Awards

Bicentennial Medal - 2019

About Michael L. Weasner

Michael L. Weasner received a B.S. in astrophysics from Indiana University Bloomington. He also pursued graduate work in meteorology at the University of Wisconsin.

Weasner served in the United States Air Force as a jet fighter pilot, instructor pilot, and manager on the USAF Space Shuttle Program. He developed software on the Apple II computer in 1980 and then on the Macintosh in 1984. Weasner worked at a large aerospace company for over two decades, beginning as a manager in one of the business units and became the Apple Reseller Program manager for the company. He eventually became the deputy director for Training for 20,000 employees. Weasner then established the Cassiopeia Observatory, in Arizona. The observatory is home to a 12" telescope which can be used for visual observing along with iPhone and DSLR astrophotography.

Weasner has been interviewed by the New York Times and many other national, state, and local media outlets. In early 2014 he formed the Oracle Dark Skies Committee to pursue the International Dark Sky Association’s (IDA) “International Dark Sky Park” designation for Oracle State Park, in Arizona. His efforts succeeded and the park became the first in the Arizona State Parks system to hold the designation. Weasner was then honored in 2015 by the International Dark Sky Association as an IDA Dark Sky Defender. In 2019, Weasner received Indiana University’s Bicentennial Medal in recognition of his distinguished contributions towards astronomy outreach and science education.