Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal White.
Hi Crystal, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been fascinated by stars. When I was young, I would sleep outside in the summer and watch the stars cross the night sky. As a Park Ranger and Naturalist, I was responsible for the night sky programming that took place within the park. I found astronomy to be a subject of passion and after 15 years with the park service, I left to open the business, Moab Astronomy Tours.
I spent many years reading, studying, and learning from Astronomers across Utah. I would spend hours looking through missions on NASA’s website. In 2018, I narrowly missed working for NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in MD. That miss is what prompted me to open the business.
I would later begin volunteering with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory out of Pasadena as a Solar System Ambassador. I am fortunate enough to be trained by employees from all of NASA’s network of centers on space science, missions, and more. In return, I offer many night sky events to Moab residents and share that knowledge.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The first three years were difficult with Covid hitting in early 2019, just eight months after opening up. We had to be super cautious for the first year and a half until we understood the disease better. It is nice to be on the other side of understanding Covid and back to sharing the night with beautiful people from across the globe.
It took much longer to build the business up than we had anticipated due to the before-mentioned impact. We just kept working long hours and working several side jobs to make ends meet. It has all been worth it to get to this point where the business is doing well.
We’ve been impressed with Moab Astronomy Tours, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Moab Astronomy Tours is a place-based science tour. We connect guests with the cosmos above and the ground below through astronomy-themed tours which focuses on what is currently in the night sky. Our skilled Astronomy Guides will show objects in space using a large Dobsonian telescope while educating guests on what they are seeing.
We often view stars, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, the Milky Way’s spiral arm crossing the sky, and current constellations. Our AstroTours are the most popular offering we have. We also hold Moon Hikes when the Moon is approaching full.
We really try to flow with what the group is ready for. Some nights, things get really nerdy. Other nights, there is a nice mellow flow to the night. I’m really proud to know that we have created a business in which NASA employees book tours. What better compliment to our business than an astrophysicist sitting in the chair, looking up at the stars?
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Our family has been such great support throughout the life of the business. There are many nights we would not have been able to hold a tour without their support.
Dr. Anil Seth, an astrophysicist from the University of Utah, was an inspiration to me. He was really personable and taught me many things about astronomy. He placed the iron in the fire which would be forged into a deep passion.
Honestly, Carl Sagan being one of the best scientific interpreters in the world was crucial to helping me understand deep astronomy and cosmology. He will always be one of the greatest humans to walk this planet in my mind.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@moabastronomytours.com
- Website: moabastronomytours.com
- Instagram: @moabastronomytours
- Facebook: @moabastronomytours
Image Credits:
Finley Holiday Productions, Alex Conu, and Matthew Miller
