Emma Chapman
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dreochapman.bsky.social
Emma Chapman
@dreochapman.bsky.social
Author of ‘First Light’, astrophysicist at University of Nottingham, radio astronomer, Royal Society research fellow.
Become a UK Moonsighting Leader and empower Muslim communities to hold their own local moonsightings.

9-month course on astronomy, Islamic calendar science & community leadership.

Led by New Crescent Society + Cambridge & Leeds experts.

Apply by 15 Nov 2025
www.interfaith.cam.ac.uk/moon
https://www.interfaith.cam.ac.uk/moon<https://www.interfaith.cam.ac.uk/moon
November 5, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Reposted by Emma Chapman
Episode 23 – Failed galaxies, faint galaxies, and the proto-Galaxy

In this episode, Michelle and Nicole explore the chemistry of faint galaxies and RR-Lyrae stars, tracing the proto-Galaxy, discussing the failure of some galaxies, examining quasi-stars in relation to Little Red Dots, and…
Episode 23 – Failed galaxies, faint galaxies, and the proto-Galaxy
In this episode, Michelle and Nicole explore the chemistry of faint galaxies and RR-Lyrae stars, tracing the proto-Galaxy, discussing the failure of some galaxies, examining quasi-stars in relation to Little Red Dots, and discussing whether UNIONS 1 is a galaxy or a star cluster. Listen on major podcast platforms.
starxiv.com
October 27, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Reposted by Emma Chapman
If you're impatient to read COHERENCE, I'm posting the first 4 chapters in PDF and EPUB: www.aaronrparsons.com/books-portfo...
Coherence — Aaron Parsons
www.aaronrparsons.com
October 25, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Reposted by Emma Chapman
Cosmologists! We have a faculty job going here in Oxford - happy to answer questions. Brief version is that this remains a great & collaborative place to do science and the students are superb. 🔭 www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOP628/a...
Associate Professor of Cosmology at University of Oxford
Recruiting now: Associate Professor of Cosmology on jobs.ac.uk. Click for details and explore more academic job opportunities on the top job board
www.jobs.ac.uk
October 14, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Reposted by Emma Chapman
Today JPL lost so many incredible people. My heart hurts for every single one of them. This administration is gutting American science institutions and throwing away hyper specific experts who cannot be replaced. This is an extremely detrimental loss.
October 14, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Reposted by Emma Chapman
Episode 22 of the StarXiv is live! As I was away last week, I had to wait to listen until this morning, and it's a great line-up of papers from @payeldas.bsky.social and @nbuckley0810.bsky.social. Check it out on our website or wherever you get podcasts 🔭🧪☄️ starxiv.com/2025/10/13/e...
Episode 22 – ORCs, rings, and Galactic histories
In this episode, Payel and Nicole discuss what happens to the metallicity gradient of a satellite galaxy after it merges with its host, the existence of intermediate-age RR lyrae and radio rings, t…
starxiv.com
October 13, 2025 at 10:10 AM
My book should have had this stamped on the front cover
September 23, 2025 at 1:25 PM
I've not had time to tour my book as much as I'd like this past year, so I have a stack of "First Light" books needing happy, nerdy homes (UK only) 🔭 I'll dedicate and sign each one, so if you want to grab one for yourself, or even get a jump on Christmas (😱) head to:

www.space-stuff.co.uk
Home | Space Stuff
www.space-stuff.co.uk
August 31, 2025 at 8:45 AM
I am giving a rescheduled talk from last year, and I had to remind myself of the title. Yeaaaaah... I was clearly feeling a bit despondent when I wrote that.
August 27, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Me reading Bluesky to catch up on the Comet 3I/ATLAS = aliens drama.
☄️👽🔭
August 27, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Reposted by Emma Chapman
I have a complaint about Avi Loeb's latest work and I want to speak to management.

medium.com/@steve.desch...
This is not the quality of pseudoscience infotainment to which I have grown accustomed
Teasing the public with fraudulent or self-deluded promises of aliens used to mean something. It took work. It meant slapping together…
medium.com
August 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Reposted by Emma Chapman
Love this group picture of the "Original 7" + "Next 9" astronauts. 4 would walk on the moon. 3 more would orbit it. 2 went there twice. With the passing of Jame Lovell, they are now all gone.
August 8, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Reposted by Emma Chapman
I see the first articles in the UK press giving space to the claim that 3I/ATLAS is an alien spacecraft. Briefly:

It’s a comet that formed billions of years ago, passing through our Solar System.

It’s behaving like a comet.

There is no evidence it’s artificial.
August 8, 2025 at 6:00 AM
“We learned a lot about the Moon, but what we really learned was about the Earth.”

Jim Lovell, who guided Apollo 13 safely back to Earth, has died aged 97. His bravery was second-to-none but I loved him for his sense of wonder, and his willingness to let that show. RIP

www.bbc.com/news/article...
Jim Lovell, who guided Apollo 13 safely back to Earth, dies aged 97
Commander of Apollo 13, who rescued his men from a near certain death in space, has died aged 97.
www.bbc.com
August 8, 2025 at 8:34 PM
K the word “badass” should be trademarked for describing Michele only. She was awesome as my head of department while I was at Imperial College and now she’s like HEAD OF ALL ASTRONOMY 🪐 🔭🥰🙌

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK gets first female Astronomer Royal in 350 years
Prof Michele Dougherty is the first woman to be appointed to the influential post.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 30, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Reposted by Emma Chapman
Congratulations Prof Michele Dougherty!
July 29, 2025 at 11:20 PM
The 'Infinity Galaxy' is a marvel of both destruction and creation: a violent collision of two galaxies forming a unique black hole not born from the death of a star. It reminds me of Buzz Aldrin's words upon stepping onto the lunar surface: "Magnificent Desolation" 🔭
July 29, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Yesterday afternoon was spent chatting with two local amateur radio astronomers from @sherwoodobs.bsky.social. Experts in electrical engineering, they suggested a tweak to an antenna I was fiddling with, and I explained a weird sky signal that had stumped them. The perfect collaboration 🥰 🔭
July 18, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Reposted by Emma Chapman
Astronomers want to unlock the secrets of the early #universe by sending a miniature spacecraft to listen for an ancient whisper on the far side of the #moon. The proposed mission will study the early universe, right after the Big Bang. 🌕🛰️🔭

buff.ly/89lVtfZ

📸 RAS/ Nicolo Bernardini/ Kaan Artuc.
July 10, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Reposted by Emma Chapman
Postgraduate researchers may be overlooked by incoming sexual harassment regulations in English universities, warns @the1752group.bsky.social @ukcge.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/phd-stu... via @julietterowsell.bsky.social
PhD students ‘may be overlooked’ in sexual harassment regulations
Blurred line between staff and students could leave postgraduate researchers at greater risk
www.timeshighereducation.com
June 23, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Awesome Research Alert: The first stars are often thought of as compact, hot, and blue. However, if enough dark matter gathered at their cores and self-annihilated, it could provide outward pressure, delaying a collapse and making these stars massive, cool, and red.🔭☄️
The Evolution of Pop III.1 Protostars Powered by Dark Matter Annihilation. I. Fiducial model and first results
The existence of billion-solar-mass quasars at redshifts $z \gtrsim 7$ poses a formidable challenge to theories of black hole formation, requiring pathways for the rapid growth of massive seeds.…
arxiv.org
July 3, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Fun Easter Egg: try googling “meteorite”
July 1, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Reposted by Emma Chapman
Think you can spot a comet? ☄️

Try your eye with the *very first* citizen science project on @zooniverse.bsky.social that uses data from NSF-DOE Rubin Observatory, Comet Catchers! 🔭🧪

We can't think of a more fitting project for #AsteroidDay 🤩

☄️ cometcatchers.net ☄️
June 30, 2025 at 8:51 PM
So, as a divorced parent, I cannot describe the anxiety of it not being ‘my week’ with the kids when nuclear war breaks out. I’m not joking, I think about it all the time.
June 22, 2025 at 8:27 AM