Staci L Horvath (Tiedeken)
(Outreach Coordinator)
| Email: | staci.l.horvath@nasa.gov |
| Org Code: | 690 |
| Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 690 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| Employer: | ADNET SYSTEMS INC |
Brief Bio
Staci Horvath is the Outreach Lead for the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. She is also the Director of International Observe the Moon Night, an annual worldwide program that celebrates the Moon.
Staci plans and implements both in-person and virtual events which engage and inform the public about NASA Goddard's work in planetary science and exploration. She develops new materials and resources to support outreach programs, leads updates to digital resource packages on science.nasa.gov, and supports content curation and development on NASA’s Moon website. In 2020, she started a public engagement program for senior living communities, where residents are able to connect with a NASA expert in an informal setting. She is also committed to bringing NASA content to military families through outreach events and opportunities.
Staci is dedicated to inspiring curiosity through public engagement initiatives and is deeply passionate about serving as a bridge between planetary science and the broader public. Beyond her professional pursuits, she is a truffle-making aficionado and has a keen appreciation for airports and travel.
Selected Public Outreach
NASA Red Sox STEM Day
December 2018 - December Present
NASA Red Sox STEM Day at Fenway Park draws in thousands of students and teachers from the Boston/New England area to experience hands-on activities, presentations, and demonstrations before an afternoon baseball game. As the NASA Lead for this annual event, I plan, organize, and coordinate a variety of space-themed content with the support of the Red Sox.
International Observe the Moon Night
December 2018 - December Present
International Observe the Moon Night is an annual global celebration of lunar science and exploration, celestial observations, and our cultural and personal connections to the Moon. I am the Director of the program as well as the Event Lead for NASA Goddard's International Observe the Moon Night. Our team provides support to event hosts and participants around the world with the assistance of our program Coordinating Committee members and numerous supporters.
Exploring the Cosmos With NASA Experts
December 2020 - December Present
Exploring the Cosmos With NASA Experts is an outreach program offering residents of senior living communities the opportunity to engage with NASA experts in a virtual learning environment. Participants discover NASA science and exploration through a behind-the-scenes look from the people who work at NASA.
Total Solar Eclipse Outreach
January 2024 - March 2024
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse crossed North America. Our team used this opportunity to bring attention to the Moon. We developed and distributed lunar-focused eclipse materials, organized and led a flagship NASA eclipse event, and helped prepare members of Goddard's Solar System Exploration Division and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission team for eclipse outreach events across the country. We created Moon-themed activity collections, eclipse-edition month-long Moon observation journals, and Moon-themed eclipse glasses and postcard products. We distributed about 70,300 physical eclipse products to people in 22 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and Canada, with an estimated reach of 335,000 people.
Twelve cities along the path of totality were selected by NASA Headquarters to host large-scale NASA eclipse events, called 'NASA SunSpots'. Our team led NASA support for the SunSpot at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park in Stonewall, Texas from April 6–8, which attracted an estimated 3,600 visitors.
Parents and Children Fighting Cancer Holiday Party
December 2022 - December 2022
I participated in the Parents and Children Fighting Cancer Holiday Party held at the USO Warrior and Family Center in Bethesda, MD. Using hands-on activities, I spoke to the event attendees and other military service members about the OSIRIS-REx mission to asteroid Bennu as well as the Artemis missions to the Moon.
Awards
Team Awards
Robert H. Goddard Exceptional Achievement Award for Outreach, 2024
- Goddard Eclipse Engagement Partnership
- From NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
ADNET Excellence Award, 2024
- Group Award for Annular Eclipse Support
- From ADNET Systems, Inc.
SESDA Customer Recognition of Exemplary Work (CREW) Award, 2022
- SSED Public Engagement Team
- From ADNET Systems, Inc.
Robert H. Goddard Exceptional Achievement Award for Outreach, 2019
- GSFC Apollo 50th Anniversary Public Engagement and Communications Team
- From NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Robert H. Goddard Exceptional Achievement Award for Outreach, 2018
- Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Public Engagement Team
- From NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Individual Awards
SESDA Customer Recognition of Exemplary Work (CREW) Award, 2025
- From ADNET Systems, Inc.
SSED Peer Award, 2023
- From NASA Goddard's Solar System Exploration Division
ADNET Excellence Award, 2022
- From ADNET Systems, Inc.
Special Thanks and Recognition (STAR) Award, 2021
- From NASA Goddard's Solar System Exploration Division
SESDA Customer Recognition of Exemplary Work (CREW) Award, 2020
- From ADNET Systems, Inc.
Talks, Presentations and Posters
Invited
International Observe the Moon Night 2025
September 2025
Recorded a podcast episode for The Planetary Society's Planetary Radio, focusing on International Observe the Moon Night 2025
International Observe the Moon Night: Together Under the Same Sky
July 2025
Presented to the NRPA's Armed Forces Recreation Network
OSIRIS-REx: NASA's Journey to Asteroid Bennu and Back
February 2025
Presented at the Bell Museum of Minnesota's Space Fest
Explore the Joy of Moon Watching With NASA
August 2024
Recorded an episode for the Military OneSource Podcast Series, focusing on International Observe the Moon Night
Observe the Moon with NASA on September 14!
August 2024
Spoke about International Observe the Moon Night, my career, and answered questions from individuals supported by MRCI, an organization that creates innovative opportunities for people with disabilities or disadvantages at home, at work and in the community
Get Ready for International Observe the Moon Night!
June 2024
Presented on behalf of the International Observe the Moon Night Coordinating Committee, for the National Science Teaching Association's Science Update webinar
The Moon's Moment in the Sun
February 2024
Presented at the Bell Museum of Minnesota's Space Fest
Wonder Women of NASA
June 2023
Discussed careers at NASA as well as advice for becoming involved in STEM as one of five panelists on the Wonder Women of NASA panel at Awesome Con
Cruise Through (Some of) the Solar System with NASA
February 2023
Presented at the Bell Museum of Minnesota's Space Fest
Other
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Solar System Exploration Division and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission Public Engagement Support for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
March 2025
Jones, A., Wasser, M., Tiedeken, S., and Barry, C.
Poster presentation by A. Jones at the 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
International Observe the Moon Night: A Global Celebration of Lunar Science and Exploration
June 2023
Wasser, M., Jones, A., Tiedeken, S., Barry, C., Nguyen, V., Buxner, S., Beaudoin, G., Bakerman, M., Fooshee, J., Day, B., Summer, T., Joseph, E., and Cokinos, C.
Presented by M. Wasser at the NASA Exploration Science Forum in College Park, Maryland
Celebrate Lunar Science and Exploration with NASA's International #ObserveTheMoon Night
September 2022
Tiedeken, S., Jones, A., Wasser, M., Barry, C., Nguyen, V., Buxner, S., Bakerman, M., Beaudoin, G., Fooshee, J., Day, B., Gay, P., White, V., Summer, T., Joseph, E., and Cokinos, C.
Oral presentation at the Europlanet Science Congress, EPSC2022-656.
An Evening with NASA Scientists and Engineers: A Senior Living Community Outreach Program
March 2022
Tiedeken, S., Tan, F., and Jones, A.
Poster presentation at the 53rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
A Worldwide Celebration: International Observe the Moon Night
September 2021
Tiedeken, S., Jones, A., Wasser, M., Barry, C., Buxner, S., Bakerman, M., Joseph, E., Gay, P., Whelley, N., White, V., Shaner, A., Fooshee, J., Day, B.
Oral presentation at the Europlanet Science Congress (virtual), EPSC2021-75.
Transforming a Public Science Event During a Pandemic: International Observe the Moon Night 2020
July 2021
Wasser, M., Jones, A., Tiedeken, S., Barry, C., Buxner, S., Bakerman, M., Joseph, E., Gay, P., Whelley, N., White, V., Shaner, A., Fooshee, J., Day, B., Nguyen, V.
Poster presented by M. Wasser at the NASA Exploration Science Forum 2021 (virtual).
Outreach in a Pandemic: Strategies that Led to Record-Breaking Participation
in International Observe the Moon Night 2020
March 2021
Jones, A., Wasser, M., Tiedeken, S., Barry, C., Buxner, S., Bakerman, M., Joseph, E., Gay, P., Whelley, N., White, V., Shaner, A., Fooshee, J., Day, B.
Poster presented by A. Jones at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (virtual).
Adapting International Observe the Moon Night Evaluation to Meet the Needs of a Virtual Event
December 2020
Buxner, S., Bakerman, M., Jones, A., Wasser, M., Tiedeken, S., Whelley, N., Gay, P., Shaner, A., White, V., Joseph, E., Fooshee, J., Barry, C., Day, B.
Poster presented by S. Buxner at the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union (virtual).
International Observe the Moon Night: A Case Study of Worldwide Public Engagement
through In-Person and Virtual Events
October 2020
Buxner, S., Bakerman, M., Jones, A., Wasser, M., Tiedeken, S., Whelley, N., Gay, P., Shaner, A., White, V., Joseph, E., Fooshee, J., Barry, C., Day, B.
Poster presented by S. Buxner at the 52nd Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting (virtual).
International Observe the Moon Night: An Opportunity for Global Community Engagement
October 2020
Tiedeken, S., Jones, A., Wasser, M., Barry, C., Buxner, S., Bakerman, M., Joseph, E., Gay, P., Whelley, N., White, V., Shaner, A., Fooshee, J., Day, B.
Poster presented at the Europlanet Science Congress (virtual), EPSC2020-161.
Lessons Learned From 10 Years of International Observe the Moon Night Evaluation
July 2020
Buxner, S., Jones, A., Bakerman, M., Joseph, E., Gay, P., Wasser, M., Tiedeken, S., Whelley, N., White, V., Shaner, A., Fooshee, J., Day, B.
Poster presented by S. Buxner at the NASA Exploration Science Forum 2020, NESF2020-053.
International Observe the Moon Night: An Opportunity for Global Outreach
July 2020
Tiedeken, S., Jones, A., Wasser, M., Barry, C., Buxner, S., Bakerman, M., Joseph, E., Gay, P., Whelley, N., White, V., Shaner, A., Fooshee, J., Day, B.
Poster presented at the NASA Exploration Science Forum 2020 (virtual), NESF2020-094.
Engaging the Public with Apollo Anniversaries
March 2020
Tiedeken, S., Wasser, M., Jones, A., Whelley, N.
Poster accepted to the 51st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 1097.
E-poster is available (as the conference was cancelled).
A Case Study Assessing Outreach Events: Celebrating 10 years of International Observe the Moon Night
January 2020
Buxner, S., Jones, A., Bakerman, M., Joseph, E., Gay, P., Wasser, M., Tiedeken, S., Whelley, N., White, V., Shaner, A., Fooshee, J., Day, B.
Talk presented by S. Buxner at the Winter Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, 160.06.
Lessons Learned and Outcomes from 10 Years of Evaluating International Observe the Moon Night
December 2019
Buxner, S., Bakerman, M., Joseph, E., Gay, P., Jones, A., Wasser, M., Tiedeken, S., Whelley, N., White, V., Shaner, A., Fooshee, J., Day, B.
-Poster presented by S. Buxner at the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, ED33D-1036.
International Observe the Moon Night: An Engagement Opportunity for Scientists, Science Festivals,
and Lunar-Enthusiasts Around the World
December 2019
Jones, A., Wasser, M., Tiedeken, S., Shaner, A., Whelley, N., White, V., Fooshee, J., Day, B., Buxner, S., Bakerman, M., Joseph, E., Gay, P.
Talk presented by A. Jones at the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, ED12B-03.
Engaging the Public with Planetary Science at Comic Book Conventions
March 2019
Tiedeken, S., Myers, D., Fooshee, J., Wasser, M., Jones, A.
Poster presented at the 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 1260.
Engaging the Public with Planetary Science using Hands-On Activities
December 2018
Tiedeken, S., Jones, A., Wasser, M., Whelley, N.
Poster presented at the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, PA23E-1028.
Positions/Employment
Outreach Coordinator
ADNET Systems, Inc. - Greenbelt, MD
March 2018 - Present
Education
M.S., Astronomy, University of Iowa
B.S., Astrophysics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities