Steve Unwin

Want to get involved with the next Far-IR space telescope and its science opportunities? The @prima-probe.bsky.social mission has many ways to contribute. Check out the website and join us! prima.ipac.caltech.edu

The celebratory ice cream may be plain vanilla. But the #SphereX mission will be anything but! This industrious small telescope will take spectra in 102 colors in every 6-arcsecond pixel across the whole sky. Your favorite star or galaxy? Included! Launching real soon now. Go SPHEREx ! 🚀 🔭

"Your Vote Counts!" With logo of the AAS

@aas.org 2025 Election: I’m running for AAS Secretary. It’s a demanding role, and if elected, I will commit to the time and energy required to do it well. I'm looking forward to meeting needs of AAS members. Please vote for me! And if you've already voted, thanks for participating.

SPHEREx banners posted around JPL

Go #SPHEREx all-sky near-IR survey mission! T-35 days!

Astronomers Discover Planet Identical To Earth With Orbital Space Mirror

Astronomers Discover Planet Identical To Earth With Orbital Space Mirror
theonion.com/astronomers-...

Letter reading, "Dear agency employees, We are taking steps to close all agency DEIA offices and end all DEIA-related contracts in accordance with President Trump’s executive orders titled Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing and Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions. These programs divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in shameful discrimination. We are aware of efforts by some in government to disguise these programs by using coded or imprecise language. If you are aware of a change in any contract description or personnel position description since November 5, 2024 to obscure the connection between the contract and DEIA or similar ideologies, please report all facts and circumstances to DEIAtruth@opm.gov within 10 days. There will be no adverse consequences for timely reporting this information. However, failure to report this information within 10 days may result in adverse consequences. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Janet Petro"

Here's an e-mail that just went out to NASA agency wide. 🔭

PRIMA is at #AAS245 ! Come see us at the IPAC booth to get your stickers, magnets, pins, pens, and more! You can find our full schedule of events on our website prima.ipac.caltech.edu/page/prima-a...

For more information on contributing cases to the PRIMA GO Science Book (Vol. 2), please reach out to Arielle Moullet (amoullet@nrao.edu) and Denis Burgarella (denis.burgarella@lam.fr). For questions about the workshop, please reach out to Elisabeth Mills (eacmills@ku.edu).

Updating the PRIMA GO Book: Volume 2 The PRIMA team is grateful to the many contributors to the first volume of the PRIMA General Observer (GO) Science Book (arXiv:2310.20572), which gathered 76 community-contributed cases spanning scien...

To prepare for the launch of Vol. 2, join us for a 2-hour virtual workshop on GO science cases February 25, which will give an overview of PRIMA, our new Exposure Time Calculator (ETC), and answer questions you may have! forms.gle/Wn2FLBrKJE14...

If you are at #AAS245, please join #PRIMAprobe, the far-IR astrophysics probe mission prima.ipac.caltech.edu, for a Social Hour in National Harbor. Short walk from the Convention Center, 830pm. New venue: The Brass Tap, 164 Fleet Street.

Congressman Glenn Ivey Representing the 4th District of Maryland

Hey #astronomers headed to #AAS245:
Congressman Glenn Ivey will be giving remarks at the @aasoffice.bsky.social booth Monday at 9:20am. Let’s show up and give him a sense of how much we care about policy and legislation!
Please share and spread the word 🙏🏻

Good contacts from COPAG panel discussion: Erika Hamden @erikahamden.bsky.social, and Paul Scowen (ASU) who has a long list of technologies and contacts.

My previous profile picture was taken above Eaton Canyon in happier times - just a week ago. But the fog looks like smoke from #EatonFire, and I can't look at it any more. So instead, a restful image from vacation in England.

Early career and interested in UV astronomy instruments and technology? Heard at the COPAG meeting at #AAS245: Go ahead and cold call! Scientists, engineers and technologists love to talk to and bring in new, enthusiastic, people. So don't be shy! cor.gsfc.nasa.gov/copag/ec/cop...

Meet the AAS Keynote Speakers: Dr Alexandra Pope - astrobites Today we interview Dr. Alexandra Pope, professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and one of this year’s #AAS245 Keynote speaker!

From Sowkhya Shanbhog: Today we interview Dr. Alexandra Pope, professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and one of this year’s #AAS245 Keynote speaker! 🔭✨
astrobites.org/2025/01/12/m...

All AAS Members are eligible to vote. You should have received a personalized email with ballot info.

"Your Vote Counts" - All AAS Members are eligible to vote.

@aasoffice.bsky.social 2025 Election: I’m running for AAS Secretary. It’s a demanding role, and if elected, I will commit to the time and energy required to do it well. Excited to help meet needs of AAS members! Look for me at #aas245 all week. Ask at the AAS and IPAC booths.

Yes, it's on. Open Mic Night at #aas245

Wednesday, January 15 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Potomac Ballroom D

Thanks to all our friends asking how we are doing in the #EatonFire. We evacuated last night. So far, our house is safe. But there are spot fires all over the local area. Crazy high winds, flying debris, no visibility because of smoke, some access blocked due to downed trees.

Astronomy as a Field: A Guide for Aspiring Astrophysicists This book was created as part of the SIRIUS B VERGE program to orient students to astrophysics as a broad field. The 2023-2024 VERGE program and the printing of this book is funded by the Women and Gi...

It looks really cool!

“Astronomy as a Field: A Guide for Aspiring Astrophysicists”

arxiv.org/abs/2312.04041

Professor Dr Karl Martin Menten, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany.

The RAS is very sad to hear of the passing of Professor Dr Karl Martin Menten, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy and an Honorary Fellow of the RAS. 🔭

The Society offers its sincere condolences to Professor Menten's family, friends and colleagues ⤵️

https://buff.ly/423Wz1P

Balcony view of AAS243 (Jan 2024) iPoster session. Rows of tables with big screens and lots of attendees viewing.

Attending #AAS245? New to AAS? Enjoy the smorgasbord! Start with the iPosters and chat with some authors. Don’t know much about the topic? It's ok, just say so. Presenters love to explain why their work is significant!

The @aasoffice.bsky.social Meeting #aas245 in Washington DC next week will be huge – 3400 attendees registered! Too big? Not for me. No better place to network with astro colleagues and make new connections. I love this one big conference every year - I leave exhausted but energized!

Is there a talk on this topic at #AAS245 ? I don't have an opinion. Yet. But science ultimately is not about opinion. I'd just like to learn more.

Trees poking up through a solid cloud layer below, with clear view toward Verdugo Hills

In So Cal, still waiting for the first drop of rain since spring. But beauty in the weather sometimes. Foothills of the San Gabriels, right where it gets too steep to build houses.

Exactly. Good advice for #AAS245 presenters. Much better than having to be asked "Please, can you put your conclusions slide back up? It went by rather fast". Related: your slides should go by slower toward the end, not faster. Hardly ever happens.

Helpful video on making your iPoster for #AAS245. Recommended! Yeah, the format is constrained. But good design and simple clear messaging will get you the attention your work deserves.

But this is all about hot tea. Ask this Brit about iced tea: "Ewww, a nice hot cup of tea gone cold!"

More advice on posters at #AAS245. If you’re an AAS ‘old hand’, be friendly to first-time attendees presenting posters, and show genuine interest. Nobody starts off an expert in this business. Help them make connections. 🔭⭐

Just joined! Who is here talking about #astronomy? See you at #AAS245? 🚀 🔭