Dean Regas, astronomer and educator, is leaving the Cincinnati Observatory

Renowned astronomer Dean Regas, known for his ability to teach people young and old about the stars in an informal and engaging way, is leaving the Cincinnati Observatory, according to a statement issued by the observatory Monday.

Regas, who is familiar to adults and children in the Cincinnati region through his work as outreach educator for the observatory, will depart his post on Aug. 3. In addition to his local acclaim, he is known for his work as an author of six books, a widely traveled public speaker and co-host of PBS's "Star Gazers." Regas is also the host of a WVXU podcast and a frequent guest on the NPR podcast, "Science Friday."

Observatory Executive Director Anna Hehman thanked Regas for his leadership, commitment, vision and legacy of engagement locally and beyond in the observatory's statement.

“We’re extremely proud of his accomplishments and his contributions to raising the visibility of The Observatory over the years. We wish Dean the best in his future endeavors.”

It was not stated what Regas planned to do next, and The Enquirer was unable to immediately reach him for comment.

The observatory is now looking to replace Regas, who has worked for the Mount Lookout facility since 2000.

The observatory declined to provide an interview opportunity.

Who is Dean Regas?

Regas has written more than 200 science articles for The Enquirer, often reporting on when astronomical phenomena can be viewed from the area. For example, an upcoming solar eclipse that's expected to bring thousands of tourists to Ohio next year.

More: The solar eclipses are coming! How to make sure you don't miss the show of a lifetime

Although Regas has been based locally, he has a national presence through his writing, public speaking and attempts to popularize astronomy through humor and approachable topics.

The Columbus native told The New York Times in 2017 he was a self-taught astronomer. His bachelor's degree is in history and his master's is in secondary education. Before he started at the Burnet Woods park planetarium and then the Cincinnati Observatory, he was leading nature walks.

"I had a week to learn about astronomy before my first lecture, to a group of Girl Scouts," he told The Times. "I didn’t even know where the North Star is."

"I never really noticed much about the universe before. Now when I go outside, I look up and see what’s going on. I feel like I’m in the stars."

"100 Things to See in the Night Sky," "Facts from Space!" and "How to Teach Grown-Ups About Pluto" are among the six books he's authored.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Observatory says astronomer Dean Regas is departing