently gave the keynote address at the Great Basin Astronomy Festival, which took place early last month. Attendees from up to 1,500 miles away gathered to marvel at the night sky in Great Basin National Park. Dr. Pace’s enthusiasm for the event was clear as he expressed gratitude to all who participated in this celestial celebration.

Dr. Pace’s research focuses on double stars—specifically, whether stars that appear close together from our viewpoint are merely optical doubles or if they are truly gravitationally bound binary systems. In his speech, he highlighted the contributions of middle-school students he has mentored, who co-authored a peer-reviewed paper alongside him. These students, from SUCCESS Academy, Launch High School, and White Pine Middle School in Ely, Nevada, shared how the project shaped their educational experiences.

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One standout student, Taime Clark, graduated from SUU and is now pursuing a graduate degree at UC Boulder. She credits her involvement with the Great Basin Observatory for giving her the confidence to pursue a career in science. Another former student, Jon Ginouves, is now a paleontologist, digging for dinosaur fossils in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. He attributes his success to the skills he gained during his time observing the stars.

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The Ashcroft Observatory in Cedar City, a longtime SUU partner, continues to bring the beauty of astronomy to the community. Its free Monday night viewings, hosted by SUU students and faculty, offer a chance for locals to gaze at the stars through powerful telescopes. Follow Ashcroft Observatory’s social media for updates, and congratulations to Dr. Pace for his inspiring work!

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