Dr. Amber Straughn (she/her)
@astraughnomer.bsky.social
Black Lives Matter. NASA Astrophysicist for #JWST. From Arkansas. Hiking, yoga, Great Dane mom, pilot, Pearl Jam superfan. #FirstGen Personal account - my views
Pinned
James Webb Space Telescope - NASA Science
Space Telescope
science.nasa.gov
👋 About me!
I'm an astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. I study how stars and black holes form in distant galaxies, and how those processes change over time. Yep, I study the universe for a living 😀✨
I'm also a Project Scientist for #jwst! science.nasa.gov/mission/webb
I'm an astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. I study how stars and black holes form in distant galaxies, and how those processes change over time. Yep, I study the universe for a living 😀✨
I'm also a Project Scientist for #jwst! science.nasa.gov/mission/webb
Very important question: if you could have a Wookie or an Ewok as a live-in companion, which would you choose? 🤔
November 26, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Very important question: if you could have a Wookie or an Ewok as a live-in companion, which would you choose? 🤔
It's been yet another heavy, scary, infuriating week in this country. It's easy to feel angry, scared, hopeless (those feelings are ok). But. But. The universe is incredible, and we are learning amazing things. Dive into this deep field; let it be a positive start to your weekend ✨
November 21, 2025 at 9:39 PM
It's been yet another heavy, scary, infuriating week in this country. It's easy to feel angry, scared, hopeless (those feelings are ok). But. But. The universe is incredible, and we are learning amazing things. Dive into this deep field; let it be a positive start to your weekend ✨
Chaos! This *incredible* new #jwst image shows shells of dust emitted over the last 700 years by a system of 3 aging stars. The 2 main stars tear through space at an astonishing ~2000 MILES PER SECOND, whereas the 3rd star cuts through the dust like a knife. More: science.nasa.gov/missions/web...
Webb First to Show 4 Dust Shells 'Spiraling' Apep, Limits Long Orbit - NASA Science
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has delivered a first of its kind: a crisp mid-infrared image of a system of four serpentine spirals of dust, one expanding
science.nasa.gov
November 19, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Chaos! This *incredible* new #jwst image shows shells of dust emitted over the last 700 years by a system of 3 aging stars. The 2 main stars tear through space at an astonishing ~2000 MILES PER SECOND, whereas the 3rd star cuts through the dust like a knife. More: science.nasa.gov/missions/web...
This should be interesting 👀☄️ Mark your calendars for 3pm EST Wed.! www.nasa.gov/news-release...
NASA to Share Comet 3I/ATLAS Images From Spacecraft, Telescopes - NASA
NASA will host a live event at 3 p.m. EST, Wednesday, Nov. 19, to share imagery of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS collected by a number of the agency’s
www.nasa.gov
November 18, 2025 at 8:16 PM
This should be interesting 👀☄️ Mark your calendars for 3pm EST Wed.! www.nasa.gov/news-release...
A fun memory…3 years ago I got to host a Guest DJ segment on @pearljam.com radio! 🤩 As much media stuff as I’ve done for nasa, I was still REALLY nervous for this. It was soooo much fun though 😀
November 17, 2025 at 8:36 PM
A fun memory…3 years ago I got to host a Guest DJ segment on @pearljam.com radio! 🤩 As much media stuff as I’ve done for nasa, I was still REALLY nervous for this. It was soooo much fun though 😀
Have you noticed less beauty in your feeds the last 6+ weeks? Fewer gasps of awe? Fewer prompts to consider a universal perspective; to ask big questions? While much of US spending is on decreasing bad things, NASA is a perfect example of increasing the good ✨ Here's a new JWST image!
November 17, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Have you noticed less beauty in your feeds the last 6+ weeks? Fewer gasps of awe? Fewer prompts to consider a universal perspective; to ask big questions? While much of US spending is on decreasing bad things, NASA is a perfect example of increasing the good ✨ Here's a new JWST image!
Reposted by Dr. Amber Straughn (she/her)
Before setting out to tour Riot Act, the band played four warm-up gigs in Seattle, the second of which became "Live at the Showbox", released in 2003.
November 15, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Before setting out to tour Riot Act, the band played four warm-up gigs in Seattle, the second of which became "Live at the Showbox", released in 2003.
WE ARE BACK!! And the Roman telescope is looking *GREAT* as we continue to prep it for launch here at @nasagoddard 🚀✨ Roman is designed to unravel the mysteries of the dark universe - dark matter & dark energy - as well as finding tens of thousands of new planets outside our solar system.
November 14, 2025 at 7:24 PM
WE ARE BACK!! And the Roman telescope is looking *GREAT* as we continue to prep it for launch here at @nasagoddard 🚀✨ Roman is designed to unravel the mysteries of the dark universe - dark matter & dark energy - as well as finding tens of thousands of new planets outside our solar system.
Reposted by Dr. Amber Straughn (she/her)
"Go" from Boise, Idaho - November 3rd, 2000.
The band selected it for Touring Band 2000 as one of 18 "Ape/Man" shows from the tour, which, according to Jeff, were shows the band found "really exciting."
The band selected it for Touring Band 2000 as one of 18 "Ape/Man" shows from the tour, which, according to Jeff, were shows the band found "really exciting."
November 3, 2025 at 9:43 PM
"Go" from Boise, Idaho - November 3rd, 2000.
The band selected it for Touring Band 2000 as one of 18 "Ape/Man" shows from the tour, which, according to Jeff, were shows the band found "really exciting."
The band selected it for Touring Band 2000 as one of 18 "Ape/Man" shows from the tour, which, according to Jeff, were shows the band found "really exciting."
Another 10+ mile day (w/ my 25lb pack - training for a backpacking trip in a few months)! Did one yesterday too. Gorgeous weather, beautiful trees. Although didn’t find the cat and no idea who Bob is 😝 #getoutside #hiking #furloughlife
October 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Another 10+ mile day (w/ my 25lb pack - training for a backpacking trip in a few months)! Did one yesterday too. Gorgeous weather, beautiful trees. Although didn’t find the cat and no idea who Bob is 😝 #getoutside #hiking #furloughlife
35 years ago today @pearljam.com played their first show - several years before I found them, not knowing they would become more than just a band to me. Decades of music, live shows, new friends, and some unforgettable experiences especially these last couple years 😉😄 Thank you PJ❤️
October 22, 2025 at 8:00 PM
35 years ago today @pearljam.com played their first show - several years before I found them, not knowing they would become more than just a band to me. Decades of music, live shows, new friends, and some unforgettable experiences especially these last couple years 😉😄 Thank you PJ❤️
Friday furlough flying…maybe it’ll become a thing since there’s no end in sight to this shutdown 🙄 Trying to make the best of it despite not getting a paycheck and missing my #nasa peeps #avgeek #giventofly #cessnaflyer
October 17, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Friday furlough flying…maybe it’ll become a thing since there’s no end in sight to this shutdown 🙄 Trying to make the best of it despite not getting a paycheck and missing my #nasa peeps #avgeek #giventofly #cessnaflyer
Vaccines save lives. Trust scientific consensus.
October 15, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Vaccines save lives. Trust scientific consensus.
Been outside a lot the last few days!! Two back-to-back hefty hikes w/ our packs in prep for a big backpacking trip coming up in a few months 😀
October 11, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Been outside a lot the last few days!! Two back-to-back hefty hikes w/ our packs in prep for a big backpacking trip coming up in a few months 😀
First few days of furlough last week were spent visiting my 6 month old niece in Providence 🥰 Don’t worry - teaching her astrophysics wasn’t part of my official nasa duties
October 9, 2025 at 8:20 PM
First few days of furlough last week were spent visiting my 6 month old niece in Providence 🥰 Don’t worry - teaching her astrophysics wasn’t part of my official nasa duties
Reposted by Dr. Amber Straughn (she/her)
October 8, 2025 at 11:14 PM
people leaving nasa today like
September 30, 2025 at 10:38 PM
people leaving nasa today like
This #jwst story is full of weirdness: 1) auroras were found on a rogue planet (a planet w/o a star) 2) BILLIONS - TRILLIONS of rogue planets could exist in our Milky Way 🤯 3) this planet is 20 light-years away & ~12.7x the mass of Jupiter (pic is illustration) www.universetoday.com/articles/jam...
September 29, 2025 at 6:40 PM
This #jwst story is full of weirdness: 1) auroras were found on a rogue planet (a planet w/o a star) 2) BILLIONS - TRILLIONS of rogue planets could exist in our Milky Way 🤯 3) this planet is 20 light-years away & ~12.7x the mass of Jupiter (pic is illustration) www.universetoday.com/articles/jam...
Stunning new #jwst images reveal new insights into what's going on in the most massive and active star-forming region in our Milky Way galaxy. Read the article for more, and a fun slider that shows 2 different versions of this image ➡️ science.nasa.gov/missions/web...
September 24, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Stunning new #jwst images reveal new insights into what's going on in the most massive and active star-forming region in our Milky Way galaxy. Read the article for more, and a fun slider that shows 2 different versions of this image ➡️ science.nasa.gov/missions/web...
Reposted by Dr. Amber Straughn (she/her)
On this day in 1977, David Bowie released his timeless anthem “Heroes.” A song about love, hope, and defiance that still gives chills nearly 50 years later.
September 23, 2025 at 6:00 PM
On this day in 1977, David Bowie released his timeless anthem “Heroes.” A song about love, hope, and defiance that still gives chills nearly 50 years later.
Trying a new thing! 😀 Just got back from my first backpacking trip! An easy/short 1-nighter. It was fun to test my gear and be sung to sleep by crickets and cicadas #getoutside
September 21, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Trying a new thing! 😀 Just got back from my first backpacking trip! An easy/short 1-nighter. It was fun to test my gear and be sung to sleep by crickets and cicadas #getoutside
The universe is wild, y'all! "NASA’s Hubble Sees White Dwarf Eating Piece of Pluto-Like Object" In several billion years, when our Sun collapses into a white dwarf, it might munch on actual Pluto, too! More here: science.nasa.gov/missions/hub...
September 19, 2025 at 3:17 PM
The universe is wild, y'all! "NASA’s Hubble Sees White Dwarf Eating Piece of Pluto-Like Object" In several billion years, when our Sun collapses into a white dwarf, it might munch on actual Pluto, too! More here: science.nasa.gov/missions/hub...
The spaces in between stars in the Milky Way aren't empty – they're sprinkled with gas and dust that are both the seeds of new stars and the leftover stuff from dead stars. The upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will help us understand this better! www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM5x...
Our Interstellar Medium
YouTube video by NASA Goddard
www.youtube.com
September 18, 2025 at 2:11 PM
The spaces in between stars in the Milky Way aren't empty – they're sprinkled with gas and dust that are both the seeds of new stars and the leftover stuff from dead stars. The upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will help us understand this better! www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM5x...
Reposted by Dr. Amber Straughn (she/her)
Great tweet today, oh, hold on, this is from two months ago
Not really an overstatement to say that the test of a free society is whether or not comedians can make fun of the country's leader on TV without repurcussions.
September 17, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Great tweet today, oh, hold on, this is from two months ago
The beauty of the universe still takes my breath away ✨ Star birth, star death - it's all here in today's stunning #apod Read more: apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25091... 📸: J. De Winter, C. Humbert, C. Robert & V. Sabet
September 17, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The beauty of the universe still takes my breath away ✨ Star birth, star death - it's all here in today's stunning #apod Read more: apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25091... 📸: J. De Winter, C. Humbert, C. Robert & V. Sabet