Join us on February 1st for our next Full Moon-th On-line Meetup!

Our guest will be Dr. Melissa Brucker, a Research Scientist at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, and the Principal Investigator for Spacewatch.

Our tradition of hosting online meetups with our Sacred Space Astronomy members and the Vatican Observatory staff, scholars and friends during the Full Moon in Tucson (or thereabout) continues on Sunday February 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM Tucson time, 12:00 Noon ET or 17:00 UTC.

This meetup is a perk for our Sacred Space Astronomy subscribers- you get to chat with each other, and astronomers and scientists from the Vatican Observatory!

We’ll also discuss the latest astronomy news and an update about the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope.

Melissa Brucker is a Research Principal & Specialist at the University of Arizona, contributing to near-Earth object tracking at Spacewatch, part of the Lunar & Planetary Laboratory. Their background reflects a strong focus on astronomical research and education.

Prior to their role at the University of Arizona, Melissa was a Neo Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Adler Planetarium. During their tenure, they applied scientific methodologies to further research initiatives within the planetarium’s environment.

Building on their experience in research, Melissa served as a Lecturer at the University of Nebraska System. In this role, they contributed to educational programs, sharing their knowledge with students.

Earlier in their career, Melissa was a Predoctoral Fellow at Lowell Observatory. Their work history includes contributing to the observatory’s research activities.

Melissa holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Arts from Alma College. Their academic background provided a foundation for their career in astronomical research and education.