ASTRONOMY DEPARTMENT

Kepler Stars and Planets are Bigger than Previously Thought
In a new study using the NOAO Kitt Peak National Observatory Mayall 4-meter telescope, observations of a large sample of stars with candidate planets identified by the NASA Kepler Mission have revealed that many of the stars, and hence their planets, are actually somewhat larger than originally thought. In addition, the researchers confirm that planets larger than Neptune are more likely to be found orbiting stars that contain more heavy elements (such as iron) than the Sun. Small planets, however, have been discovered around stars both rich and poor in metals. Over three years ago, Steve B. Howell (NASA Ames Research Center) put together a team to investigate and characterize the stars that the NASA Kepler Mission found to host planets. The team members are Mark Everett and David Silva (both at NOAO) and Paula Szkody (University of Washington).

When All Science Becomes Data Science
Learning to code, and becoming comfortable with large datasets, may soon be a necessity in many traditional scientific fields. To make optimal use of that rapidly accumulating data, they need additional computer expertise, in databases, visualization, machine learning, and parallel systems. Sarah Loebman, a graduate student at the University of Washington, studies the Milky Way galaxy to find out how it arrived at its present structure. "Earlier in my career, I spent a good part of the day just loading data into my computer," she says.

Seattle's 'Mr. Sundial' takes his passion to next level: garage ceiling
Woody Sullivan is the UW astronomy professor known as "Mr. Sundial" for making Seattle the unlikely sundial capital of North America. Now he's recreated a Renaissance ceiling sundial in his home office.