Featured Astrobites
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What happened to the Milky Way’s sister galaxy?
Cosmic cannibalism, or the merging of small galaxies with larger ones, happens all over the universe. We now know that the Milky Way lost a sister galaxy to Andromeda, and we’re now a step closer to understanding what might ultimately happen when Andromeda comes for us.
The Jupiter Analog Companions to Super-Earths
Today’s authors search for Jupiter analogs in foreign star systems to see how these giant worlds might affect the development of planets closer to the sun.
A different kind of planetary ring
Higher-order effects are beginning to surface in the photometry of exoplanets. Today we look at the way particles can add a ring to an exoplanet’s silhouette.
SETI on the Side: Seeking Dyson Spheres with Gaia
Could Gaia’s immense catalog of stellar positions help us find extraterrestrial intelligence?
Photons from the “Dark Side” of Neutron Stars Could Help Unravel a Supernuclear Mystery
What can we learn from a compact object that shows us all of its sides simultaneously?
Discovery of water ice in the shadows of Ceres
How does water ice survive on Ceres when it has no atmosphere? Find out in today’s astrobite.
Beyond astro-ph
Astronomy beyond the research
SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018
Last week in Austin, Texas I attended SPIE Astronomical Telescopes & Instrumentation for the very first time. Here’s a quick summary of my experiences and a few tips on how to survive big conferences.
Meet the AAS Keynote Speakers: Nicholas Walton
Dr Nicholas Walton discusses the impacts of GAIA and his research! See him today at #AAS232!
Astrobites at AAS 232: Day 3 and Day 4
We report on Day 3 of the summer AAS meeting in Denver, CO. Highlights include a look at the triumphs of helioseismology, discussions on merging galaxies, and a new way to weigh the Milky Way.
Navigating careers in astronomy
Career advice
Meet the AAS Keynote Speakers: Gurtina Besla
The recent Gaia data release is revolutionizing the way we understand our Milky Way and the galaxies around it. Come to Professor Gurtina Besla’s #AAS232 talk to find out more about the cutting-edge scientific discoveries being made! As Besla says, “You’re not going to read anything I’m going to talk about in a book.”
Meet the AAS Keynote Speakers: Debra Fischer
Most of the known exoplanets resemble “hot Jupiters” because they’re bigger and easier to find. But how can we find Earth-like planets? Check out Dr. Debra Fischer’s plenary talk at #AAS232 to learn more about the “Past, Present, and Future” of exoplanet science.
Meet the AAS Keynote Speakers: Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz
As Carl Sagan said, “If you wish to make apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.” More specifically, to make some neutron-rich elements like gold and uranium, you need neutron star mergers. Check out Professor Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz’s upcoming #AAS232 talk to learn more about what it takes to make the heaviest elements in the universe.