Featured Astrobites
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A summary of EWASS 2018 (I)
Last week, over 1400 astronomers met at the European Week of Astronomy and Space Sciences in Liverpool. From observations of high-redshift galaxies, to simulations of the universe and starquakes, we give you an eclectic mixture of highlights of the week.
Like a Captured Stone: How did Pluto Settle in its Peculiar Orbit?
We dive back into one of the earliest studies of the outer solar system that helped us understand how four gas giants playing a chaotic game of catch could have knocked Pluto into its topsy-turvy orbit.
A Naked-Eye Superflare Detected from Proxima Centauri
The Sun’s closest neighbor star Proxima Centauri—normally invisible to the naked eye—may have briefly become visible by increasing in brightness over 100 times for a few minutes back in 2016 in the largest flare ever seen from it.
Let’s Call It STEVE
Since its discovery in 2016, we’ve had no idea what the aurora phenomenon called “STEVE” actually is. Using multiple ground- and space-based datasets, we finally have some idea (spoiler: it might not be a typical aurora after all!).
Too much star formation, not enough stellar mass: a cosmic conundrum
Observations of galaxies in the early universe reveal too much star formation to account for the number of stars around today. What gives? Today’s ‘bite investigates.
A Pebbly Barrier to Planet Formation
While a planet is forming, its passage through the protoplanetary disk can prevent pebbles from migrating inwards and accreting onto the planet.
Beyond astro-ph
Astronomy beyond the research
BEYOND: Communicating Science Like a Boss
At a local installation of ComSciCon in Atlanta, attendees gained useful advice for making their science communication efforts more effective. In this BEYOND post, you can pick up some of those pointers for yourself.
Tools for Reading Papers, Part 2
Astro-ph coffee, journal club, topic lunch, and research group meetings are all places where you can discuss papers in your department. Which should you attend?
Overcoming the Imposter Syndrome
Many people struggle with feeling like an imposter. The good news is that it’s overcome-able and you’re not alone in this! Here we help you recognize what imposter syndrome can look like and how you can start tackling it.
Navigating careers in astronomy
Career advice
Meet the AAS Keynote Speakers: Charlie Conroy
Prof. Charlie Conroy’s research spans from nearby stars to galaxies far, far away. Read more about his exciting research and career before his keynote at #AAS231!
Meet the AAS Keynote Speakers: Lawrence Rudnick
Outreach extraordinaire, Lawrence Rudnick, employs both radio and x-rays to investigate the dynamics of the intercluster medium. Be sure to read this interview before his plenary talk at #AAS231 on Wednesday!
Meet the AAS Keynote Speakers: Sara Schechner
Science is never done in a vacuum and nobody knows that better than AAS 231 plenary speaker Sara Schechner, who looks at astronomy in the context of history and society.