Spring 2025

Dear Astronomy Community,

There are moments in our field when years of collective effort culminate in something truly extraordinary. On April 15, 2025, our department witnessed such a moment when the first on-sky engineering data from the Simonyi Telescope's LSSTCam was displayed. If you haven't already, please take a look at the photo accompanying this newsletter – those expressions of joy and wonder tell the story better than any words can.

Jessica Werk: Professor and Chair of Astronomy

I can't help but feel both elated and worried as I look at those beaming faces. We've achieved something remarkable, yet at the same time, we're hearing about proposed budget cuts that threaten to slash science funding in the United States by nearly 50%. These proposals would impact missions that represent decades of planning, billions in investment, and the dreams of countless scientists.

Looking at that team photo from Rubin nevertheless gives me hope. Our field has never had it easy. We keep going because curiosity is woven into our being. We keep going because every time we make a new discovery, people lean in and pay attention. When that first image from LSST appeared, you could see on everyone's faces exactly why astronomy endures.

And nowhere is that enduring spirit more evident than in our students. Our department's graduation ceremony on Friday, June 13th will celebrate our graduating bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. students alongside family, friends, and our entire Astronomy community. Their achievements represent our future, and what a bright future it is! Please join us in celebrating our incredible UW Astronomy students – some of whom are featured in this newsletter.

When I get discouraged about budget proposals, I remind myself why we're all here in the first place. It's definitely not the money - it's those moments when we glimpse something no one has ever seen before. That shared excitement is what makes us a community, not organizational charts or funding lines.

The stars will continue to shine, and so will we.

Astronomy Highlights

A New Era in Survey Science: First Full Image with LSSTCam!

On April 15, 2025, our department was privileged to witness such a moment when the first on-sky engineering data from the Simonyi Telescope's LSSTCam was displayed. This milestone represents not just technological achievement, but the power of collaborative science at its finest. The optical alignments were remarkably close to optimal before even looking at the sky, and in just a handful of on-sky iterations, the system delivered a median image quality of about 1.8 arcsec FWHM across the focal… Read more

Faculty Spotlight: Professor Nora Shipp

Nora Shipp: Assistant Professor of Astronomy

Interviewed by Professor Jess Werk On the first warm spring afternoon of the year, Nora and I had to shed our jackets on our walk up the hill to Tea Republik. Dr. Shipp is one of the University of Washington's newest astronomy faculty members, and an emerging leader in Near-field Cosmology. As cherry blossoms floated past the window, we discussed the mysteries of dark matter, the future of stellar stream research, and finding joy in academic work. Professor Shipp uses stellar streams in the… Read more

Graduate Student Spotlight: Tom Wagg

Interviewed by Professor Jess Werk On a lovely Tuesday afternoon in March, I sat down with Tom Wagg over steaming cups of vanilla rooibos tea from Tea Republik. The British astrophysicist, currently completing his Ph.D. at UW, has quickly established himself as a rising star in the field of stellar evolution, particularly through his pioneering work on binary star systems and their complex interactions. Tom’s research focuses on massive stars—rare cosmic giants that, despite their… Read more

Undergraduate Research Spotlight:

The Department of Astronomy is proud to highlight the below exceptional undergraduate researchers who exemplify the spirit of scientific discovery that defines our community. Their dedication and creativity will be on full display this Spring as many present their work at the prestigious UW Mary Gates Undergraduate Research Symposium. These students represent the bright future of astronomy, and we celebrate their remarkable achievements! Giovanni Gollotti Senior Giovanni Gollotti,… Read more

Public Outreach

UW Planetarium Exciting news! The UW Planetarium welcomes Ph.D student Oge Okoronkwo, who will be the incoming UW Planetarium director effective Summer 2025. We are beyond grateful for Ph.D. candidate Andy Tzanidakis’ remarkable legacy of leadership, which has expanded access to and programming for the Planetarium during his years-long tenure. The UW Planetarium, in collaboration with Digital Arts & Experimental Media (DXArts), has been awarded by the UW STF for new projection… Read more

Supporting our UW Astronomy Community

The strength of UW Astronomy lies in our extended network of supporters, alumni, and friends who share our vision of mutual support in astronomical research and education. Our community building events, student support initiatives, and efforts to make astronomy more accessible require sustained commitment - both in energy and resources. As we face unprecedented challenges to scientific institutions, building robust networks of support becomes even more critical.

You can help ensure the continuation of our vital community programs by contributing to our featured funds on this page. Your support enables us to host events that bring our community together, provide opportunities for students from all backgrounds, and maintain the strong departmental culture that makes UW Astronomy a leader in both scientific excellence and institutional change.

Together, we can ensure that the next generation of astronomers has the resources and support they need to unlock the mysteries of our Universe - from mapping the cosmic web to discovering potentially habitable worlds among the stars.

Additional Community Resources

Food Pantry

The UW Food Pantry provides free food and hygiene products to any UW student, staff, or faculty member in need. They accept donations of shelf-stable items and hygiene products from individuals at their Poplar Hall location during opening hours.

Any Hungry Husky Food Pantry

Know Your Rights

Understanding your rights is essential for all community members. These resources provide comprehensive information about individual rights, campus policies, and legal protections.

UW Public Safety Office - Know Your Rights

ACLU Washington - Know Your Rights

Diversity and Inclusion Resources

Resources to support diversity and inclusion efforts in astronomy and STEM fields:

TEAM-UP Report - Comprehensive report addressing systemic barriers for underrepresented minorities in physics and astronomy
Black Lives in Astronomy Resource Guide - Extensive resource guide on Black astronomers ranging from blogs and feature articles to historical information
Astrobites: How to Support Black Astronomers - Practical guidance for supporting Black astronomers in academic and professional settings
AAS Task Force Report on Diversity and Inclusion (2018) - Recommendations and findings on improving diversity and inclusion in astronomy

Educational Resources

UW Center for Teaching, Learning, and Mentoring - Professional development workshops, teaching resources, and pedagogical training opportunities
Leadership Without Borders Undocu Ally Training – This program provides UW faculty and staff with resources and best practices to build a supportive environment for undocumented students.

Spring 2025 Newsletter