Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · Aug 27

UArizona is eligible for the 51 Pegasi b Fellowship in Planetary Astronomy 🚀 Covering solar system & exoplanets. Apply to join us: heisingsimons.app.box.com/s/y8jg5tbsbd...

51 Pegasi b Guidelines and Application.pdf | Powered by Box

heisingsimons.app.box.com

1 4

Reposted by Ilaria Pascucci

Sarah Tuttle @niais.bsky.social · Aug 15

This is devastating, and part of a larger move to entirely push science out of NASA's mission. It is horrific betrayal of so much work, not to mention the fact that it violates NASA's charter.

Jennifer Ouellette @jenlucpiquant.bsky.social · Aug 15

NASA’s acting chief calls for the end of Earth science at the space agency arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...

NASA’s acting chief calls for the end of Earth science at the space agency

NASA’s charter clearly states the agency should study planet Earth, however.

arstechnica.com

49 560 1.4K

Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · Aug 13

🚀 Join us Tue Aug 19 for #ExoPAG32 — NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group meeting!

✅ Free & virtual
🗳️ Vote on a community finding
🌌 Mission updates
👩‍🔬 Early career talks
🛰️ NASA program updates from the Astrophysics Division Director

Register: go.nasa.gov/45r07LV

Exoplanet Program: Registration

NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program, the search for planets and life beyond our solar system.

go.nasa.gov

2 6

Reposted by Ilaria Pascucci

Heidi B. Hammel @hbhammel.bsky.social · Aug 13

2019: "NASA is one of the most recognised, revered and iconic brands in the world" (davidsonbranding.com.au/nasa-modern-...). 2025: >1000 NASA mission-support staff (and 2800 other NASA employees) have left under the current administration.

The chart shows the hemorrhage of NASA staff in recent months, with darker orange indicating mission-support staff (over 1000 people), and the lighter color other NASA staff. GSFC alone has lost over 800 people. NASA HQ lost over 400 people, as did Kennedy Space Center. Source: NASA, reported by Politico.

3 21 52

Reposted by Ilaria Pascucci

Emily Rauscher @astronemly.bsky.social · Aug 13

It’s depressing how much faster it is to break a thing than it is to build it

Heidi B. Hammel @hbhammel.bsky.social · Aug 13

2019: "NASA is one of the most recognised, revered and iconic brands in the world" (davidsonbranding.com.au/nasa-modern-...). 2025: >1000 NASA mission-support staff (and 2800 other NASA employees) have left under the current administration.

1 7

Reposted by Ilaria Pascucci

Kevin Hardegree-Ullman @kevinkhu.bsky.social · Aug 12

@caltechipac.bsky.social is featuring me in their "Meet the Scientists" profiles! Check it out to learn more about how I became an astronomer, what I work on, and how I ended up at IPAC!

www.ipac.caltech.edu/meet-the-sta...

#exoplanets 🔭🧪

Kevin Hardegree-Ullman

In this profile, we feature Kevin Hardegree−Ullman, who supports the NASA Exoplanet Archive at IPAC.

www.ipac.caltech.edu

1 8 22

Reposted by Ilaria Pascucci

Mike Henry @onlyveesaz.bsky.social · Aug 10

Parting shot of this rock star from last week… Costa’s Hummingbird on cholla skeleton 🪶☀️🌵 (sunrise reflection in bird’s eye)

200 1.3K 12K

Reposted by Ilaria Pascucci

Indivisible Tucson Action Alliance @indivisibletucson.bsky.social · Jul 4

Thank you Mitchell Anderson for your Letter to the Editor in today's Daily Star.

3 36 170

Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · Jul 4

And there is absolutely nothing to celebrate today after the horrific bill that Congress passed yesterday 😞

1

Reposted by Ilaria Pascucci

darren32359.bsky.social @darren32359.bsky.social · Jul 4

570 6.9K 26K

Reposted by Ilaria Pascucci

James Davenport @jradavenport.com · Jul 1

Call it millennial cynicism if you like, but I truly believe nothing will turn the Republican base or leadership against Trump. Our only hope is getting young voters to turn out for elections, and every march/petition is useful only if it serves that goal.

NPR @npr.org · Jul 1

The Republican megabill cuts trillions in taxes, while scaling back spending on Medicaid and other federal programs. It now heads to the House, where some GOP lawmakers are signaling major objections.

Senate GOP passes Trump's sweeping policy bill, setting up decisive vote in the House

The Republican megabill cuts trillions in taxes, while scaling back spending on Medicaid and other federal programs. It now heads to the House, where some GOP lawmakers are signaling major objections.

n.pr

1 2

Reposted by Ilaria Pascucci

Indivisible Tucson Action Alliance @indivisibletucson.bsky.social · Jul 2

DEMAND CISCOMANI MUST DO THE RIGHT THING.
Tomorrow - July 2

1 30 79

Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · Jun 27

The paper appeared today on astroph: arxiv.org/pdf/2506.20919

arxiv.org

Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · Jun 27

Great result led by Kate Su at the University of Arizona: discovery of gas released by a giant impact around a 150 Myr-old star – glad to have contributed! #JWST #DebrisDisks #Exoplanets @jwstfeed.bsky.social @uarizonalpl.bsky.social @nasaexoplanets.extwitter.link

1 2 13

Reposted by Ilaria Pascucci

NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory @vrubinobs.bsky.social · Jun 23

Meet your new cosmic neighbors ☄️

Introducing a swarm of over 2100 new asteroids discovered by NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory!

Rubin discovered these asteroids in about 10.5 hours of observing across 7 nights.

They've never been seen by humanity before...until now.🔭🧪

youtu.be/DTuq-vBsDJE

5 45 140

Reposted by Ilaria Pascucci

Dr. Lucian Walkowicz @notnotrocketscience.com · Jun 23

Because it's not being said as part of this press conference, @vrubinobs.bsky.social would not be possible without the many, many international scientists and collaborators, some around the world, but many who immigrated to the US and are scientists and engineers here

Dr. Lucian Walkowicz @notnotrocketscience.com · Jun 23

there's so much going on I almost forgot the telescope project i have worked on for TWENTY YEARS is revealing its first images today! Tune in to watch live:

NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory @vrubinobs.bsky.social · Jun 23

Today's the day — it's officially T-0!

GET READY: Your full First Look at images from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory is just hours away! We're about to reveal the preview of the greatest cosmic movie ever made 🎬 #RubinFirstLook #CaptureTheCosmos 🔭🧪

⌚️ 11am US EDT
🔗: ls.st/rubin-first-look-livestream

2 29 79

Reposted by Ilaria Pascucci

Eric Bellm @ebellm.bsky.social · Jun 23

Here it is: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIJf...

Trifid and Lagoon Nebulae - VIDEO - EN

YouTube video by Rubin Observatory

www.youtube.com

4 2

Reposted by Ilaria Pascucci

James Davenport @jradavenport.com · Jun 23

Zeljko talking about galaxies in @vrubinobs.bsky.social data, and showing off some amazing nail polish.

A reporter asked what’s up with the color: it’s the signature observatory color scheme… branding!

1 1 20

Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · Jun 23

Thrilled to wake up this morning to the first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory! Stunning images and videos - here’s the link: www.nsf.gov/news/first-i...

Ever-changing universe revealed in first imagery from NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory

The NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, a major new scientific facility jointly funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy…

www.nsf.gov

3

Reposted by Ilaria Pascucci

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · Jun 14

Massive #NoKings march in New York City!

690 11K 51K

Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · Jun 13

Twelve ALMA/AGE-PRO papers just out! Exploring how gas and dust evolve in disks 🌟🌀 — Congrats to all authors! 🎉
NRAO press release: public.nrao.edu/news/alma-pl...

4 9

Reposted by Ilaria Pascucci

Łukasz Tychoniec @ltychoniec.bsky.social · Jun 12

I attended a meeting: "Recovery plan for Ukrainian astronomy" organized by @unileiden.bsky.social @astro4dev.bsky.social It was great to interact with Ukrainian astronomers, learn about their science and challenges. I look forward to fostering new collaborations in both the Netherlands and Poland.

1 9 88

Reposted by Ilaria Pascucci

David Gura @davidgura.bsky.social · Jun 12

Sen. Alex Padilla, who was just forcibly removed from a DHS press conference, is the ranking member of Judiciary’s subcommittee on immigration, citizenship, and border safety, which has “oversight of federal agencies with citizenship, asylum, refugee, and immigration enforcement responsibilities.”

670 7.5K 22K

Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · Jun 9

It’s been a privilege to serve as Chair of the Executive Committee for NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group. I’m pleased to pass the torch to Prof. Ian Crossfield and look forward to his vision and leadership.
#NASA #Exoplanets

5

Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · Jun 8

Full Tucson night hike experience: tarantula, scorpion, and coyotes howling in the distance🦂🌵🌌 #Wildlife #NightHike #SonoranDesert

4