Life in 2020
The most over-used trope of 2020 is saying that “2020 has been such an incredibly unusual year”… but let’s be honest, it’s true!
If We Assume
A website about data, astronomy, and funny questions.
Latest posts
My 3 AAS 235 Talks
Right now the astronomy world is basically on lock-down due to the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. Most observatories are closed, universities have gone to a distance learning mode, and astronomers are spending nearly all our time on Zoom - or as in my case, taking care of my kids and occasionally on Zoom!
Checking out the AAAS Meeting
I’ve been going to the AAS meetings for a long time (almost 15 years?!) but this is my first time attending a AAAS meeting! It’s a general science meeting, meaning there were scientists, engineers, public policy, outreach professionals…. from all disciplines! The upside of this is that I got to hear talks about drug therapies, climate change, citizen science, building an inclusive mentoring…
Data or Art
Here’s a fun quiz: can you tell the difference between 4 pieces of art and 4 pieces of data visualization?
First Light for DKIST
It is a GREAT time to be studying our nearest star, the Sun! NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is almost 10 years old, the Parker Solar Probe is currently inside Mercury’s orbit working to directly study the solar wind, and now the incredible Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) has achieved its “first light”.
TESS Cycle 3 Proposal
How NOT to write a proposal
Strange New Worlds
Recording a Podcast
AAS 235 and Beyond
Off to Hawaii
Clickbait Astronomy
Yesterday I gave my third Astronomy on Tap Seattle talk, and it was THE MOST FUN I’ve had giving a talk in at least a year! The talk is about clickbait, “fake news”, and exaggerated headlines in astronomy. This is new material for me, as I’m usually presenting talks on specific science topics rather than general commentary. I also did a ton of interesting reading to inform the material shown, so…
Publishing in Astronomy
This week I submitted a new NSF proposal, and a new paper! Woo! Writing is going well in November so far.