Looking Up: A New Journey Begins

Welcome to LookingUpAstro.org!

It’s a joy to launch this blog — a digital home for sharing the wonder of the cosmos with all who feel inspired to look up.

Astronomy connects us. Across generations and continents, people have turned their eyes to the sky to ask big questions: Where are we? What’s out there? And what does it mean to be part of something so vast?

Whether you're just beginning your journey with the stars, guiding young learners, or continuing a lifelong fascination with space, this blog is for you.

What You Can Expect Here

In LookingUpAstro.org, I’ll be sharing:

• Stargazing tips for beginners, families, and curious minds of all ages

• Updates from my outreach events — both virtual and in-person — through NASA’s Solar System Ambassadors program and IAU’s CoNOC USA

• Insights into inclusive astronomical history from cultures around the world, highlighting stories that remind us astronomy is a truly global human endeavor

• Practical tech guidance for amateur observers — from telescopes to phone apps and remote telescope access

• Reflections on how astronomy inspires wonder, unity, and global curiosity — embracing the spirit of citizen science and the vision of astronomy for all

Why “Looking Up”?

Looking up is more than just an action — it’s an invitation. When we look up, we step beyond ourselves. We connect with nature, with science, and with each other. We participate in a tradition that spans ancient observatories, star maps, and space missions. We become part of a shared human story.

In many cultures, the stars were guides — for farming, for navigation, for ceremony. Today, they remain guides in a new sense: pointing us toward curiosity, collaboration, and the hope of discovery. Looking Up is my way of continuing that journey with you.

A Personal Note

As a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, I’ve had the privilege of engaging communities across the U.S. — in schools, libraries, parks, and even virtually from rooftops and backyards. As part of IAU’s CoNOC USA and ACEAP, I advocate for equitable access to the night sky, supporting the idea that astronomy belongs to everyone.

Through this site, I’ll be sharing resources, highlights from events, behind-the-scenes content, and stories that may inspire you to see the universe — and your place in it — a little differently.

Let’s Connect

I welcome your ideas, questions, and stories. Subscribe to the blog to follow along, or reach out if you’d like to collaborate, host an event, or simply talk stars.

Thank you for joining me in this new chapter. Wherever you are, whatever sky you see — keep looking up.

Clear skies,Abbas Mokhtarzadeh

Amateur Astronomer

NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador

IAU CoNOC USA | ACEAP | Citizen Scientist