J. Kelly Beatty has been explaining the science and wonder of astronomy to the public since 1974, when he joined the staff of Sky & Telescope magazine. A national-award-winning writer and communicator, he specializes astronomy and space exploration. In 2018, after 43 years of pounding the keyboard, he retired from full-time work but remains actively involved in many of the magazine’s articles, tours, and other projects.

You'll occasionally hear Kelly interviewed as an astronomy expert on National Public Radio and The Weather Channel, and his work has appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, and encyclopedias. In fact, Kelly enjoys speaking to audiences of all ages and interest levels about his passion for astronomy. He observes the night sky when he can through one of his 10 telescopes — one of which fits in a carry-on and is optimized for viewing the Sun and stars aboard cruise ships.

Kelly holds a Bachelors degree from the California Institute of Technology and a Master's degree from Boston University. During the 1980s he was among the first Western journalists to gain firsthand access to the Soviet space program. Asteroid 2925 Beatty was named on the occasion of his marriage in 1983, and in 1986 he was chosen one of the 100 semifinalists for NASA's Journalist in Space program.

Are We Alone?
Our galaxy likely contains more planets than stars — so what are the odds of finding distant Earth-like worlds that teem with life?

Asteroids: Friends or Foes?
How did these space rocks form, what are they like, and what’s the chance that a big one might strike Earth in the near future?

Auroras: Nature’s Light Show
Explore historical explanations for the “northern lights,” how they’re created, and when/where you’re most likely to see them.

Black Holes 101
Learn about the universe’s most bizarre objects and how astronomers have detected the ripples in spacetime that black holes create.

The Dark Side of Light Pollution
Light pollution is robbing us of starry skies, affecting our health, and wasting energy. Find out what can be done to reduce it.

Future Solar Eclipses
After seeing the solar corona for the first time, your first words usually are, “When’s the next one?,” so this presentation details total and annular solar eclipses through 2028.

Galileo’s Trials and Triumphs
Although he didn’t invent the telescope, Galileo Galilei used it to make discoveries that both revolutionized astronomy and put him on a collision course with the Catholic Church.

Go Stargazing Tonight!
This introduction to the night sky lets you get to know the stars and planets visible overhead now and in days ahead (includes customized star chart).

Maya Calendars and Astronomy
Learn how this ancient people created sophisticated long-duration calendars to track key societal events and celestial cycles — and why they had a particular fascination with the planet Venus.

Mysteries of Stonehenge
Some 5,000 years ago, a Neolithic civilization erected the world’s most famous standing-stone monument in southern England —yet why and how they built it remains an enigma.

Pluto’s Amazing Story
Take a tour of this distant world and follow its history from discovery in 1930 to its planethood “demotion” and the latest results from NASA’s New Horizons mission.

The Search for Other Worlds
Astronomers have found thousands of planets around other stars. Here’s how they find them — and what they’re like.

Space Rocks and Shooting Stars
Amazing to see but often misunderstood, the “shooting stars” that appear on any clear night are fascinating celestial treats -- bits of asteroids and comets that are slamming into Earth with incredible speed and energy.

The Sputnik Years
This look at the start of space exploration highlights Sputnik 1’s launch in 1957 and the science and politics of that era.

The Stars of Harry Potter (under construction)
J. K. Rowling named many of the characters in her blockbuster series after well-known stars and constellations. So why not learn the stories behind these names?

Sunlight Symphonies
Explore the veritable zoo of atmospheric phenomena that you can see in a daytime sky — rainbows, halos, and more!

The Webb Space Telescope
After 25 years and $10 billion in development, the revolutionary James Webb Space Telescope is now trying to detect the first stars and galaxies to form after the Big Bang and to explore the planets of other stars.

Welcome to Mars
Learn about our long fascination with the Red Planet, then explore it up close with the latest spacecraft findings.

I’m a seasoned, polished lecturer who takes great pride in crafting appealing, informative visual presentations. Since 2019 I have provided well-attended enrichment lectures on several Celebrity ships (including three transoceanic sailings), as well as for Royal Caribbean, Azamara, and Hurtigruten.