Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
@astrobonk.bsky.social
astro phd candidate | binary millisecond pulsars | michigan state university
Pinned
Multiwavelength Evidence for Two New Candidate Transitional Millisecond Pulsars in the Sub-luminous Disk State: 4FGL J0639.1--8009 and 4FGL J1824.2+1231
We report the discovery of two new Galactic accreting compact objects consistent with the respective positions of the unassociated Fermi-LAT gamma-ray sources 4FGL J0639.1--8009 and 4FGL J1824.2+1231....
arxiv.org
My first PhD paper is out! We present two new compact binaries that seem to belong to the rare class of 'transitional' millisecond pulsars. arxiv.org/abs/2503.07709
The Community Science Book for the proposed Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS) is out! I was the lead author for a science case showing how AXIS could observe transitional millisecond pulsars (tMSPs) when they have accretion disks arxiv.org/abs/2511.00253
The Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite Community Science Book
The AXIS Community Science Book represents the collective effort of more than 500 scientists worldwide to define the transformative science enabled by the Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS), a ne...
arxiv.org
November 4, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The Community Science Book for the proposed Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS) is out! I was the lead author for a science case showing how AXIS could observe transitional millisecond pulsars (tMSPs) when they have accretion disks arxiv.org/abs/2511.00253
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
Open Sesame!
The ELT doors have moved for the first time. This was no small feat, as each door will weigh 650 tonnes once completed.
The ELT dome & its doors will guard the telescope from the harsh conditions of the Atacama Desert.
https://www.eso.org/public/videos/potw2544a/
🔭 🧪
📹 ESO/ACe
The ELT doors have moved for the first time. This was no small feat, as each door will weigh 650 tonnes once completed.
The ELT dome & its doors will guard the telescope from the harsh conditions of the Atacama Desert.
https://www.eso.org/public/videos/potw2544a/
🔭 🧪
📹 ESO/ACe
November 3, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Open Sesame!
The ELT doors have moved for the first time. This was no small feat, as each door will weigh 650 tonnes once completed.
The ELT dome & its doors will guard the telescope from the harsh conditions of the Atacama Desert.
https://www.eso.org/public/videos/potw2544a/
🔭 🧪
📹 ESO/ACe
The ELT doors have moved for the first time. This was no small feat, as each door will weigh 650 tonnes once completed.
The ELT dome & its doors will guard the telescope from the harsh conditions of the Atacama Desert.
https://www.eso.org/public/videos/potw2544a/
🔭 🧪
📹 ESO/ACe
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
Join us this Friday for a special workshop from Movement Consulting: "Building Coalitions for Radical Change," presented by founder Dra. Nicole Cabrera-Salazar. For more information about the event, or to register, make sure to check out our website!
November 3, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Join us this Friday for a special workshop from Movement Consulting: "Building Coalitions for Radical Change," presented by founder Dra. Nicole Cabrera-Salazar. For more information about the event, or to register, make sure to check out our website!
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
The countdown is ON. ⏳
We’re one year from launch — and kicking off the Ready, Set, Roman! Training Series!
First up: Tools for Exploring Roman’s Core Community Surveys Nov 4 (Tomorrow!) • 1 PM EST
Get hands-on with the data that will shape a decade of discovery.
bit.ly/4oP3c06
We’re one year from launch — and kicking off the Ready, Set, Roman! Training Series!
First up: Tools for Exploring Roman’s Core Community Surveys Nov 4 (Tomorrow!) • 1 PM EST
Get hands-on with the data that will shape a decade of discovery.
bit.ly/4oP3c06
November 3, 2025 at 7:50 PM
The countdown is ON. ⏳
We’re one year from launch — and kicking off the Ready, Set, Roman! Training Series!
First up: Tools for Exploring Roman’s Core Community Surveys Nov 4 (Tomorrow!) • 1 PM EST
Get hands-on with the data that will shape a decade of discovery.
bit.ly/4oP3c06
We’re one year from launch — and kicking off the Ready, Set, Roman! Training Series!
First up: Tools for Exploring Roman’s Core Community Surveys Nov 4 (Tomorrow!) • 1 PM EST
Get hands-on with the data that will shape a decade of discovery.
bit.ly/4oP3c06
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
#AAS247 We're looking for volunteers to fill important positions at the winter meeting. We love getting help from undergrads, grads, postdocs, and local amateur astronomers to help with sessions, registration, special events, and various other essential roles. www.cognitoforms.com/AAS5/AAS247V... 🔭
October 1, 2025 at 7:56 PM
#AAS247 We're looking for volunteers to fill important positions at the winter meeting. We love getting help from undergrads, grads, postdocs, and local amateur astronomers to help with sessions, registration, special events, and various other essential roles. www.cognitoforms.com/AAS5/AAS247V... 🔭
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
arxiv.org/abs/2509.14423
⭐️paper day!⭐️
hey now, we found thousands of stellar variability periods, including ~26k very high likelihood new ASAS-SN rotation periods from cool dwarfs!
(also I have missed abt 5 typos in this version already, but it’s only been submitted to ApJS so it’ll get fixed!)..
⭐️paper day!⭐️
hey now, we found thousands of stellar variability periods, including ~26k very high likelihood new ASAS-SN rotation periods from cool dwarfs!
(also I have missed abt 5 typos in this version already, but it’s only been submitted to ApJS so it’ll get fixed!)..
200,000+ Deep Learning Inferred Periods of Stellar Variability from The All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae
Stars exhibit a range of variability periods that depend on their mass, age, and evolutionary stage. For space-based photometric data, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have demonstrated success in...
arxiv.org
September 19, 2025 at 1:39 AM
arxiv.org/abs/2509.14423
⭐️paper day!⭐️
hey now, we found thousands of stellar variability periods, including ~26k very high likelihood new ASAS-SN rotation periods from cool dwarfs!
(also I have missed abt 5 typos in this version already, but it’s only been submitted to ApJS so it’ll get fixed!)..
⭐️paper day!⭐️
hey now, we found thousands of stellar variability periods, including ~26k very high likelihood new ASAS-SN rotation periods from cool dwarfs!
(also I have missed abt 5 typos in this version already, but it’s only been submitted to ApJS so it’ll get fixed!)..
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
Join us on tonight from 8:30-10:30pm for public night at the MSU Observatory!
Visit our website for FAQs: web.pa.msu.edu/astro/observ...
Address: MSU Observatory, 4299 Pavilion Dr, Lansing, MI 48910
Visit our website for FAQs: web.pa.msu.edu/astro/observ...
Address: MSU Observatory, 4299 Pavilion Dr, Lansing, MI 48910
September 13, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Join us on tonight from 8:30-10:30pm for public night at the MSU Observatory!
Visit our website for FAQs: web.pa.msu.edu/astro/observ...
Address: MSU Observatory, 4299 Pavilion Dr, Lansing, MI 48910
Visit our website for FAQs: web.pa.msu.edu/astro/observ...
Address: MSU Observatory, 4299 Pavilion Dr, Lansing, MI 48910
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
This is the letter sent by NASA GSFC Associate Center Director to the local Union President regarding cessation of union activities at GSFC. NASA Wallops employees got an identical letter. The wording matches a letter that was sent by the JSC Center Director. More: nasawatch.com/personnel-ne...
Goddard and Wallops Union Letters
this is the letter sent by NASA GSFC Associate Center Director to the local Union President
nasawatch.com
September 12, 2025 at 4:04 PM
This is the letter sent by NASA GSFC Associate Center Director to the local Union President regarding cessation of union activities at GSFC. NASA Wallops employees got an identical letter. The wording matches a letter that was sent by the JSC Center Director. More: nasawatch.com/personnel-ne...
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
Results from the first part of our fourth LIGO @egovirgo.bsky.social KAGRA observing run are out today!
We're pleased to share the largest catalog of gravitational-wave observations with more discoveries of black holes and neutron stars
📰 arxiv.org/abs/2508.18082
🔭🧪⚛️☄️ #GWTC4
We're pleased to share the largest catalog of gravitational-wave observations with more discoveries of black holes and neutron stars
📰 arxiv.org/abs/2508.18082
🔭🧪⚛️☄️ #GWTC4
August 26, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Results from the first part of our fourth LIGO @egovirgo.bsky.social KAGRA observing run are out today!
We're pleased to share the largest catalog of gravitational-wave observations with more discoveries of black holes and neutron stars
📰 arxiv.org/abs/2508.18082
🔭🧪⚛️☄️ #GWTC4
We're pleased to share the largest catalog of gravitational-wave observations with more discoveries of black holes and neutron stars
📰 arxiv.org/abs/2508.18082
🔭🧪⚛️☄️ #GWTC4
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
From Chloe Klare: Interested in the definitive, absolutely objective ranking of the best differential equations in astronomy and astrophysics?? Read on!! 🔭✨☄️ astrobites.org/2025/08/18/t...
The Top Ten Differential Equations in Astronomy, Ranked!
Interested in the definitive, absolutely objective ranking of the best differential equations in astronomy and astrophysics?? Read on!!
astrobites.org
August 19, 2025 at 11:28 PM
From Chloe Klare: Interested in the definitive, absolutely objective ranking of the best differential equations in astronomy and astrophysics?? Read on!! 🔭✨☄️ astrobites.org/2025/08/18/t...
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
👀👀👀
#SN1987A pre-print 🔭
New #JWST results (epoch 13500 days post-explosion).
The spectra are *unreal*.
A new iron signature could be interesting.
Q: So, is there (finally) a pulsar?
A: Astronomers are still looking, but there is some indirect evidence for it so far!
arxiv.org/abs/2508.03395
#SN1987A pre-print 🔭
New #JWST results (epoch 13500 days post-explosion).
The spectra are *unreal*.
A new iron signature could be interesting.
Q: So, is there (finally) a pulsar?
A: Astronomers are still looking, but there is some indirect evidence for it so far!
arxiv.org/abs/2508.03395
August 6, 2025 at 4:04 AM
👀👀👀
#SN1987A pre-print 🔭
New #JWST results (epoch 13500 days post-explosion).
The spectra are *unreal*.
A new iron signature could be interesting.
Q: So, is there (finally) a pulsar?
A: Astronomers are still looking, but there is some indirect evidence for it so far!
arxiv.org/abs/2508.03395
#SN1987A pre-print 🔭
New #JWST results (epoch 13500 days post-explosion).
The spectra are *unreal*.
A new iron signature could be interesting.
Q: So, is there (finally) a pulsar?
A: Astronomers are still looking, but there is some indirect evidence for it so far!
arxiv.org/abs/2508.03395
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
so excited to be presenting at @astronomyontap.bsky.social - Lansing on 8/13 with Laura Chomiuk !!!! hope to see you there : )
August 4, 2025 at 9:21 PM
so excited to be presenting at @astronomyontap.bsky.social - Lansing on 8/13 with Laura Chomiuk !!!! hope to see you there : )
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
Join this month's Roman Virtual Lecture Series to learn about observing accreting neutron stars and black holes with Roman. 🌟
Subscribe to tinyurl.com/RVLSsubscr for call-in details!
📅 Thurs July 31
🕐 4-4:30 PM EDT
🔗 bit.ly/4m7MkjY
Subscribe to tinyurl.com/RVLSsubscr for call-in details!
📅 Thurs July 31
🕐 4-4:30 PM EDT
🔗 bit.ly/4m7MkjY
July 30, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Join this month's Roman Virtual Lecture Series to learn about observing accreting neutron stars and black holes with Roman. 🌟
Subscribe to tinyurl.com/RVLSsubscr for call-in details!
📅 Thurs July 31
🕐 4-4:30 PM EDT
🔗 bit.ly/4m7MkjY
Subscribe to tinyurl.com/RVLSsubscr for call-in details!
📅 Thurs July 31
🕐 4-4:30 PM EDT
🔗 bit.ly/4m7MkjY
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
Heard the latest news from the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration? We detected the collision of the most massive pair of black holes so far: #GW231123 weighing in at ~137 + ~103 times the mass of the Sun!
So to celebrate, here’s a handy chart ✨
Just how chonky are these black holes? 🤔
So to celebrate, here’s a handy chart ✨
Just how chonky are these black holes? 🤔
July 26, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Heard the latest news from the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration? We detected the collision of the most massive pair of black holes so far: #GW231123 weighing in at ~137 + ~103 times the mass of the Sun!
So to celebrate, here’s a handy chart ✨
Just how chonky are these black holes? 🤔
So to celebrate, here’s a handy chart ✨
Just how chonky are these black holes? 🤔
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
🚨BREAKING NEWS! 🚨
🚀 the Voyager Declaration has LAUNCHED.
NASA employees join a growing rebellion against Trump’s anti-science, anti-American agenda.
🧵(1/4)
🚀 the Voyager Declaration has LAUNCHED.
NASA employees join a growing rebellion against Trump’s anti-science, anti-American agenda.
🧵(1/4)
July 21, 2025 at 12:00 PM
🚨BREAKING NEWS! 🚨
🚀 the Voyager Declaration has LAUNCHED.
NASA employees join a growing rebellion against Trump’s anti-science, anti-American agenda.
🧵(1/4)
🚀 the Voyager Declaration has LAUNCHED.
NASA employees join a growing rebellion against Trump’s anti-science, anti-American agenda.
🧵(1/4)
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
![Comic. The Most-Observed Animal and Plant in Each State on iNaturalist. (Not the most common species in the state, just the one people have reported the most times.) [labeled map of the US] WA: Mallard/Western Sword Fern. OR: Mule Deer/Western Ponderosa Pine. CA: Western Fence Lizard/California Poppy. HI: Green Sea Turtle/‘Ōhi’a Lehua. ID: Mallard/Big Sagebrush. NV: Common Side-Blotched Lizard/Creosote Bush. MT: White-Tailed Deer/Common Yarrow. WY: American Bison/Sticky Geranium. UT: Mule Deer/Utah Juniper. AZ: Ornate Tree Lizard/Saguaro. CO: Mule Deer/Great Mullein. NM: Mule Deer/Creosote Bush. AK: Moose/Fireweed. ND: American Bison/Prairie Rose. SD: American Bison/Hoary Vervain. NE: American Robin/Common Milkweed. KS: Ornate Box Turtle/Amur Honeysuckle. OK: Pond Slider/Eastern Redcedar. TX: Northern Cardinal/Pinladies. MN, WI, IL: Common Eastern Bumble Bee/Common Milkweed. IA, MI: White-Tailed Deer/Common Milkweed. MO: Brown-Belted Bumble Bee/Amur Honeysuckle. AR: Three-toed Box Turtle/Chinese Privet. LA: Green Anole/Baldcypress. IN: American Robin/Amur Honeysuckle. OH: Eastern Pondhawk/Virginia Springbeauty. KY: Common Box Turtle/Amur Honeysuckle. TN: American Robin/Christmas Fern. MS: Northern Cardinal/Pale Pitcher Plant. AL: Gulf Fritillary/American Sweetgum. GA: Green Anole/American Sweetgum. FL: Brown Anole/White Beggarticks. NY: Eastern Gray Squirrel/White Snakeroot. PA: White-Tailed Deer/Garlic Mustard. WV: White-Tailed Deer/Great Rhododendron. VA: White-Tailed Deer/Eastern Poison Ivy. MD: White-Tailed Deer/Wineberry. DE: Fowler’s Toad/American Pokeweed. NC: Eastern Gray Squirrel/Christmas Fern. SC: Northern Cardinal/American Sweetgum. NJ: Spotted Lanternfly/Common Mugwort. VT: Common Eastern Bumble Bee/Eastern White Pine. NH: White-Tailed Deer/Eastern White Pine. MA: Common Eastern Bumble Bee/Eastern White Pine. CT: Common Eastern Bumble Bee/Striped Wintergreen. RI: American Herring Gull. ME: American Herring Gull/Canadian Bunchberry.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreic4f56ywseq7bqc7zza3y76pxyzn5c5htebrior6jdbrfszhuiquy@jpeg)
July 22, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
Recent Astro bachelors grads: looking for a job in the field? Consider being an "Observing Specialist" (telescope operator) at Apache Point! I worked there right after college, before going to get a masters, and it is a really lovely place
careers.nmsu.edu/jobs/telesco...
careers.nmsu.edu/jobs/telesco...
Telescope Ops Spec - Remote Locations, New Mexico, United States
Position Title: Telescope Ops Spec
Employee Classification: Telescope Ops Specialist
College/Division: Arts and Sciences College
Department: 330300-ASTRONOMY
Internal or External Search: External - Op...
careers.nmsu.edu
July 22, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Recent Astro bachelors grads: looking for a job in the field? Consider being an "Observing Specialist" (telescope operator) at Apache Point! I worked there right after college, before going to get a masters, and it is a really lovely place
careers.nmsu.edu/jobs/telesco...
careers.nmsu.edu/jobs/telesco...
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
Someone made this list of the reps that are publicly on the fence. Call these ones, even if they are not in your district!
Flippable Reps Fax Numbers
docs.google.com
July 3, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Someone made this list of the reps that are publicly on the fence. Call these ones, even if they are not in your district!
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
It's not just #NIH. It's not just #NSF. It's not just #NASA.
The whole scientific community has to make clear that all science across fed agencies is being destroyed in the US.
We can't just ask for our particular piece of the pie. The whole pie is being thrown out - saving your bit won't work.
The whole scientific community has to make clear that all science across fed agencies is being destroyed in the US.
We can't just ask for our particular piece of the pie. The whole pie is being thrown out - saving your bit won't work.
June 25, 2025 at 2:11 PM
survived and thrived
June 26, 2025 at 3:28 PM
survived and thrived
wait as a frequent SOAR observer how did i not know this 😭🩵
did you know that @vrubinobs.bsky.social and the nearby SOAR telescope share their unique teal accent colors? :-) 🔭 #instrumentation
June 23, 2025 at 10:44 PM
wait as a frequent SOAR observer how did i not know this 😭🩵
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
Today for @blackinastro.bsky.social's theme of #ShareTheUniverse for 🪐 Black in Space Week 🔭, we have two very special interview articles with black astronomers Logan White and Phoenix-Avery Sarian! Summaries for each article and links in the thread below ⬇️!
June 18, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Today for @blackinastro.bsky.social's theme of #ShareTheUniverse for 🪐 Black in Space Week 🔭, we have two very special interview articles with black astronomers Logan White and Phoenix-Avery Sarian! Summaries for each article and links in the thread below ⬇️!
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
This month we highlight a score of Black astronomers trying to pursue their ambitions without fear, and Black In Astro, an organization supporting predominantly early-career Black people working in the space sciences. Editorial: www.nature.com/articles/s41... #BlackSpaceWeek #EquityInSTEM 🔭
June 20, 2025 at 4:37 PM
This month we highlight a score of Black astronomers trying to pursue their ambitions without fear, and Black In Astro, an organization supporting predominantly early-career Black people working in the space sciences. Editorial: www.nature.com/articles/s41... #BlackSpaceWeek #EquityInSTEM 🔭
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
Schedule for #BlackSpaceWeek 2025! Links to register coming soon🤭 Which event/panels pique your interest? 👀
May 23, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Schedule for #BlackSpaceWeek 2025! Links to register coming soon🤭 Which event/panels pique your interest? 👀
Reposted by Rebecca Kyer (they/them)
The Universe is full of color, and we're T-8 days from the world's first look at Rubin's view of it! 🔭 🧪
Get ready to join us for the first preview of the cosmos captured by Rubin #RubinFirstLook
🗓️: June 23, 2025
⌚️: 11am US EDT
rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-f...
Get ready to join us for the first preview of the cosmos captured by Rubin #RubinFirstLook
🗓️: June 23, 2025
⌚️: 11am US EDT
rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-f...
rubinobservatory.org
June 15, 2025 at 6:25 PM
The Universe is full of color, and we're T-8 days from the world's first look at Rubin's view of it! 🔭 🧪
Get ready to join us for the first preview of the cosmos captured by Rubin #RubinFirstLook
🗓️: June 23, 2025
⌚️: 11am US EDT
rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-f...
Get ready to join us for the first preview of the cosmos captured by Rubin #RubinFirstLook
🗓️: June 23, 2025
⌚️: 11am US EDT
rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-f...