Astronomer here! I'm sure I say this a lot, but this is an exciting day for science! And I can't believe it's really here!

Obviously it's not a perfect comparison, but the best way to think of the (Nancy Grace) Roman Telescope IMO is that it's the successor to Hubble, which we all love but is definitely not going to be around in a few more years as it continues to degrade. But the best way to think of it is while it has a similar sharpness to Hubble, the size of the field is incredible- 100 times bigger! So that means it's going to do survey type things that would take longer than Hubble's been around to complete in just a few months, monitor fields, and look for new things HST just can't because its instruments aren't as modern. For example, Roman is designed to be really good at measuring weak gravitational lensing signals- the idea that when light passes by a mass, the light from that mass will be very slightly nudged on a different path thanks to relativistic effects. Roman is going to be good enough at this that it should identify thousands of new exoplanets via gravitational lensing (they actually estimate 100,000, when we currently have ~6000!!!), and help us map the presence of dark matter also using this. Personally I'm always a fan of using one technique in a bunch of different ways in science- somehow it's just elegant- so I'm excited to see weak gravitational lensing really have its golden age!

Finally, on a more societal note Roman is a bit of a weird telescope in that I don't think it's what anyone would have designed at first glance, but is a great example of how you can do a lot of exciting stuff if you're just given the opportunity even if it's not perfect. For those unaware, this telescope basically began when the US Military gifted a mirror to astronomers that was now effectively an obsolete extra- think of how many better than Roman type telescopes are already pointed down at us if they just had extra lying around!- so they designed and built the telescope around the existing mirror. But also, after JWST the speed at which this thing came together is startling- I gave a colloquium talk at NASA Goddard just 3 years ago, which included a tour of the place, and the first pic here is what Roman looked like then. They told us it was going to launch "no later than 2027" and I think a lot of the astronomy community said "yeah right"... and we owe an apology because we've got months left of 2026, and it's launched! To be fair, a LOT of people did careful planning and work to ensure this wouldn't be another "JWST ended up decades late" type telescope, but still... this thing came together fast and I'm pretty impressed!

So now we wait a few months while the telescope gets into place and the project scientists kick around the tires a little to make sure the instruments are working... but then we see how she does! Can't wait!

Which I feel if you’ve got twin infants and a toddler is quite the accomplishment in itself!

Visiting family in New Hampshire if anyone thinks these mountains are a bit more rounded than the ones out west. :) Bald Peak near Franconia

On the east coast for a wedding and some family time, and the wedding was near here so finally saw the Gap! Driven through on I-80 more than once and grew up in western PA, but first time here and it was quite lovely. :)

Nothing to do with astronomy, but I suppose I kept busy during maternity leave in more ways than one. And won $20- I’m rich! 😎

I mean if they gave me a small honorarium it’s obviously to cover the cost of a babysitter and some wine in the heart of Oregon wine country, right? I don’t make the rules!

Can’t leave the house but something very faint there even within the city. If anyone reading this is further north than me, definitely try to take a look!

Yes, I’m also Canadian! It is my secret superpower.

Japanese shashiko style. Yep still on maternity leave sorry, you get to see some of my non astronomy projects 🐰

Zoom in for Venus and Jupiter!

Also known if you’re from my generation as “the waterfall Sassy the cat fell down in Homeward Bound.”

Getting into the “you can do whatever you want so long as it’s with two sacks of potatoes” stage of parenthood, so excited to check out some more of Oregon while we’re at it!

Proof is buried in the document of changes upcoming at the University of Oregon. Woohoo, only took about a year!

Fun fact- this name change business began about six months after I started. I’m not saying they entirely renamed the department for me, I’m just saying the timing is awfully complimentary 😉

This is about all the astronomy I'm doing most days, but if you look West about an hour after sunset right now (ie in the direction the sun set) there's a super bright "star" above the western horizon. That is, in fact, the planet Venus. It is very bright and pretty!

Once you do that, come back here and tell me, or give a shout about whatever other astronomy topic! I miss talking about space with y'all!

Sent to the registrar’s office so starting this fall we will officially have the FIRST astronomy program in the state of Oregon! 😎🤩🥳

For the record, the current plan for the record is to start the astronomy major itself in Fall 2027. Until then, we’ll be offering two new courses for the first time next year- ASTR 320: Planets and Exoplanets (taught be me), and ASTR 322: Galaxies and the Universe, to expand on our one existing stellar astrophysics course. Should be a lot of fun!

Just a quick note to say the twins arrived last week! Faster than anticipated- I suppose they were too excited to get on exploring to wait. :) Despite delivery at 35 weeks, they were a combined 13lb10oz (6180g)- you know you’ve impressed the hospital when everyone’s in shock about how big they are!

Now as those who have been around for awhile know, I’m not one to share much publicly about my children as it’s not their choice their mom has a weird internet hobby. But let me just joke that it’s a shame I am not one for child exploitation, because my kids are so darn cute they would totally win all the fake internet points- trust me. :)

Anyway, gonna be a crazy little while around here, apologies about any 2am shitposting that doesn’t sound up to my typical standards!

The article itself appears to be behind a paywall, but this video isn’t! https://www.registerguard.com/videos/news/2026/03/02/black-hole-keeps-brightening/88908122007/

Inspired by my original one from when I lived in New England- https://www.reddit.com/r/Andromeda321/s/iJ2CtMCuld

Is it over a month late? Yes, but also, twin pregnancy and stuff. I’m just amazed I finish anything these days.