Night of Discovery

Alice Bowman is the Mission Operations Manager (MOM) for the New Horizons mission to Pluto. She is the first woman to fill that role at the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), taking on the position in 2002 specifically for the duration of the three billion-mile space journey.

Dr. Chad Trujillo is the American astronomer who, along with Mike Brown and David Rabinowitz, discovered the dwarf planet Eris in 2005, a discovery that prompted the IAU to define “planet,” leading to Pluto’s reclassification. Eris, a massive Trans-Neptunian Object (TNO) with its own moon, Dysnomia, highlighted the need for new planetary criteria, ultimately establishing dwarf planets as a distinct category. 

Andy Chaikin is an award-winning science journalist and author of A Man on the Moon, the classic book about the apollo mission to the Moon and the basis of the Tom Hanks HBS miniseries From the Earth to the Moon.

Justin Wilmeth is a member of the Arizona House of Representatives who introduced the legislation designating Pluto as Arizona’s official state planet. Inspired by a 2024 visit to Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered in 1930, Wilmeth worked to formally recognize Arizona’s lasting contribution to planetary science. The bill celebrates both the state’s scientific legacy and Lowell Observatory’s enduring role in astronomical discovery.

Christopher Fox Graham is a journalist and longtime managing editor of Sedona Red Rock News. He is a nationally-recognized slam poet who has written and performed multiple poems about Pluto and other space themes.

Stoker Stoker serves as the Senior Presentation Specialist at Lowell Observatory, where they specialize in weaving together the narratives of the American West and the cosmos. Most recently, they developed Cosmic Highways: A Centennial Tour, a curated experience celebrating the Route 66 centennial through an immersive theater presentation, followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of an exclusive archives exhibit. At the Night of Discovery event, Stoker will take the stage to explore the unique historical connection between the Mother Road and the search for Planet X.

From 2010-2019 Dean was the co-host of the PBS program Star Gazers. He is the author of four books including “Facts From Space!” and “100 Things to See in the Night Sky”. Dean is a Contributing Editor to Sky and Telescope Magazine and a contributor to Astronomy Magazine, where he won 2008 “Out-of-this-World” Award for astronomy education. Dean has written over 160 astronomy articles for the Cincinnati Enquirer, blogged for the Huffington Post and is regularly featured on television and radio. Dean is a frequent guest on National Public Radio’s Science Friday with Ira Flatow and NPR’s Here & Now. He also hosts an astronomy podcast with Anna Hehman called “Looking Up!”

Dr. Alan Stern is a planetary scientist, space program executive, aerospace consultant, and author. He leads NASA’s $880M New Horizons mission that successfully explored the Pluto system and is now exploring the Kuiper Belt—the farthest exploration in the history of humankind.

David Eicher is Emeritus Editor in Chief of Astronomy Magazine, the world’s largest publication on the subject, and the author of 25 books on science and history. Among his works are GALAXIES and COSMIC CLOUDS 3-D, the latter coauthored with astrophysicist and Queen guitarist Brian May. Eicher is also an avid historian and mineral collector, and counts Lowell Observatory as one of his favorite places.

Jeff Gonyea created Zack and Zoey Adventures to assist and grow the Space and STEM learning of his then 6-year -old daughter who loves space. Now 9, Zoey still wants to be an astronaut and together, Jeff and Zoey have gone beyond their children’s books to create an entire Space & STEM brand for kids which includes books, STEM to Bloom magazine, running an observatory and STEM-themed virtual and in-person events, like this one. One of the highlights of our brand is the issue of STEM to Bloom we created in partnership with Lowell Observatory all about Pluto!