A former two-time President of the Astronomical League, Terry Mann's interest in the stars started with her earliest memories... As a very young child, she begged her mom to tell her bedtime stories as young children do, but she didn't want just any story, she wanted stories about the stars. By eight years old, she had a burning desire to have a photograph of the moon, which led her to temporarily "steal" her father's Instamatic camera to take her first astrophotograph. Caught "red handed" as she was snapping a photo of the moon using a flashcube, Terry thought she would get the punishment of her life. Instead, her father explained to her that you didn't need a flash to capture the light of the moon.
A lifelong astronomer and astrophotographer, Terry describes what drives her:
"My quest to capture the "Elusive Light" of the night sky has drawn me to remote locations in both hemispheres. It has immersed me into the beauty and mystique of our celestial and natural world. Imaging both has proven to be challenging and exhilarating. Some of my best experiences are realized while standing far away from civilization under the canopy of stars, in the still of the night.
Imaging subjects other than people requires a connection to nature. Here you work with nature's schedule, not your own. The images are there if you know how to see them and capture that moment. For me, this is the best kind of imaging."
Outreach
Terry Mann has served as Secretary, Vice President and President of the Astronomical League, an Organization of approximately 18,000 amateur astronomers. She has also served as the amateur astronomer on the Board of Directors at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and chaired astronomical conferences. Currently, she is the Chair of the Great Lakes Region of the Astronomical League and the President of the IDA-Ohio Chapter.
Terry was selected to be a JPL/NASA Solar System Ambassador in 2002 and regularly conducts outreach events to interpret the latest space exploration science to a broad audience.
Her images have been seen in local newspapers, television, magazines, and websites such as, Astronomy magazine, Sky and Telescope magazine, the Reflector magazine, Spaceweather.com, and Space.com. Terry has exhibited in art galleries and museums. She has given talks at various star parties, conferences, organizations, and events, and has held astronomy and photography workshops at Sally Ride Science Festivals, Alaska, Wyoming and Ohio.
She has articles published in Astronomy magazine, "How Terry Mann Images Earth and Sky"; Explore Scientific, "Chasing the Aurora", and various articles in the Reflector magazine published by the Astronomical League.
Awards and Recognition
Terry Mann was selected as a First Light Observer at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and had three of her images placed in the Explore the Universe gallery.
In 2004, Terry received the R.G. Wright Service Award from the Astronomical League. The R.G. Wright Award recognizes people who have performed above and beyond the call of duty. Terry also received an Award from the Ohio House of Representatives for her dedicated research and study of the Solar System.
The Miami Valley Astronomical Society honored Terry Mann with the club's highest award, the Kepler Award for Outstanding Service.
