Shelly Bonus
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Shelley R. Bonus, born in 1947, is an astronomical historian and lecturer, and an award winning performer, actress, writer, and photographer who has worked with both Lily Tomlin and Melvin Van Peebles.
Main-belt asteroid 10028 Bonus (1981 JM2), discovered on May 5th 1981 by Carolyn S. Shoemaker at Palomar Observatory and was named in honor of Shelley, for her dedication to public outreach in astronomy, through planetarium presentaions, and for her part in the organization and inventory of the Palomar Observatory's 1.2-m Schmidt Oschin Telescope plate archive spearheaded by astronomer Jean Mueller. Bonus received a NASA Group Achievement Award as a member of a team of telescope operators, who, for many years operated the T.I.E. 24-inch reflector, on behalf of the Telescopes in Education project at Mt. Wilson Observatory.
Shelley has taught K - 12 teachers how to teach astronomy for the Space Foundation, and has taught courses in astronomy and writing for Landscape Architects at UCLA Extension.
Bonus is also the creator of the "Janet Planet Planetarium Shows," and "Blast Off With Space E. Tracy," fun and fact filled shows for audiences of all ages about astronomy!
A superb bilingual (English/Spanish) educator and communicator, and an inspired star gazer, Shelley, who believes that we are all the brothers and sisters of stars, has become renown amongst her audiences for her enthusiasm, her sense of humor, and her unique ability to master her subject, therefore making the mysteries of the night sky come alive for not only professional, but amateur astronomers of all ages as well.
A real 21st Century renaissance woman, Shelley (who among other things holds the distinct honor of being the first woman ever to be hired to clown for Circus Vargas), has been doing Astronomy Lectures and Telescope Tours of the night sky on behalf of the Los Angeles Public Library's Astrofest program for years, and is a member of the AstronomyOutreach network, and an Advisor for the Meade 4M Community.
Shelley lives and works in Southern California where she continues her activities in astronomy outreach.
