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Curriculum Vitae

Mark R. Lane

Palomar Community College
Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences Department
1140 West 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 (SDSU)

    • Photometric and Spectroscopic observations and data reduction of binary stars

1992 – 1993

Mount Laguna Observatory (San Diego, CA)

Undergraduate Research Assistant to Dr. Ronald Angione and Dr. W. A. Beavers (M.I.T.)

    • photometric observations of geosynchronous satellites.

Undergraduate Research Assistant to Dr. Paul Etzel (SDSU)

    • photometric observations of binary stars

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

1997 – PRESENT

Palomar Community College (San Marcos, CA)

Professor of Astronomy

    • General Astronomy Lecture and Laboratory
    • Physical Science 101
    • Planetarium Director (2003 – Present)
    • Assistant Planetarium Director (1997 – 2003)
    • “Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching” nominee (2001, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025)

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

    • Dr. Paul Etzel, advisor.
    • Master’s Thesis: “A Photometric and Spectroscopic Analysis of the Eclipsing Binary V356 Sagittarii”

1987 – 1993

San Diego State University (San Diego, CA)

B.A., Astronomy
Mathematics Minor

    • Dr. C. T. Daub, advisor.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

2010 – PRESENT

Palomar Observatory Docent (Palomar Mountain, CA)

Volunteer Support for Palomar Observatory

    • Duties include leading group tours, telescope operator for public star parties, and other duties as assigned.

2005 – 2010

San Diego Astronomy Association (SDAA)

Board Member

    • Board Member (2005 – 2006, 2009 – 2010)
    • Vice President (2007 – 2009)

1997 – PRESENT

Guest Speaker

    • Julian StarFest (2011, 2012)
    • Vista Library (2012)
    • Kiwanis Club of Lake San Marcos (2010)
    • Friends of Lake Murray (2007)
    • Challenger Middle School (1998)

1997 – PRESENT

Palomar College Planetarium (San Marcos, CA)

Planetarium Director (2003 – PRESENT)
Assistant Planetarium Director (1997 – 2003)

    • Spitz A3-P (1997 – 2001)
    • Digistar II (2001 – 2008)
    • Digistar 4 (2012 – 2016)
    • Digistar 5 (2016 – 2022)
    • Digistar 7 (2022 – PRESENT)

1996 – 2001

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (San Diego, CA)
    • Public presentations on astronomically related topics
    • ‘The Sky Tonight’ planetarium show series guest speaker

1996 – 2002

Mount Laguna Observatory (San Diego, CA)

Board of Advisors – Mount Laguna Observatory Associates

    • Board Member
    • Vice President (1996 – 2000)
    • Design & Maintenance of the MLOA webpage

1993 – 2001

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.
    • Weekly summer star parties using the Buller 21-inch telescope

HONORS AWARDED

1996 – 1997

Grossmont Community College (El Cajon, CA)

Adjunct Instructor of the Year

1994 – 1995

San Diego State University – Astronomy Department (San Diego, CA)

Awona Harrington Scholarship for Community Service

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES and ASSOCIATION MEMEBERSHIPS

(Past and Present)

American Astronomical Society
San Diego Astronomy Association
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
International Dark-Sky Association
Mount Laguna Observatory Associates
International Planetarium Society

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 Institute of Technology, Lincoln Laboratory, Mount Laguna Observatory, 1991 – 1992.

GENERAL PUBLICATIONS /  AUTHORED ARTICLES

Lane, M. R. and Etzel, P.B., “A Photometric and Spectroscopic Analysis of the Eclipsing Binary V356 Sagittarii”

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 – PRESENT, “Astronomy 100 Class Lecture Notes”, Palomar College, Copyserve Printing.

Lane, M. R. 1998 – PRESENT, “Astronomy 105L Astronomy Laboratory Exercises”, Palomar College, Copyserve 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