Tara Murphy
@taramurphy.bsky.social
Professor and Head of School of Physics at the University of Sydney. Radio astronomer looking for transients and gravitational wave events. OzGrav CI. Teaching physics and the apocalypse. https://taramurphy.github.io
Views expressed here are my own :)
Views expressed here are my own :)
Thank you! It’s a pity we don’t know more about which books were in the Austen family library
February 2, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Thank you! It’s a pity we don’t know more about which books were in the Austen family library
"Linda Losurdo, ... has done exactly that, producing cosmic dust in the lab from scratch. It is a feat she hopes will help shed new light on how life began on Earth."
More information in this news story:
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
More information in this news story:
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Catch a falling star: cosmic dust may reveal how life began, and a Sydney lab is making it from scratch
Recreating cosmic dust may help answer questions about how meteorites hitting Earth came to contain organic matter
www.theguardian.com
February 1, 2026 at 10:27 PM
"Linda Losurdo, ... has done exactly that, producing cosmic dust in the lab from scratch. It is a feat she hopes will help shed new light on how life began on Earth."
More information in this news story:
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
More information in this news story:
www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Reverse engineering cosmic dust in the lab...
Interesting new result from @sydney.edu.au plasma physics PhD student Linda Losurdo and supervisor David McKenzie.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwvp...
⚛️ ☄️🔭 #WomenInSTEM
Interesting new result from @sydney.edu.au plasma physics PhD student Linda Losurdo and supervisor David McKenzie.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwvp...
⚛️ ☄️🔭 #WomenInSTEM
February 1, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Reverse engineering cosmic dust in the lab...
Interesting new result from @sydney.edu.au plasma physics PhD student Linda Losurdo and supervisor David McKenzie.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwvp...
⚛️ ☄️🔭 #WomenInSTEM
Interesting new result from @sydney.edu.au plasma physics PhD student Linda Losurdo and supervisor David McKenzie.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwvp...
⚛️ ☄️🔭 #WomenInSTEM
Reposted by Tara Murphy
In today’s issue of Astronomy & Geophysics, the Royal Astronomical Society share the story of accidentally discovering a lost photograph of Carrington – bringing to light the only known photograph of the most iconic figure in solar astrophysics.
January 31, 2026 at 10:20 PM
In today’s issue of Astronomy & Geophysics, the Royal Astronomical Society share the story of accidentally discovering a lost photograph of Carrington – bringing to light the only known photograph of the most iconic figure in solar astrophysics.
Reposted by Tara Murphy
BREAKING: This is Richard Carrington, the first person to document solar flares on the Sun & suggest their influence on aurora at Earth. The largest solar storm on record, the Carrington Event, bares his name. But, there has been no photograph available of Carrington – until now!
January 31, 2026 at 10:20 PM
BREAKING: This is Richard Carrington, the first person to document solar flares on the Sun & suggest their influence on aurora at Earth. The largest solar storm on record, the Carrington Event, bares his name. But, there has been no photograph available of Carrington – until now!
Interesting new model for Long Period Transients, observed with three #RadioAstronomy telescopes - ASKAP, MeerKAT and the VLA!
theconversation.com/puzzling-slo...
☄️ 🔭 🧪
theconversation.com/puzzling-slo...
☄️ 🔭 🧪
Puzzling slow radio pulses are coming from space. A new study could finally explain them
Radio pulses repeating every minute-to-hour have puzzled astronomers, but a new paper in Nature Astronomy might finally shed some light.
theconversation.com
January 31, 2026 at 2:35 AM
Interesting new model for Long Period Transients, observed with three #RadioAstronomy telescopes - ASKAP, MeerKAT and the VLA!
theconversation.com/puzzling-slo...
☄️ 🔭 🧪
theconversation.com/puzzling-slo...
☄️ 🔭 🧪
Reposted by Tara Murphy
"While almost everything that astronomers study occurs in the vacuum of space, astronomy itself does not 'happen in a vacuum'.
Interactions between scientists, as well as outreach to members of the public, improve extensively from access to good communication tools."
Paper day! ⤵️
Interactions between scientists, as well as outreach to members of the public, improve extensively from access to good communication tools."
Paper day! ⤵️
The Astrosky Ecosystem: An independent online platform for science communication and social networking
While almost everything that astronomers study occurs in the vacuum of space, astronomy itself does not `happen in a vacuum'. Interactions between scientists, as well as outreach to members of the pub...
arxiv.org
January 26, 2026 at 10:29 AM
"While almost everything that astronomers study occurs in the vacuum of space, astronomy itself does not 'happen in a vacuum'.
Interactions between scientists, as well as outreach to members of the public, improve extensively from access to good communication tools."
Paper day! ⤵️
Interactions between scientists, as well as outreach to members of the public, improve extensively from access to good communication tools."
Paper day! ⤵️
Reposted by Tara Murphy
The night sky looks steady. It's not. 💥
In the night sky, asteroids drift. Stars pulse and flicker. Distant galaxies flare when something dramatic like a supernova is happening inside them.
The Universe is constantly changing, even when our eyes can’t see it. 🔭🧪☄️
In the night sky, asteroids drift. Stars pulse and flicker. Distant galaxies flare when something dramatic like a supernova is happening inside them.
The Universe is constantly changing, even when our eyes can’t see it. 🔭🧪☄️
January 26, 2026 at 6:50 PM
The night sky looks steady. It's not. 💥
In the night sky, asteroids drift. Stars pulse and flicker. Distant galaxies flare when something dramatic like a supernova is happening inside them.
The Universe is constantly changing, even when our eyes can’t see it. 🔭🧪☄️
In the night sky, asteroids drift. Stars pulse and flicker. Distant galaxies flare when something dramatic like a supernova is happening inside them.
The Universe is constantly changing, even when our eyes can’t see it. 🔭🧪☄️
While enjoying some stellar music, the audience will become familiar with these extraterrestrial vibrations and gain insight into how asteroseismologists measure the sizes, masses and ages of stars.
🔭
🔭
January 20, 2026 at 11:24 PM
While enjoying some stellar music, the audience will become familiar with these extraterrestrial vibrations and gain insight into how asteroseismologists measure the sizes, masses and ages of stars.
🔭
🔭
The life of stars is directed by the physical processes happening deep inside them. In this Stibbs Lecture, Professor Conny Aerts will explain how asteroseismologists peer beyond the external layers of these gaseous rotating hot balls of fire to decode the tiny stellar vibrations within.
🔭
🔭
January 20, 2026 at 11:24 PM
The life of stars is directed by the physical processes happening deep inside them. In this Stibbs Lecture, Professor Conny Aerts will explain how asteroseismologists peer beyond the external layers of these gaseous rotating hot balls of fire to decode the tiny stellar vibrations within.
🔭
🔭
Join us @sydney.edu.au for the annual Stibbs Lecture.
Deciphering the Music of the Stars: Asteroseismology, presented by astrophysicist Professor Conny Aerts.
Listen to the music of the stars, and see them in a whole new way!
Thurs 12 Feb 6pm.
Register: www.sydney.edu.au/science/news...
🔭 ⚛️ ☄️ 🧪
Deciphering the Music of the Stars: Asteroseismology, presented by astrophysicist Professor Conny Aerts.
Listen to the music of the stars, and see them in a whole new way!
Thurs 12 Feb 6pm.
Register: www.sydney.edu.au/science/news...
🔭 ⚛️ ☄️ 🧪
January 20, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Join us @sydney.edu.au for the annual Stibbs Lecture.
Deciphering the Music of the Stars: Asteroseismology, presented by astrophysicist Professor Conny Aerts.
Listen to the music of the stars, and see them in a whole new way!
Thurs 12 Feb 6pm.
Register: www.sydney.edu.au/science/news...
🔭 ⚛️ ☄️ 🧪
Deciphering the Music of the Stars: Asteroseismology, presented by astrophysicist Professor Conny Aerts.
Listen to the music of the stars, and see them in a whole new way!
Thurs 12 Feb 6pm.
Register: www.sydney.edu.au/science/news...
🔭 ⚛️ ☄️ 🧪
Welcome to Thomas Ohki, appointed Professor of Practice @sydney.edu.au #Physics!
Prof Ohki is a leader is commercialisation of quantum technologies and will (among other things) be helping train our students for the rapidly growing quantum tech industry.
www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion...
⚛️ ⚛️ ⚛️
Prof Ohki is a leader is commercialisation of quantum technologies and will (among other things) be helping train our students for the rapidly growing quantum tech industry.
www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion...
⚛️ ⚛️ ⚛️
Quantum industry leader Thomas Ohki appointed Professor of Practice
The University of Sydney has enlisted quantum computing expert Thomas Ohki to forge closer links with the commercial sector while training a new generation of researchers.
www.sydney.edu.au
January 20, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Welcome to Thomas Ohki, appointed Professor of Practice @sydney.edu.au #Physics!
Prof Ohki is a leader is commercialisation of quantum technologies and will (among other things) be helping train our students for the rapidly growing quantum tech industry.
www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion...
⚛️ ⚛️ ⚛️
Prof Ohki is a leader is commercialisation of quantum technologies and will (among other things) be helping train our students for the rapidly growing quantum tech industry.
www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion...
⚛️ ⚛️ ⚛️
#RadioAstronomy (well radio telescope, silhouetted against the aurora)
Great aurora visible in Dwingeloo yesterday!
January 20, 2026 at 8:26 PM
#RadioAstronomy (well radio telescope, silhouetted against the aurora)
Reposted by Tara Murphy
The final version of our Dawes Review on the Dynamic Radio Sky is now published!
doi.org/10.1017/pasa...
Everything you need to know about what causes radio transients: how we detect them, the history of radio transient surveys, and what new widefield radio telescopes will do.
#RadioAstronomy 🔭☄️🧪
doi.org/10.1017/pasa...
Everything you need to know about what causes radio transients: how we detect them, the history of radio transient surveys, and what new widefield radio telescopes will do.
#RadioAstronomy 🔭☄️🧪
January 12, 2026 at 8:36 PM
The final version of our Dawes Review on the Dynamic Radio Sky is now published!
doi.org/10.1017/pasa...
Everything you need to know about what causes radio transients: how we detect them, the history of radio transient surveys, and what new widefield radio telescopes will do.
#RadioAstronomy 🔭☄️🧪
doi.org/10.1017/pasa...
Everything you need to know about what causes radio transients: how we detect them, the history of radio transient surveys, and what new widefield radio telescopes will do.
#RadioAstronomy 🔭☄️🧪
The final version of our Dawes Review on the Dynamic Radio Sky is now published!
doi.org/10.1017/pasa...
Everything you need to know about what causes radio transients: how we detect them, the history of radio transient surveys, and what new widefield radio telescopes will do.
#RadioAstronomy 🔭☄️🧪
doi.org/10.1017/pasa...
Everything you need to know about what causes radio transients: how we detect them, the history of radio transient surveys, and what new widefield radio telescopes will do.
#RadioAstronomy 🔭☄️🧪
January 12, 2026 at 8:36 PM
The final version of our Dawes Review on the Dynamic Radio Sky is now published!
doi.org/10.1017/pasa...
Everything you need to know about what causes radio transients: how we detect them, the history of radio transient surveys, and what new widefield radio telescopes will do.
#RadioAstronomy 🔭☄️🧪
doi.org/10.1017/pasa...
Everything you need to know about what causes radio transients: how we detect them, the history of radio transient surveys, and what new widefield radio telescopes will do.
#RadioAstronomy 🔭☄️🧪
@scixcommunity.bsky.social - any thoughts on this? I'd like to switch over from ADS but at the moment I find it less comfortable to read.
January 12, 2026 at 10:13 AM
@scixcommunity.bsky.social - any thoughts on this? I'd like to switch over from ADS but at the moment I find it less comfortable to read.
@scixcommunity.bsky.social - I find the search results and private library fonts small and faded compared to ADS (see screenshots).
Is it possible for the user to change these? The current results are not easy to read comfortably - higher contrast defaults would be more accessible.
Is it possible for the user to change these? The current results are not easy to read comfortably - higher contrast defaults would be more accessible.
January 5, 2026 at 2:07 AM
@scixcommunity.bsky.social - I find the search results and private library fonts small and faded compared to ADS (see screenshots).
Is it possible for the user to change these? The current results are not easy to read comfortably - higher contrast defaults would be more accessible.
Is it possible for the user to change these? The current results are not easy to read comfortably - higher contrast defaults would be more accessible.
Sometimes when I'm quickly checking whether someone in my team has classified a #RadioAstronomy source correctly, I paste the coordinates into the Aladin Sky Atlas , and confirm...
Yes, it is a star!
Such a great #AstroSci tool :) (aladin.cds.unistra.fr)
Yes, it is a star!
Such a great #AstroSci tool :) (aladin.cds.unistra.fr)
December 12, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Sometimes when I'm quickly checking whether someone in my team has classified a #RadioAstronomy source correctly, I paste the coordinates into the Aladin Sky Atlas , and confirm...
Yes, it is a star!
Such a great #AstroSci tool :) (aladin.cds.unistra.fr)
Yes, it is a star!
Such a great #AstroSci tool :) (aladin.cds.unistra.fr)
Some #Physics photography from the Australian Institute of Physics photography competition.
#Science #Art
#Science #Art
Winners of the 2025 AIP photo comp:
“Tesla Coil” by Flavio Spedalieri, Grand Prize
“Schrödinger’s Dog” by Lara Roychoudhry, Best Quantum-Themed Photo
“Sunset ripples” by Sarah O'Neill, University Student Prize
“Drill bit plasma” by Ermia Firouzabadi, School Student Prize
aip.org.au/ACT-Branch/1...
“Tesla Coil” by Flavio Spedalieri, Grand Prize
“Schrödinger’s Dog” by Lara Roychoudhry, Best Quantum-Themed Photo
“Sunset ripples” by Sarah O'Neill, University Student Prize
“Drill bit plasma” by Ermia Firouzabadi, School Student Prize
aip.org.au/ACT-Branch/1...
December 12, 2025 at 4:00 AM
The plots show how the brightness of the object evolves with time (and both axes are linear).
Objects like the stars are flaring for short periods of time (like minutes) and returning to a steady state.
Objects like a supernova explode, so rapidly increase in brightness, then slowly fade
Objects like the stars are flaring for short periods of time (like minutes) and returning to a steady state.
Objects like a supernova explode, so rapidly increase in brightness, then slowly fade
December 9, 2025 at 9:47 PM
The plots show how the brightness of the object evolves with time (and both axes are linear).
Objects like the stars are flaring for short periods of time (like minutes) and returning to a steady state.
Objects like a supernova explode, so rapidly increase in brightness, then slowly fade
Objects like the stars are flaring for short periods of time (like minutes) and returning to a steady state.
Objects like a supernova explode, so rapidly increase in brightness, then slowly fade
If you're interested in:
* What causes radio variability
* The different classes of radio transients
* What methods we use to detect them
* A history of radio transient surveys
* What future telescopes will be able to detect
Then this paper is for you :)
bit.ly/3Yg3hyD
#RadioAstronomy
🔭 ☄️🧪
* What causes radio variability
* The different classes of radio transients
* What methods we use to detect them
* A history of radio transient surveys
* What future telescopes will be able to detect
Then this paper is for you :)
bit.ly/3Yg3hyD
#RadioAstronomy
🔭 ☄️🧪
The Dawes Review 13: A New Look at The Dynamic Radio Sky | Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia | Cambridge Core
The Dawes Review 13: A New Look at The Dynamic Radio Sky
bit.ly
December 9, 2025 at 6:39 PM
If you're interested in:
* What causes radio variability
* The different classes of radio transients
* What methods we use to detect them
* A history of radio transient surveys
* What future telescopes will be able to detect
Then this paper is for you :)
bit.ly/3Yg3hyD
#RadioAstronomy
🔭 ☄️🧪
* What causes radio variability
* The different classes of radio transients
* What methods we use to detect them
* A history of radio transient surveys
* What future telescopes will be able to detect
Then this paper is for you :)
bit.ly/3Yg3hyD
#RadioAstronomy
🔭 ☄️🧪
There are so many different classes of radio transients, from slowly evolving gamma-ray burst afterglows and radio supernova, to much more rapid flaring stars and pulsars.
Here are some more lightcurves!
#RadioAstronomy
🔭 ☄️🧪
Here are some more lightcurves!
#RadioAstronomy
🔭 ☄️🧪
December 9, 2025 at 6:39 PM
There are so many different classes of radio transients, from slowly evolving gamma-ray burst afterglows and radio supernova, to much more rapid flaring stars and pulsars.
Here are some more lightcurves!
#RadioAstronomy
🔭 ☄️🧪
Here are some more lightcurves!
#RadioAstronomy
🔭 ☄️🧪
Very happy to announce that our review of radio transients has now been published by PASA!
bit.ly/3Yg3hyD
Unlike most radio sources, transients change rapidly.
My favourite bit are these lightcurve cartoons that show how different types of transients change with time.
#RadioAstronomy
🔭 ☄️🧪
bit.ly/3Yg3hyD
Unlike most radio sources, transients change rapidly.
My favourite bit are these lightcurve cartoons that show how different types of transients change with time.
#RadioAstronomy
🔭 ☄️🧪
December 9, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Very happy to announce that our review of radio transients has now been published by PASA!
bit.ly/3Yg3hyD
Unlike most radio sources, transients change rapidly.
My favourite bit are these lightcurve cartoons that show how different types of transients change with time.
#RadioAstronomy
🔭 ☄️🧪
bit.ly/3Yg3hyD
Unlike most radio sources, transients change rapidly.
My favourite bit are these lightcurve cartoons that show how different types of transients change with time.
#RadioAstronomy
🔭 ☄️🧪