Mark R. Lane

Palomar Community College
Earth, Space, and Aviation Sciences Department
1140 W. Mission Road
San Marcos, California 92069
(760) 744 - 1150 x 2951
mlane@palomar.edu
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE 
(See below for a detailed description of projects)

1999 – 2000 

Mount Laguna Observatory San Diego, CA  
  • Observations of Type Ia supernovae for the "LBL Nearby Supernovae Campaign"

  • Observations of NGP Halo Giants

1993 – 1996

Mount Laguna Observatory San Diego, CA  

Graduate Research Assistant to Dr. Paul Etzel (San Diego State University)

  • Photometric and Spectroscopic observations and data reduction of binary stars

1992 – 1993

Mount Laguna Observatory San Diego, CA  

Undergraduate Research Assistant

    Observational Support for:

  • Dr. Ronald Angione (SDSU) and Dr. W. A. Beavers (M.I.T.); photometric observations of geosynchronous satellites.

  • Dr. Paul Etzel (SDSU); photometric observations of binary stars.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

1997 –

Palomar Community College San Marcos, CA  

Associate Professor of Astronomy

  • General Astronomy Lecture and Laboratory
  • Planetarium Director (2004 - Present)
  • "Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching" (nominee - 2004, 2008)

1996 – 1997

Southwestern College Chula Vista, CA  

Adjunct Instructor

  • General Astronomy Lecture and Laboratory.

  • General Astronomy Telecourse.

1995 – 1997

Grossmont Community College El Cajon, CA  

Adjunct Instructor

  • General Astronomy Lecture and Laboratory

  • Active participation in curriculum development and laboratory manual revisions

  • Co-author on college grant proposal for the installation and implementation of Project CLEA (Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in Astronomy) software for the laboratory classes, $1,250 awarded, 1996 - 1997
  • "Adjunct Instructor of the Year" Award (1996)

1993 – 1995

San Diego State University San Diego, CA  

Teaching Associate

  • Lower Division astronomy lecture and laboratory courses for astronomy majors and non-science majors.

EDUCATION

1993 – 1996

San Diego State University San Diego, CA  

M.S., Astronomy

  • Thesis: "A Photometric and Spectroscopic Analysis of the Eclipsing Binary V356 Sagittarii"; Dr. Paul Etzel, advisor.

1987 – 1993

San Diego State University San Diego, CA  

B.A., Astronomy
Mathematics Minor

  • Dr. C. T. Daub, advisor.

COMMUNITY SERVICE/PRESENTATIONS
2007
Friends of Lake Murray La Mesa, CA  

Guest Speaker

  • Presented "What's Up in Astronomy?"
2005 –
San Diego Astronomy Association (SDAA) San Diego, CA  

Vice President (2007 - Present)
Board Member (2005-2006) 

1998

Challenger Middle School San Diego, CA  

Guest Speaker

  • Spoke to 7th and 8th grade students on careers in astronomy.
1996 –
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center San Diego, CA  

Guest Speaker

  • Public presentations on astronomically related topics.

  • “The Sky Tonight” Planetarium show series guest speaker
1996 –
Mount Laguna Observatory San Diego, CA  

Board Member, Board of Advisors, Mount Laguna Observatory Associates
Vice President, Board of Advisors, Mount Laguna Observatory Associates (1996 - 2000)

  • Design and maintenance of the MLOA Webpage (http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/mloa)

1993 –

San Diego State University San Diego, CA  

Planetarium Operator (Spitz A3-P)

  • Presented educational lectures on astronomical phenomena for the public schools, and general public.

1992 – 1996

Mount Laguna Observatory San Diego, CA  

Public Star Party coordinator

  • Summer outreach program designed to educate the public in astronomy.

HONORS AWARDED

1996 – 1997

Grossmont Community College El Cajon, CA  

Adjunct Instructor of the Year

  • Division of Math/Natural Sciences/Physical Education

1994 – 1995

San Diego State University - Astronomy Department San Diego, CA  
  • Awona Harrington Scholarship for Community Service

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES and ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS
1993 - 1998   American Astronomical Society
1994 -   Astronomical Society of the Pacific
1996 -   Mount Laguna Observatory Associates
2002 -   San Diego Astronomy Association
2008 -   International Dark-Sky Association

RESEARCH AND OBSERVING HISTORY

CCD direct and grism spectroscopy of NGP Halo Giants at Mount Laguna Observatory, (K.M. Yoss, L. Detweiler, G. J. Miller) 1.0-meter reflector, 1999 - 2000.

CCD direct imaging of nearby extragalactic type Ia supernovae for the LBL Nearby Supernovae Campaign in support of the Supernovae Cosmology Project, Greg Aldering (Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory), Mount Laguna Observatory, 1.0-meter reflector,  1999.

Spectroscopy and UBV photometry of FF Aqr, WW And, V1379 Aql, for P.B. Etzel, San Diego State   University, Mount Laguna Observatory 1.0-meter reflector,  1995.

Spectroscopy and Stromgren uvby photometry of the eclipsing binary V356 Sagittarii, Mount Laguna Observatory 0.4-meter and 1.0 meter reflector,  1993 -1995.

Spectroscopic data reduction of V356 Sagittarii, IRAF (Image Reduction Astronomical Facility), San Diego State University, 1994 - 1996.

"Brief Evolution of a Massive, Zero-Metal, Population II Star:  A Stellar Model", Senior Thesis with Dr. C. T. Daub, 1992 - 1993.

UBV photometry of V1379 Aql. for P.B. Etzel, San Diego State University, Mount Laguna Observatory 0.6-meter reflector, 1993.

UBV photometry of  U Cep. for P.B. Etzel, San Diego State University, Mount Laguna Observatory 0.4-meter reflector, 1992.

UBV photometry of selected geosynchronous satellites for W.A. Beavers,             Massachusetts Instit

 

GENERAL PUBLICATIONS /  AUTHORED ARTICLES
 

Lane, M. R. and Etzel, P.B., 200?, "A Photometric and Spectroscopic Analysis of  the Eclipsing Binary V356 Sagittarii" (Pending)

Lane, M. R. 1999, "MLOA Website Allows Easy Access to Observatory Events and Information", Mount Laguna Observatory Associates Quarterly Newsletter, volume 14, number 1, p. 6.

Lane, M. R. 1998 - 2008, "Astronomy 100 Class Lecture Notes", Off Campus Books Printing.

Lane, M. R. 1998 - 2008, "Astronomy 105L Astronomy Laboratory Exercises", Off Campus Books Printing.

Lane, M. R. 1996,  Master's Thesis,  "A Photometric and Spectroscopic Analysis of the Eclipsing Binary V356 Sagittarii", Campus Publication Service, San Diego State University.

Lane, M. R. 1996, "Principles of Astronomy Laboratory Exercises"  Campus Publication Service, Grossmont College.

Lane, M. R. 1994, "Students Probe Stellar Interiors in Rigorous Class Where Building Models Means Creating Programs", Mount Laguna Observatory Associates Quarterly Newsletter, volume 7, number 3, p. 4.
 
     
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