Conversations with Eduardo Baldaci de Lima

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eduardo Baldaci de Lima.

Hi Eduardo, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I saw the man arrive on the moon on TV in Brazil. My childhood was influenced by space research and children’s space programs. I always dreamed of being an astronomer, but it is a very difficult path in Brazil.

My adolescence was shaped by the dream. I attended the Rio de Janeiro Planetarium and at the age of 20, I promoted the observation of Comet Halley to more than 5,000 people in a small town in the interior of the state of Rio.

That’s when I participated in a NASA JPL project called International Halley Watch and started doing interviews in newspapers and radios in my city.

I can say that astronomy gave me a purpose in life, a dream, a goal.

At age 22, I answered a call to leave my astronomy college and go to seminary to study theology. As a Christian, I felt a huge gap in people who advocate creationism. I became a Baptist pastor without losing my love for astronomy.

In 2000, I fulfilled my dream of knowing the KSC – NASA and many other places of astronomical interest in the USA. The dream of living legally in the USA.

My dream has always been linked with faith and astronomy. In 2011 I got a powerful telescope and managed to make public presentations to many more people. Today, 40 years since I started, I have already shown the sky by telescope in 2 countries, 19 cities to more than 500 thousand people. I was a volunteer at the Orlando Science Center and today, I developed the Orlando Star Party attending schools’ invitations to after school events.

I didn’t get to be a professional in astronomy, but I am happy to be a good amateur astronomer. I have lived in Orlando for eight years, where I am a church planter for people who want to meet the creator but are afraid of the church.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s not easy being a dreamer, getting out of your comfort zone. I have financial, cultural and religious challenges. People are suspicious of a stranger with a desire to show the sky through a telescope. Furthermore, I am an immigrant and a Christian. However, dreams are what move our life and allow us unforgettable achievements.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Christian leader. Graduated in Theology, Bachelor of Human Resources and trained in international leadership by the Haggai Institute in Maui, Hawaii. I currently serve as a Portuguese-speaking pastor at Dover Shores Baptist Church and am involved in a church planting project for the North America Mission Board.

I’ve participated in 3 NASA projects for amateur astronomers and hosted an astronomy program on a state TV in Brazil.

Perhaps I am one of the few Baptist pastors involved in science and the only one who speaks Portuguese.

My pride is my children. They learned to be dreamers. My daughter is starting Photonic Engineering at UCF in early 2021. My son studies at Vallencia College and studies for business in sports.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I grew up reading and studying. I did many trainings, wrote many letters to NASA scientists, and boldly placed requests. It made me grow in life. I’ve always communicated my dreams to people and that gives a lot of results.

Contact Info:

• Email: eduardo@baldaci.com
• Website: www.baldaci.com
• Instagram: @edbaldaci
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eduardobaldaci/
• Twitter: @EduardoBaldaci
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPKyTkZpNwSF1mwr0-Z8WFg
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/eduardo-baldaci
• Other: http://astronomiapopular.space

Image Credits:
Eduardo Baldaci