NASA Logo in the header
Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Staci L Horvath (Tiedeken)

(Outreach Coordinator)

Staci L Horvath (Tiedeken)'s Contact Card & Information.
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 Coordinator 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