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40 days and 40 nights
in which i learn no lesson, discover no hidden truth, except for my decided fondness of being dry.
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above 500
In which I learn valuable lessons about writing observing proposals, deadlines, and telescope time allocation, reflect on my self doubt, and bat above 500 in my first proposal season. I suppose it can only go down from here, right? Nearly all the astronomers I know submit tens, hundreds of proposals and have acceptance rates on…
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the once and future PI: my first observations as principle investigator using the ARC 3.5m telescope
In which I reflect on being responsible. I sit in the late hours of the night, towards the end of the year, in front of my bright computer screens. Tonight is my last scheduled observation for my Quarter 4 program, my fifth night of observing. My vision is filled with the multitude of windows which…
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de-trend setter (or, transit photometry from the MSGC-observatory)
In which I observe an exoplanet transit, and explain how I fit a model to my observations. For a brief intro to, and some artsy pictures of, the Maryland Space Grant Observatory I’ve been starting to use, visit this previous post. What if I told you I observed a planet, orbiting a star hundreds of…
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farewell, dragon of pendor
Now, big dragon, little wizard, take your true shape. I command you by the power of your true name… Your name is Yevaud! The Rule of Names,by Ursula K. LeGuin There is a solitude to an empty home that I have not yet had to face. This solitude is a shadow, which follows me through…
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good morning baltimore! (or, grism spectroscopy from the MSGC-observatory)
If there’s one thing I know about myself, its that if there’s a telescope in my vicinity I am going to try to drive it. I recently started grad school at Johns Hopkins University, whose Physics and Astronomy Department building is host to the Maryland Space Grant Observatory (pictured below). I’ve made some awesome friends…
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DELvE: a short story about feelings and d&d
I’ve just published my new game! DELvE is a short text-adventure that moves between first and second person perspective, a reflection on a dungeons and dragons game I’ve been running for my friends since the beginning of college.
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talkin’ the talk (and presenting the poster)
In which I give a handful of talks and present some research at an exoplanet conference UMass Astronomy Club, 4/20/2021 I was recently invited to stand in for my advisor, Dr. Kate Follette, and give a talk about our lab’s research to the UMass Astronomy Club at their meeting on 4/20 (nice). I spoke for…
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before the next steps, looking back on my grad school application experience
prologue: This past weekend I announced my acceptance of an offer of admission to a Ph.D. program in astronomy. I got a lot of attention, and that makes me anxious, but it was nice to receive so much support from my family, friends, and mentors about my decision. In light of all that, I wanted…
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Ending: Inconclusive
So, the semester has come to a close. For how long I’ve spent operating under a semesterly school system, it almost feels like a natural cycle. Almost. I can’t help but imagine how my experience might be different if I was doing something useful with myself; working a job or something. Would the summer be…
