Recap of the Maria Mitchell Association at the 237th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society

Regina Jorgenson • February 2, 2021

The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association is proud to recognize and congratulate its six summer 2020 National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) interns (virtual for 2020) for their wonderful job presenting their research at the recent meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS). The 237th meeting of the AAS took place on January 11-15, 2021 and in light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the meeting was held virtually. Over 3,000 astronomers from around the world came together to network and share the news of their latest discoveries. As is customary, the Maria Mitchell Observatory (MMO) brought its six NSF-REU interns to the meeting to present their summer research findings. In a continuation of the long tradition of excellence in research and mentoring at the Maria Mitchell Observatory, each intern presented their work, covering a range of topics from exoplanets and X-ray studies of stars, to seeking out the missing matter in the Universe and understanding how black holes devour stars that wander too close. Each intern presented their research in the format of an iPoster (interactive poster) as well as a five-minute talk followed by questions. The interns did an exceptional job and the Maria Mitchell Association is proud to be represented by such an astounding group of young researchers! A complete list of all of the MMO intern presentations follows below. 

 

Other highlights from the meeting included: a new exoplanet confirmed orbiting around a triple star system; a rocky planet found orbiting a very old star; the discovery that the disk of our own Milky Way Galaxy is warped; a new effort to use distant pulsars as ultra-precise clocks to measure the generalized gravitational wave background; and the discovery of the most distant quasar yet observed. For more on this last story, listen to Dr. Jorgenson’s interview on WCAI’s Looking Skyward (https://www.capeandislands.org/post/looking-skyward-most-distant-quasar). In addition, there were multiple interesting panels and discussions on equity, inclusion, and diversity efforts, many of them emphasizing and demonstrating the impact that programs such as the MMO’s NSF-REU and post-bac fellowship programs are having on increasing, supporting, and retaining underrepresented groups in astronomy. 

 

The following is a complete list of the MMO’s REU intern presentations:

 

  • Sharpening NuSTAR X-ray Images of Pulsar Wind Nebula G21.5-0.9
  • Devon Barros (Bridgewater State University)

 

  • First Millimeter Flares Detected From Epsilon Eridani With ALMA
  • Kiana Burton (Temple University)

 

  • Search for X-rays from RV Tau Variable Stars
  • Sarah Graber (Columbia University)

 

  • Using TESS Data to Search for Transiting Exoplanets Around White Dwarfs
  • Alex Granados (Wellesley University)

 

  • Untangling the Cosmic Web: VLT/MUSE Observations of FRB Host Galaxy 180924
  • Andrea Mejia (CUNY- Hunter College)

 

  • Systematic Classification of Tidal Disruption Event Light Curves from the Zwicky Transient Facility
  • Natalia Villanueva (Harvard University)

For Immediate Release

February 2, 2021

Contact: Kelly Bernatzky, MMA Development Associate

kbernatzky@mariamitchell.org

Recent Posts

Hoop Rolling

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • September 14, 2026
Do you know what these Mitchell House Junior Historians are doing? It is a good old-fashioned round of hoop rolling. And, they had a lot of fun learning how to use them down at the Coffin School one day. Hoop rolling or hoop trundling were popular from very early on and well into the twentieth century. By early on I mean Ancient Greece even. It’s on ancient pottery and was not limited to children! Native Americans, ancient Rome, 16 th century England – it’s been known by different names, taken various formats, played by various ages, and played through various ages. In the nineteenth century, both boys and girls did hoop rolling – and it was likely seen as a more “ladylike” active game that girls could play. I’m assuming that is likely the reason why several women’s colleges still have I tradition of rolling hoops. We use these sometimes in the summer during our weeklong Mitchell House children’s program – Junior Historians. Do not be too surprised if you see me out on the lawn on Vestal Street practicing on warm days this fall, winter, and spring! Got to get up to speed! JNLF

Keep Calm and Bird On: September 2026

September 1, 2026
“If you don’t look, you don’t see. You have to go and look.” -Edith Andrews

Mallow!

By Jascin Leonardo Finger • August 31, 2026
I’m sure you’ve seen it as you trek about the island – near the beaches and ponds. This image is of the swamp or marsh mallow that we have on Vestal Street in our garden out front of the Observatory. It can grow in drier places – though it’s not as lush as at Capaum Pond or out in Quaise. It’s in the Hibiscus family – and is fairly tropical looking and always a delight to see.  “When in bloom, one of the most showy plants of the Island, for a mass of the magnificent, large flowers on the edge of a blue pond causes one’s heart to thrill at the wealth of deep pink colour . . .” from Nantucket Wild Flowers, Alice O. Albertson (cousin of Maria Mitchell), 1921. JNLF
Show More