Lecture: The Study of Stars: Tools of Discovery & How We Use Them
176 Robbin Hill Rd, Frewsburg, NY 14738
Stars come in an astonishing variety of shapes and sizes: massive, energetic blue supergiants; small, hyperactive red dwarfs; and strange, pulsating yellow stars. But how do we know so much about these distant objects? How did humanity progress from staring at tiny points of light in the night sky to understanding the complex mechanics of red giants and supernovae?
On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. EDT, Dr. Alexandra Yep will return to the Martz-Kohl Observatory to answer these questions in a presentation tailored for a general audience. Her talk, “The Study of Stars: Tools of Discovery and How We Use Them,” will share fascinating insights into the lifecycle of stars and demystify the cutting-edge instruments astronomers employ to decode the stars.
Dr. Yep brings a unique perspective to the field as a poet turned astronomer. After earning her BFA in creative writing from Emerson College in Boston, MA, she transitioned into the sciences, earning her MS in physics from California State University, Northridge, in 2016 and her Ph.D. in astronomy from Georgia State University in 2021. Today, Dr. Yep is a visiting professor at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA, where she teaches physics and astronomy, conducts research on young star clusters, and directs the historic Bradley Observatory.
Dr. Yep’s talk will take place live at the Martz-Kohl Observatory and will also be available online via Zoom. The public is warmly encouraged to attend in person to meet Dr. Yep and the observatory's astronomy team. Admission is always free, and donations are gratefully appreciated. The evening will include a post-talk Q&A session followed by guided tours of the facility. Visitors are advised to dress for the local weather, as the telescope domes are not climate-controlled. If skies are clear, the event will conclude with public viewing opportunities through the observatory's large-aperture telescopes.
For Zoom access links and more information, visit: https://martzobservatory.org
The Martz-Kohl Observatory, located at 176 Robbin Hill Rd, Frewsburg, NY, is operated by the Marshal Martz Memorial Astronomical Association, Inc. The association is a non-profit organization devoted to supporting amateur astronomy, with a core emphasis on observational research, robust educational outreach, and inspiring a community appreciation for the night sky.