Gabe Weible
@gabeweible.bsky.social
450 followers 240 following 24 posts
Astronomy & Astrophysics Ph.D. Student at the University of Arizona | High-Contrast Imaging of Exoplanets and Brown Dwarfs 🪐
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gabeweible.bsky.social
New protoplanet(s?) alert! I'm happy to share this LBTI image of WISPIT 2 from our team's paper led by Laird Close. Planet b was discovered at Hα with MagAO-X following the SPHERE disk discovery (R. van Capelleveen +), and CC1 might be a candidate 2nd (enshrouded?) protoplanet #exoplanets ☄️🔭🧪
Annotated false-color image of the WISPIT 2 system as seen in infrared light by the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI). The host star has been subtracted from the center of the image, with the inner lambda/D radius masked. Two bright circumstellar point sources are seen: CC1 - a superjovian protoplanet candidate(?) in the inner disk cavity, and b - a superjovian protoplanet in a disk gap further out. Three protoplanetary disk rings are also visible despite self subtraction from the KLIP-ADI algorithm (Rings 1, 2, and 3 in the companion paper by R. van Capelleveen et al.)
Reposted by Gabe Weible
Reposted by Gabe Weible
emexastris.bsky.social
My district has been without representation in the House since March.
Reposted by Gabe Weible
drfunkyspoon.bsky.social
“The Destruction of NASA’s Mission” Whistleblowers reveal OMB’s Unconstitutional Plot to Gut the Agency

New from Committee on Commerce, Science, Transportation Ranking Member Maria Cantwell.

NOTE: This is indeed what I have seen going on inside NASA.
🧪🔭

www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...
Reposted by Gabe Weible
astrowright.bsky.social
She basically invented astrophysics.
She proved the laws of chemistry, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics, not just gravity, applied universally.
She determined the composition of the sun and primacy of hydrogen in the universe.
She advised the PhDs of Frank Drake and Frank Kameny.
elisecutts.bsky.social
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin ✨ figured out what stars are made of ✨ when she was just 25. 🔭🧪

Her PhD thesis basically established the Harvard astro department — at a time when Harvard didn't officially allow woman students.

I wrote this little profile to mark the 100th anniversary of her thesis:
Reposted by Gabe Weible
aussiastronomer.bsky.social
My first NASA position, as a contractor in the Kepler Science Office, was on a H-1b visa. NASA ended up giving me a medal and now I’m the Chief Scientist of NASA Exoplanet Science Institute and an American citizen to boot. Seems like a net win for the US, no? But now this:
Trump announces $1m ‘golden visa’ and raises fees for H-1B visas to $100,000 – US politics live
US president signs executive orders making it more expensive to get special skills visa while expediting process for those who can pay large sums
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by Gabe Weible
todlauer.bsky.social
Yesterday, I reposted this with a bit of sarcasm, but the gross ignorance of Duffy with regards to the very basics of how we do space exploration keeps gnawing at me. JFK in starting Apollo said, "...landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth" in a single sentence. (continued)
nbcnews.com
It's full steam ahead for NASA, according to Sean Duffy, the agency's acting administrator. During an internal employee town hall, Duffy warned of "letting safety be the enemy of progress" when it comes to winning the space race, according to a recording obtained by NBC News.
Interim NASA head tells agency that it will beat China back to the moon
Acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy also told agency employees not to let "safety be the enemy of progress."
nbcnews.to
Reposted by Gabe Weible
stewardobservatory.bsky.social
Using Steward Observatory's MagAO-X, astronomers have captured—for the first time—a baby planet growing inside a disk of dust and gas. The sharp U of A-developed adaptive optics revealed how young worlds plow dark paths through their star’s protoplanetary disks as they form: bit.ly/3Vn0CSo
gabeweible.bsky.social
Yes, JWST should be able to observe this in the IR similarly to LBTI and VLT/SPHERE, but at a bit lower spatial resolution. It would be more sensitive than these observations at wide separations (especially beyond the separation of planet b), but may have poorer performance at close separations
gabeweible.bsky.social
The press release from @stewardobservatory.bsky.social is online now: news.arizona.edu/news/growing... #exoplanets ☄️🧪🔭
gabeweible.bsky.social
We don't detect a significant Hα accretion signal from CC1, but see it clearly at L' and also in weaker detections at Ks and z'. It appears to be too red for scattered starlight, so we propose it may be a 2nd protoplanet, more embedded in dust. Read our paper here: iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3...
gabeweible.bsky.social
New protoplanet(s?) alert! I'm happy to share this LBTI image of WISPIT 2 from our team's paper led by Laird Close. Planet b was discovered at Hα with MagAO-X following the SPHERE disk discovery (R. van Capelleveen +), and CC1 might be a candidate 2nd (enshrouded?) protoplanet #exoplanets ☄️🔭🧪
Annotated false-color image of the WISPIT 2 system as seen in infrared light by the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI). The host star has been subtracted from the center of the image, with the inner lambda/D radius masked. Two bright circumstellar point sources are seen: CC1 - a superjovian protoplanet candidate(?) in the inner disk cavity, and b - a superjovian protoplanet in a disk gap further out. Three protoplanetary disk rings are also visible despite self subtraction from the KLIP-ADI algorithm (Rings 1, 2, and 3 in the companion paper by R. van Capelleveen et al.)
Reposted by Gabe Weible
danielapai.bsky.social
Enjoyed talking w Bruce Dorminey in Iceland about our universal framework to assess which exoplanets & moons may be habitable. Key for search for life beyond Earth! His story: @forbes.com
www.forbes.com/sites/bruced...
@stewardobservatory.bsky.social @uarizonalpl.bsky.social @uarizona.bsky.social
https://forbes.com/sites/brucedor…
Reposted by Gabe Weible
amaditalks.bsky.social
The Smithsonian is an independent institution. It is not a branch, department or division of the federal government. There's no reason why the executive should have any control over anything the Smithsonian does.
kylegriffin1.bsky.social
BREAKING WSJ:

The Trump White House plans to conduct a far-reaching review of Smithsonian museum exhibitions, materials and operations ahead of America's 250th anniversary to ensure the museums align with "Trump's interpretation of American history." www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Exclusive | White House to Vet Smithsonian Museums to Fit Trump’s Historical Vision
Top White House officials will scrutinize exhibitions, internal processes, collections and artist grants ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.
www.wsj.com
Reposted by Gabe Weible
aussiastronomer.bsky.social
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY, ALPHA CEN A b!!!

First hinted at in Wagner+21, now Chas Beichman, Aniket Sanghi and team have published new JWST images of alpha Cen A showing another hint of this Saturn-sized planet candidate!

exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/overview/alp...
Screenshot of the NASA Exoplanet Archive homepage for the alpha Cen system.
Reposted by Gabe Weible
hankgreen.bsky.social
mRNA tech is some of the coolest, most powerful, most promising scifi shit humans are currently doing. They are being investigated to help with cancers, autoimmune diseases, M.S., stroke recovery, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and high cholesterol.
Reposted by Gabe Weible
davidimiller.bsky.social
🧪 BREAKING (good news): Senate subcommittee says NO! to Trump's proposed slashes to NASA & NSF funding.

Today, the subcommittee said to keep NASA + NSF funding at $33.9 billion, the same as in FY24.

See 7:15 below. Full Senate appropriations committee meets tomorrow about it.

🧵 1/3
Subcommittee Markup of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
www.appropriations.senate.gov
Reposted by Gabe Weible
aussiastronomer.bsky.social
Like many NASA projects and missions, the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute was asked to submit a closeout budget this week. Hopefully just a drill! But very difficult just the same. 💔

Regardless of what happens, I’m *so proud* of the service we have performed for the community over the years. ✨🪐💾🔭👩🏻‍🔬
gabeweible.bsky.social
This is very cool! I have used PCA to subtract stellar PSFs for high-contrast (circumstellar) imaging in a similar fashion, but I had never considered a solar-system application like this.
gabeweible.bsky.social
There's this analytical result from the 2nd Ed. Of Stellar Interiors by Hansen, Kawaler, and Trimble, Ch. 9 (plus an aside on the implications for life on Earth!)
Excerpt from a textbook showing a derived expression for the approximage luminosity evolution of the Sun from the ZAMS to the present.
Reposted by Gabe Weible
jluastro.bsky.social
NASA Goddard is pushing through a 48% staff reduction!!! This could impact the upcoming Roman Space Telescope and many other future Astro missions. News coverage seems not sensational enough. Are we really going to let NASA (as we know it) die quietly? www.space.com/space-explor...
NASA begins push to slash workforce with more staff buyouts, early retirements as budget cuts loom
NASA employees have until July 25 to decide if they'll stay or go.
www.space.com
Reposted by Gabe Weible
kevinkhu.bsky.social
#Astronomy grad students, come work with me or one of my fantastic colleagues for 6 months! I'm happy to answer questions about the program and/or my #exoplanets projects! 🔭🧪🪐
caltechipac.bsky.social
IPAC's Visiting Graduate Student Fellowship program is accepting applications!🥳

✨Gain research experience and mentoring from IPAC scientists
✨Access large science datasets
✨Receive a monthly stipend

Browse the research projects and apply by 4/30: www.ipac.caltech.edu/page/graduate-fellowship-2026
This image contains information about the 2026 IPAC Visiting Graduate Student Fellowship program. The Call for Applications is now open for graduate students who hold U.S. citizenship, national, or permanent resident status by the application deadline, which is at 4 p.m. PDT on April 30, 2025. Applicants may be currently enrolled at US or non-US institutions. Learn more about IPAC's Visiting Graduate Student Fellowship program at https://www.ipac.caltech.edu/page/graduate-fellowship-2026.
Reposted by Gabe Weible
elbrodie.bsky.social
US students. Looking to apply to graduate school? Had an offer rescinded recently? The University of British Columbia in Canada will re-open the application portal in some departments for US students from April 14-18.
Details: www.grad.ubc.ca/us-applicant...
#ubc #AcademicSky #PhDSky #ScienceSky
US Applicant Week
www.grad.ubc.ca