Dr Laura Driessen
@astrolaura.com
Radio astronomer and science communicator at the University of Sydney. Die hard Melbourne demons fan. Opinions are my own. www.astrolaura.com
Grateful for Earth's global magnetic field today. Protecting us from cosmic radiation and putting on a light show?! Mars could never 💅
November 12, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Grateful for Earth's global magnetic field today. Protecting us from cosmic radiation and putting on a light show?! Mars could never 💅
Want to see the aurora? Tonight might be the night!
There have been a bunch of coronal mass ejections (big flares of plasma) from the Sun that are all arriving at Earth today and tonight.
theconversation.com/aurora-likel...
There have been a bunch of coronal mass ejections (big flares of plasma) from the Sun that are all arriving at Earth today and tonight.
theconversation.com/aurora-likel...
Aurora likely tonight as string of solar flares heads for Earth
Four big outbursts from the Sun mean skies may light up much further from the poles than usual.
theconversation.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Want to see the aurora? Tonight might be the night!
There have been a bunch of coronal mass ejections (big flares of plasma) from the Sun that are all arriving at Earth today and tonight.
theconversation.com/aurora-likel...
There have been a bunch of coronal mass ejections (big flares of plasma) from the Sun that are all arriving at Earth today and tonight.
theconversation.com/aurora-likel...
I've been thinking a bit about how talking about aliens affects how we share new astronomy discoveries, so I wrote an article about it 👽🔭🧪 theconversation.com/is-it-aliens...
Is it aliens? Why that’s the least important question about interstellar objects
The alien question, while fun, generates misinformation and distracts from the science.
theconversation.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:22 AM
I've been thinking a bit about how talking about aliens affects how we share new astronomy discoveries, so I wrote an article about it 👽🔭🧪 theconversation.com/is-it-aliens...
Reposted by Dr Laura Driessen
Are you a grad student interested in writing for Astrobites, or do you know one? We're recruiting! Apply by November 26 :)
astrobites.org/2025/10/31/a...
astrobites.org/2025/10/31/a...
Apply to Write for Astrobites 2025!
Love astronomy, astrophysics, and science communication? Come join the Astrobites team! Applications due November 26th.
astrobites.org
October 31, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Are you a grad student interested in writing for Astrobites, or do you know one? We're recruiting! Apply by November 26 :)
astrobites.org/2025/10/31/a...
astrobites.org/2025/10/31/a...
Reposted by Dr Laura Driessen
ARC says Discovery Projects outcomes will be tomorrow (Tuesday). Linkage Projects (2025, round 1) on Wed. Over past ~year, it's often been at about 11am (Canberra).
My bot will pick up the change to RMS & post immediately.
ARC should email outcomes to lead CIs, but might take an 1hr or so for DPs
My bot will pick up the change to RMS & post immediately.
ARC should email outcomes to lead CIs, but might take an 1hr or so for DPs
October 26, 2025 at 11:17 PM
ARC says Discovery Projects outcomes will be tomorrow (Tuesday). Linkage Projects (2025, round 1) on Wed. Over past ~year, it's often been at about 11am (Canberra).
My bot will pick up the change to RMS & post immediately.
ARC should email outcomes to lead CIs, but might take an 1hr or so for DPs
My bot will pick up the change to RMS & post immediately.
ARC should email outcomes to lead CIs, but might take an 1hr or so for DPs
Hailstone from the balcony in Brisbane, this storm is intense!
Even after melting a bit it's bigger than a 50 cent piece!
Even after melting a bit it's bigger than a 50 cent piece!
October 26, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Hailstone from the balcony in Brisbane, this storm is intense!
Even after melting a bit it's bigger than a 50 cent piece!
Even after melting a bit it's bigger than a 50 cent piece!
Stopping in to say hi to one of my fav telescopes on the way to Siding Spring Observatory!
Tonight, I'm on a panel in a pub in Coonabarabran. Siding Spring is an optical Observatory, but I'm a radio astronomer. So I had to stop in at the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) first! 🔭📡
Tonight, I'm on a panel in a pub in Coonabarabran. Siding Spring is an optical Observatory, but I'm a radio astronomer. So I had to stop in at the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) first! 🔭📡
October 3, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Stopping in to say hi to one of my fav telescopes on the way to Siding Spring Observatory!
Tonight, I'm on a panel in a pub in Coonabarabran. Siding Spring is an optical Observatory, but I'm a radio astronomer. So I had to stop in at the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) first! 🔭📡
Tonight, I'm on a panel in a pub in Coonabarabran. Siding Spring is an optical Observatory, but I'm a radio astronomer. So I had to stop in at the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) first! 🔭📡
2 out of 3 Aussies will be changing their clocks forward this weekend, but why do the days get longer? Find out in my article on daylight savings: theconversation.com/daylight-sav...
Daylight saving is about to start. But why do the days get longer?
Earth’s tilt means the Sun both rises earlier and sets later as we head towards summer.
theconversation.com
October 2, 2025 at 10:56 PM
2 out of 3 Aussies will be changing their clocks forward this weekend, but why do the days get longer? Find out in my article on daylight savings: theconversation.com/daylight-sav...
Did you even see the eclipse if you don't post a fuzzy phone camera photo of it? 🌚
September 7, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Did you even see the eclipse if you don't post a fuzzy phone camera photo of it? 🌚
It's cleared up in Sydney and I can see the shadow creeping across the Moon! 🥳🌚🔭
Lunar eclipse fans, there's a total lunar eclipse this weekend! All of Australia (and a bunch of other countries) will be able to see all the best bits. The eclipse will be in the evening of Sunday the 7th or the morning of Monday the 8th of September 🧪🔭🌝
www.abc.net.au/news/science...
www.abc.net.au/news/science...
When and where can I see Monday's total lunar eclipse from Australia?
A total lunar eclipse, also known as a "blood moon", will be visible across all of Australia next week. Here's what you need to know to get the best view and snap the best photo.
www.abc.net.au
September 7, 2025 at 4:38 PM
It's cleared up in Sydney and I can see the shadow creeping across the Moon! 🥳🌚🔭
Lunar eclipse fans, there's a total lunar eclipse this weekend! All of Australia (and a bunch of other countries) will be able to see all the best bits. The eclipse will be in the evening of Sunday the 7th or the morning of Monday the 8th of September 🧪🔭🌝
www.abc.net.au/news/science...
www.abc.net.au/news/science...
When and where can I see Monday's total lunar eclipse from Australia?
A total lunar eclipse, also known as a "blood moon", will be visible across all of Australia next week. Here's what you need to know to get the best view and snap the best photo.
www.abc.net.au
September 5, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Lunar eclipse fans, there's a total lunar eclipse this weekend! All of Australia (and a bunch of other countries) will be able to see all the best bits. The eclipse will be in the evening of Sunday the 7th or the morning of Monday the 8th of September 🧪🔭🌝
www.abc.net.au/news/science...
www.abc.net.au/news/science...
On my way to Adelaide to talk about radio astronomy and radio stars! 🌟 www.assa.org.au
September 3, 2025 at 1:29 AM
On my way to Adelaide to talk about radio astronomy and radio stars! 🌟 www.assa.org.au
There's a black moon on Saturday! Sounds very cool, but is it actually cool? I wrote an article for @aunz.theconversation.com about this very recent term for a "special" new moon 🌚🧪🔭 theconversation.com/whats-a-blac...
What’s a ‘black moon’? Here’s why it’s worth looking up at the sky this week
The Moon will indeed be black, kind of. But that’s not why you should look up this weekend.
theconversation.com
August 21, 2025 at 10:09 PM
There's a black moon on Saturday! Sounds very cool, but is it actually cool? I wrote an article for @aunz.theconversation.com about this very recent term for a "special" new moon 🌚🧪🔭 theconversation.com/whats-a-blac...
It's the first day of National Science Week in Australia, so here's a friendly astronomy PSA: the Perseid meteor shower is not for us
It's not a great meteor shower for those of us down under. For more info, check out this article by Prof Horner: theconversation.com/everyones-ta... 🧪📡
It's not a great meteor shower for those of us down under. For more info, check out this article by Prof Horner: theconversation.com/everyones-ta... 🧪📡
Everyone’s talking about the Perseid meteor shower – but don’t bother trying to see it in Australia or NZ
Use our interactive globe to see if you’re in the ‘zone of disappointment’ for the Perseids – then save these dates for better meteor showers to watch.
theconversation.com
August 9, 2025 at 5:30 AM
It's the first day of National Science Week in Australia, so here's a friendly astronomy PSA: the Perseid meteor shower is not for us
It's not a great meteor shower for those of us down under. For more info, check out this article by Prof Horner: theconversation.com/everyones-ta... 🧪📡
It's not a great meteor shower for those of us down under. For more info, check out this article by Prof Horner: theconversation.com/everyones-ta... 🧪📡
I'm the voice of an audiobook!
Not something I ever thought I'd do, but I was so excited when Dr Karl asked me to voice the audiobook version of Vital Science
It was loads of fun, thanks to the fantastic reading material and the amazing producer I worked with at Bolinda Audio
Not something I ever thought I'd do, but I was so excited when Dr Karl asked me to voice the audiobook version of Vital Science
It was loads of fun, thanks to the fantastic reading material and the amazing producer I worked with at Bolinda Audio
August 8, 2025 at 9:01 AM
I'm the voice of an audiobook!
Not something I ever thought I'd do, but I was so excited when Dr Karl asked me to voice the audiobook version of Vital Science
It was loads of fun, thanks to the fantastic reading material and the amazing producer I worked with at Bolinda Audio
Not something I ever thought I'd do, but I was so excited when Dr Karl asked me to voice the audiobook version of Vital Science
It was loads of fun, thanks to the fantastic reading material and the amazing producer I worked with at Bolinda Audio
I heard that Chiron was in retrograde, but I didn't even know what Chiron was... I wrote an article about it so you can learn about Chiron too! 🧪🔭
theconversation.com/move-over-me...
theconversation.com/move-over-me...
Move over Mercury – Chiron is in retrograde. What even is Chiron?
If you’re like most people, you’ve never heard of it. Meet the ringed asteroid-comet hybrid prowling the outer reaches of the Solar System.
theconversation.com
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
I heard that Chiron was in retrograde, but I didn't even know what Chiron was... I wrote an article about it so you can learn about Chiron too! 🧪🔭
theconversation.com/move-over-me...
theconversation.com/move-over-me...
Join us at the Chau Chak Wing museum to National Science Week! I'll be giving a talk, exact time TBD
Science at the Museum is happening at the Chau Chak Wing Museum on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th August! Join us as we team up again with the museum for a program loaded with activities for the whole family! #MathSky #NationalScienceWeek
mathematical-research-institute.sydney.edu.au/event/scienc...
mathematical-research-institute.sydney.edu.au/event/scienc...
August 6, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Join us at the Chau Chak Wing museum to National Science Week! I'll be giving a talk, exact time TBD
Totally agree! But it could also be because they measured this using X posts and X posts only... so a contributing factor could be that women scientists have bailed from that terrible place and are posting their science results elsewhere
Well sure, because they are also building a new program, mentoring 18 students, and carrying the service load.
phys.org/news/2025-07...
phys.org/news/2025-07...
Women scientists promote their research online less often than men, study finds
Many women scientists are staying silent online—and it could be costing them professionally. A new University of Michigan study finds that women are about 28% less likely than men to promote their sci...
phys.org
August 4, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Totally agree! But it could also be because they measured this using X posts and X posts only... so a contributing factor could be that women scientists have bailed from that terrible place and are posting their science results elsewhere
This image is just too good! 🤩 some awesome work by Ryan and team!
Exciting news! My second first-author paper is out on the arXiv today!! arxiv.org/abs/2507.14610
We present a brand new JWST image of the Apep colliding wind binary in the mid-infrared, and we study what this nebula can tell us about the THREE stars in it's centre. Read on for more... 1/?🔭🧪
We present a brand new JWST image of the Apep colliding wind binary in the mid-infrared, and we study what this nebula can tell us about the THREE stars in it's centre. Read on for more... 1/?🔭🧪
July 23, 2025 at 7:05 AM
This image is just too good! 🤩 some awesome work by Ryan and team!
OK, so what are we gonna name Betelgeuse's new friend? It's fun that astronomers found that Betelgeuse has a little buddy, but Betelgeuse A and Betelgeuse B just doesn’t roll off the tongue... anyone have ideas? 🧪🔭 share.google/idDc5XW1eIXJ...
It's official. Betelgeuse has a companion star. But it won't last long – one day Betelgeuse will swallow its buddy | BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Betelgeuse's companion star was found in a tight orbit using the ‘Alopeke instrument on Gemini North at the International Gemini Observatory.
share.google
July 22, 2025 at 10:31 AM
OK, so what are we gonna name Betelgeuse's new friend? It's fun that astronomers found that Betelgeuse has a little buddy, but Betelgeuse A and Betelgeuse B just doesn’t roll off the tongue... anyone have ideas? 🧪🔭 share.google/idDc5XW1eIXJ...
Congratulations to the legendary Josh! Our team uses DSTools extensively, and I'll be showing a bunch of plots from DSTools in my talk tomorrow. Such important software for radio transient science! #RadioAstronomy
Congratulations to my former student Joshua Pritchard for winning this year's @astrosocaus.bsky.social "Emerging Leaders in Astronomy Software Development Prize" for his software package "DStools".
Here's a short write-up:
www.atnf.csiro.au/news/recogni...
#RadioAstronomy
Here's a short write-up:
www.atnf.csiro.au/news/recogni...
#RadioAstronomy
July 10, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Congratulations to the legendary Josh! Our team uses DSTools extensively, and I'll be showing a bunch of plots from DSTools in my talk tomorrow. Such important software for radio transient science! #RadioAstronomy
The 12th of July marks the 3 year anniversary of the first JWST image release 🛰 find out what my top 3 cool JWST science results are by listening here: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr... 🧪🔭
Lab Notes: The telescope redefining the Universe - ABC listen
In the three years since the James Webb Space Telescope sent back its first images, it's pulled back the veil on a whole bunch of mind-blowing cosmic phenomena. So how has this $13 billion bit of kit ...
www.abc.net.au
July 8, 2025 at 3:10 AM
The 12th of July marks the 3 year anniversary of the first JWST image release 🛰 find out what my top 3 cool JWST science results are by listening here: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr... 🧪🔭
"Waiting for the SKAO telescopes to be built"
Especially with the exciting outlooks and potential science being presented at the SKAO Science Meeting as we speak! 📡👀 #SKAO2025
Especially with the exciting outlooks and potential science being presented at the SKAO Science Meeting as we speak! 📡👀 #SKAO2025
June 17, 2025 at 9:45 AM
"Waiting for the SKAO telescopes to be built"
Especially with the exciting outlooks and potential science being presented at the SKAO Science Meeting as we speak! 📡👀 #SKAO2025
Especially with the exciting outlooks and potential science being presented at the SKAO Science Meeting as we speak! 📡👀 #SKAO2025
Sydney Radio astronomers represent! 😎
Sydney radio astronomers (plus a bonus cosmologist) at SKAO 2025!
It's great to be here with so many of our team :)
@manishacaleb.bsky.social @astrolaura.com @cosmichorizons.bsky.social
@ozgrav.bsky.social #RadioAstronomy #SKAO2025
It's great to be here with so many of our team :)
@manishacaleb.bsky.social @astrolaura.com @cosmichorizons.bsky.social
@ozgrav.bsky.social #RadioAstronomy #SKAO2025
June 16, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Sydney Radio astronomers represent! 😎
