Naomi Girson | staff writer |

Looking at the city skyline, the U.S. Steel Tower, the BNY Mellon Center and PPG Place light up with neon colors and constellations of office space glowing in the night.

In an urban environment, this excessive artificial lighting during nighttime hours can cause light pollution, which makes the stars less visible to the naked eye. But for Dale Thomas Vaughn, owner of Spacebar — a galactic themed cocktail bar in Market Square — what lies beyond our atmosphere is what interests him most.

“I want people to feel that sense of wonder and feel that sense of hope and get a chance to zoom out and see that this planet is worth doing the work to grow as a species, to protect the planet and to work with each other … toward something better,” he said.

Vaughn’s fascination with the stars and celestial bodies is what is inspiring him to host Spaceburgh on Oct. 19, an event in Market Square focused on robotics, engineering, astronomy, space culture, science fiction and space science.

Beginning at 12 p.m., the outdoor area will host panels and presentations alongside live music and a guest appearance by NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg. The event will last until 8 p.m. and is free to the public. Vaughn will be pleased with any turnout, but he is hoping for several thousand people to attend.

The Moonshot Museum, an interactive space venue, will serve as one of the inaugural sponsors for the event. Duquesne alum and manager of learning and programs Mike Hennessy is looking forward to displaying how different paths can lead to a space-centered career.

“We’re about the full STEAM [science, technology, engineering, art and math] curriculum and the idea that there’s a role for science and engineering and also a role for the liberal arts and for trade,” Hennessy said. “There are so many heroes in space who never leave the ground that have all of these jobs. … You can have a future in space and you can have that future right here in Western Pennsylvania.”

Within the last five years, the city of Pittsburgh has become a bigger part of the national space discussion. As the host city for the Keystone Space Collaborative, a tri-state conference serving the growing space industry of the region, the Steel City is looking to the sky for the next chapter in its growing future.

For those working on the ground, the most common venture is robotics.

“It’s really become a robotics town. But you don’t have to be a professional to do robotics,” said Mars Robotics Association President Jeff Beckstead. “There are many youth robotics teams in the area that you can participate in and do very similar [things] that professionals do.”

For Beckstead, this family-friendly event acts as another way to introduce students to scientific creation. Their program ensures that students don’t just learn how to be scientists and engineers, but how to be successful.

The Mars Robotics Association will partner with Astrobotics, a local Pittsburgh robotics company, to showcase several of their robots and celebrate some of the different parts of space exploration. Other attractions will include lightsaber sparring and space-themed food and drink items, pulling from different pieces of pop culture to engage with space newcomers.

This is the first time Spaceburgh is being held, but Vaughn has high hopes, with dreams of one day becoming as big as Picklesburgh, another annual city-wide event.

While the city is still defined by its steel exports from the 20th century, the new age calls for participation in the space frontier and its many facets, regardless of educational background or astronomical experience.

“I think it’s so important for people to be aware of it, those opportunities to be a part of that story and write the next chapter,” Hennessy said. “You don’t even have to go to Florida or go to Texas. You can now do that right here in Pittsburgh.”