Mark Cheung
@markcheung.bsky.social
Astro | Helio | Space Weather | ML
Science Director, Space & Astronomy @CSIRO; OMO
Science Director, Space & Astronomy @CSIRO; OMO
Reposted by Mark Cheung
Statistically, our current four-transit spectrum of TRAPPIST-1e can also be fit by a flat line (i.e. a featureless spectrum). So we can't rule out a bare rock with these data.
There's also the important caveat that an incomplete stellar contamination correction could also imprint spectral features.
There's also the important caveat that an incomplete stellar contamination correction could also imprint spectral features.
September 9, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Statistically, our current four-transit spectrum of TRAPPIST-1e can also be fit by a flat line (i.e. a featureless spectrum). So we can't rule out a bare rock with these data.
There's also the important caveat that an incomplete stellar contamination correction could also imprint spectral features.
There's also the important caveat that an incomplete stellar contamination correction could also imprint spectral features.
Reposted by Mark Cheung
In Göttingen tonight? Check out the public talk by @esa.int astronaut @astromatthias.esa.int at 19:00. The talk will be held in German at the central campus of @uni-goettingen.de
quantum25.dpg-tagungen.de/nachrichten/...
quantum25.dpg-tagungen.de/nachrichten/...
September 11, 2025 at 9:27 AM
In Göttingen tonight? Check out the public talk by @esa.int astronaut @astromatthias.esa.int at 19:00. The talk will be held in German at the central campus of @uni-goettingen.de
quantum25.dpg-tagungen.de/nachrichten/...
quantum25.dpg-tagungen.de/nachrichten/...
Reposted by Mark Cheung
Terence Tao (@teorth.bsky.social) has written a thread on Mastodon about the impact of the federal grant freeze to UCLA, particularly to his own field of Mathematics. UCLA's IPAM (Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics) could shut down entirely
mathstodon.xyz/@tao/1149568...
mathstodon.xyz/@tao/1149568...
Terence Tao (@tao@mathstodon.xyz)
The current administration in the US has, through various funding agencies such as the NSF and NIH, has recently suspended virtually all federal grants to my home university, UCLA (including my own p...
mathstodon.xyz
August 2, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Terence Tao (@teorth.bsky.social) has written a thread on Mastodon about the impact of the federal grant freeze to UCLA, particularly to his own field of Mathematics. UCLA's IPAM (Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics) could shut down entirely
mathstodon.xyz/@tao/1149568...
mathstodon.xyz/@tao/1149568...
Reposted by Mark Cheung
Here is my colleague Adam Riess, Nobel laureate, sharing his thoughts on advocating for science at a recent event at the US Capitol.
aas.org/posts/news/2...
aas.org/posts/news/2...
My Recent Experience Advocating for Science | American Astronomical Society
AAS member and Nobel Prize Laureate Adam Riess describes his experience giving a speech to Congress at a recent event at the Capitol, "A Science Fair of Canceled Grants."
aas.org
July 16, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Here is my colleague Adam Riess, Nobel laureate, sharing his thoughts on advocating for science at a recent event at the US Capitol.
aas.org/posts/news/2...
aas.org/posts/news/2...
Reposted by Mark Cheung
We are saddened to report the passing of Cyril Hazard (18 March 1928 – 14 June 2025). Cyril was a pioneering radio astronomer whose work on quasars helped transform our understanding of the Universe. www.ast.cam.ac.uk/news/cyril-h...
Cyril Hazard (18 March 1928 – 14 June 2025) | Institute of Astronomy
We are saddened to report the passing of Cyril Hazard (18 March 1928 – 14 June 2025). Cyril was a pioneering radio astronomer whose work on quasars helped transform our understanding of the Universe.
www.ast.cam.ac.uk
July 12, 2025 at 9:30 AM
We are saddened to report the passing of Cyril Hazard (18 March 1928 – 14 June 2025). Cyril was a pioneering radio astronomer whose work on quasars helped transform our understanding of the Universe. www.ast.cam.ac.uk/news/cyril-h...
Reposted by Mark Cheung
Congratulations to Professor Naomi McClure-Griffiths and Li Yusen from ANU who are among six astronomers to receive awards at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian Astronomy Society in 2025.
Read more: science.anu.edu.au/news-events/...
Read more: science.anu.edu.au/news-events/...
July 8, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Congratulations to Professor Naomi McClure-Griffiths and Li Yusen from ANU who are among six astronomers to receive awards at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian Astronomy Society in 2025.
Read more: science.anu.edu.au/news-events/...
Read more: science.anu.edu.au/news-events/...
Reposted by Mark Cheung
As always, a very nice talk from Francois Lanusse: Generative Al for Inverse Problems and Forecasting
Slides: eiffl.github.io/talks/Paris2...
Slides: eiffl.github.io/talks/Paris2...
July 3, 2025 at 4:23 PM
As always, a very nice talk from Francois Lanusse: Generative Al for Inverse Problems and Forecasting
Slides: eiffl.github.io/talks/Paris2...
Slides: eiffl.github.io/talks/Paris2...
Reposted by Mark Cheung
Learn more about the reconciliation bill being voted on by the House today, and how this is different from the appropriations process that determines funding for our federal science agencies:
The Senate reconciliation bill passed yesterday is separate from the annual appropriations process, which determines funding for our federal science agencies. Learn more about the differences here: aas.org/posts/news/2...
Reconciliation vs Appropriations | American Astronomical Society
Here we outline the key difference between the reconciliation process, which deals with mandatory spending and taxes, and the appropriations process, which determines the funding levels for discretion...
aas.org
July 3, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Learn more about the reconciliation bill being voted on by the House today, and how this is different from the appropriations process that determines funding for our federal science agencies:
Reposted by Mark Cheung
Anybody got a picture of Annie Walker? Possibly first British professional astronomer, later moved to Oz. www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Unsung observatory worker was UK’s first professional female astronomer, experts say
Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy is trying to find a photo of Annie Walker, who died in 1940, to give her star billing
www.theguardian.com
June 30, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Anybody got a picture of Annie Walker? Possibly first British professional astronomer, later moved to Oz. www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Reposted by Mark Cheung
This includes working with all these excellent partners:
- Intl. Science School
- @spaceaustralia.com
- @sydney.edu.au
- @ozgrav.bsky.social
- ARC CoE Dark Matter
- Swinburne Uni.
- Wheeler Centre
- @queersinscience.bsky.social
Keep an eye out for event pages and ticket links!
2/3 🔭
- Intl. Science School
- @spaceaustralia.com
- @sydney.edu.au
- @ozgrav.bsky.social
- ARC CoE Dark Matter
- Swinburne Uni.
- Wheeler Centre
- @queersinscience.bsky.social
Keep an eye out for event pages and ticket links!
2/3 🔭
May 15, 2025 at 9:44 PM
This includes working with all these excellent partners:
- Intl. Science School
- @spaceaustralia.com
- @sydney.edu.au
- @ozgrav.bsky.social
- ARC CoE Dark Matter
- Swinburne Uni.
- Wheeler Centre
- @queersinscience.bsky.social
Keep an eye out for event pages and ticket links!
2/3 🔭
- Intl. Science School
- @spaceaustralia.com
- @sydney.edu.au
- @ozgrav.bsky.social
- ARC CoE Dark Matter
- Swinburne Uni.
- Wheeler Centre
- @queersinscience.bsky.social
Keep an eye out for event pages and ticket links!
2/3 🔭
Reposted by Mark Cheung
Ziteng (Andy) Wang @zitengwang.bsky.social tells the story behind the discovery of this unusual long period transient, in his article for @aunz.theconversation.com.
theconversation.com/x-rays-have-...
#RadioAstronomy #AstroSci
theconversation.com/x-rays-have-...
#RadioAstronomy #AstroSci
May 29, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Ziteng (Andy) Wang @zitengwang.bsky.social tells the story behind the discovery of this unusual long period transient, in his article for @aunz.theconversation.com.
theconversation.com/x-rays-have-...
#RadioAstronomy #AstroSci
theconversation.com/x-rays-have-...
#RadioAstronomy #AstroSci
Reposted by Mark Cheung
Totalling around 120 hours of observing time, this is the longest the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has ever focused on a single target.
The deep field aims to probe the Cosmic Dawn, when the Universe was only a few million years old.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
🔭 🧪 ☄️
The deep field aims to probe the Cosmic Dawn, when the Universe was only a few million years old.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
🔭 🧪 ☄️
May 27, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Totalling around 120 hours of observing time, this is the longest the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has ever focused on a single target.
The deep field aims to probe the Cosmic Dawn, when the Universe was only a few million years old.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
🔭 🧪 ☄️
The deep field aims to probe the Cosmic Dawn, when the Universe was only a few million years old.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
🔭 🧪 ☄️
Reposted by Mark Cheung
I am super excited to be hosting the incredible Katie Mack
@astrokatie.com presenting "The End of Everything" at the University of Sydney @sydney.edu.au
Join us on July 10 to learn about five ways the Universe might die!
Registration is free...
www.sydney.edu.au/engage/event...
⚛️ #Astronomy ⚛️
@astrokatie.com presenting "The End of Everything" at the University of Sydney @sydney.edu.au
Join us on July 10 to learn about five ways the Universe might die!
Registration is free...
www.sydney.edu.au/engage/event...
⚛️ #Astronomy ⚛️
Katie Mack: The end of everything
www.sydney.edu.au
May 15, 2025 at 9:37 AM
I am super excited to be hosting the incredible Katie Mack
@astrokatie.com presenting "The End of Everything" at the University of Sydney @sydney.edu.au
Join us on July 10 to learn about five ways the Universe might die!
Registration is free...
www.sydney.edu.au/engage/event...
⚛️ #Astronomy ⚛️
@astrokatie.com presenting "The End of Everything" at the University of Sydney @sydney.edu.au
Join us on July 10 to learn about five ways the Universe might die!
Registration is free...
www.sydney.edu.au/engage/event...
⚛️ #Astronomy ⚛️
Reposted by Mark Cheung
April 21, 2025 at 1:42 AM
#Radioastronomy #job alert. We’re looking to hire a Lead Scientist for Parkes Observatory. Murriyang, our 64m radio telescope, aka The Dish is currently getting an exciting upgrade with commissioning of the CryoPAF instrument. Check out this job at CSIRO: jobs.csiro.au/job/Parkes%2...
April 17, 2025 at 10:10 AM
#Radioastronomy #job alert. We’re looking to hire a Lead Scientist for Parkes Observatory. Murriyang, our 64m radio telescope, aka The Dish is currently getting an exciting upgrade with commissioning of the CryoPAF instrument. Check out this job at CSIRO: jobs.csiro.au/job/Parkes%2...
Reposted by Mark Cheung
Was treibt Europas #Raumfahrt voran? Professor Thomas Zurbuchen spricht über seine Vision für ETH Zürich Space, die Stärken Europas, Herausforderungen im Vergleich zu den USA – und warum Mut, Teamgeist und Innovation entscheidend für die Zukunft im All sind.
Jetzt lesen:
Jetzt lesen:
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V. - DGLR: Die Bedeutung europäischer Raumfahrtforschung: Prof. Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen im Interview
www.dglr.de
April 10, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Was treibt Europas #Raumfahrt voran? Professor Thomas Zurbuchen spricht über seine Vision für ETH Zürich Space, die Stärken Europas, Herausforderungen im Vergleich zu den USA – und warum Mut, Teamgeist und Innovation entscheidend für die Zukunft im All sind.
Jetzt lesen:
Jetzt lesen:
Reposted by Mark Cheung
First images from the Square Kilometre Array Low Frequency (SKA-Low)!
Taken with only 1,024 of the planned 131,072 antennas, and it's already looking good :)
#RadioAstronomy
Taken with only 1,024 of the planned 131,072 antennas, and it's already looking good :)
#RadioAstronomy
March 18, 2025 at 5:52 AM
First images from the Square Kilometre Array Low Frequency (SKA-Low)!
Taken with only 1,024 of the planned 131,072 antennas, and it's already looking good :)
#RadioAstronomy
Taken with only 1,024 of the planned 131,072 antennas, and it's already looking good :)
#RadioAstronomy
Reposted by Mark Cheung
The disappearance of Gaia!
On 4 March, astronomer Zhuo-Xiao Wang captured this view of the sudden disappearance of ESA’s Gaia spacecraft.
Credit: Zhuo-Xiao Wang, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
Observations performed on 4 March 2025 using an 11-inch telescope from Beijing, China (MPC site code: P13).
On 4 March, astronomer Zhuo-Xiao Wang captured this view of the sudden disappearance of ESA’s Gaia spacecraft.
Credit: Zhuo-Xiao Wang, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
Observations performed on 4 March 2025 using an 11-inch telescope from Beijing, China (MPC site code: P13).
March 18, 2025 at 8:23 AM
The disappearance of Gaia!
On 4 March, astronomer Zhuo-Xiao Wang captured this view of the sudden disappearance of ESA’s Gaia spacecraft.
Credit: Zhuo-Xiao Wang, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
Observations performed on 4 March 2025 using an 11-inch telescope from Beijing, China (MPC site code: P13).
On 4 March, astronomer Zhuo-Xiao Wang captured this view of the sudden disappearance of ESA’s Gaia spacecraft.
Credit: Zhuo-Xiao Wang, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
Observations performed on 4 March 2025 using an 11-inch telescope from Beijing, China (MPC site code: P13).
So cool! #technosignature #radioastronomy
Neat.
Even though the spacecraft tipped over, NASA's first radio wavelength instrument on the Moon was able to measured anthropogenic shortwaves breaking through the Earth’s
ionosphere and escaping to the Moon. modulated by the ionosphere (which is modulated by the Sun).
#RadioAstronomy 🔭
Even though the spacecraft tipped over, NASA's first radio wavelength instrument on the Moon was able to measured anthropogenic shortwaves breaking through the Earth’s
ionosphere and escaping to the Moon. modulated by the ionosphere (which is modulated by the Sun).
#RadioAstronomy 🔭
The IM-2 lunar mission may have failed due to the lander tipping over, but at least we got some cool science out of it for the brief time it was operational!
March 15, 2025 at 9:44 AM
So cool! #technosignature #radioastronomy
Reposted by Mark Cheung
In a short RNAAS note now on arxiv, arxiv.org/abs/2503.07972 I discuss in more detail the suggestion of Loeb and Cloete that 'dark comet' 2005 VL1 is actually the old Venera-2 space probe. (It's not.)
2005 VL1 is not Venera-2
The solar system object 2005 VL1 passed close to Earth in late 1965. It has been suggested that it is actually the space probe Venera-2. However, a comparison of the orbits presented in this note demo...
arxiv.org
March 12, 2025 at 2:09 AM
In a short RNAAS note now on arxiv, arxiv.org/abs/2503.07972 I discuss in more detail the suggestion of Loeb and Cloete that 'dark comet' 2005 VL1 is actually the old Venera-2 space probe. (It's not.)
Reposted by Mark Cheung
👀👀👀
Two exciting preprints today from Aussie institutions and scientists! 🔭☄️
1. A 41-sec radio pulsar!
Slowest pulsar we know about is ~23-secs and then there are these mysterious long-period transients that have rotations periods of mins to hours.
This one fits between them!
Two exciting preprints today from Aussie institutions and scientists! 🔭☄️
1. A 41-sec radio pulsar!
Slowest pulsar we know about is ~23-secs and then there are these mysterious long-period transients that have rotations periods of mins to hours.
This one fits between them!
The discovery of a 41-second radio pulsar PSR J0311+1402 with ASKAP
The emerging population of long-period radio transients (LPTs) show both similarities and differences with normal pulsars. A key difference is that their radio emission is too bright to be powered sol...
arxiv.org
March 12, 2025 at 2:55 AM
👀👀👀
Two exciting preprints today from Aussie institutions and scientists! 🔭☄️
1. A 41-sec radio pulsar!
Slowest pulsar we know about is ~23-secs and then there are these mysterious long-period transients that have rotations periods of mins to hours.
This one fits between them!
Two exciting preprints today from Aussie institutions and scientists! 🔭☄️
1. A 41-sec radio pulsar!
Slowest pulsar we know about is ~23-secs and then there are these mysterious long-period transients that have rotations periods of mins to hours.
This one fits between them!
Reposted by Mark Cheung
PUNCH is orbiting and all four spacecraft are Sun-pointed. I can sleep now. ☀️🛰️🔭🚀
March 12, 2025 at 5:58 AM
PUNCH is orbiting and all four spacecraft are Sun-pointed. I can sleep now. ☀️🛰️🔭🚀
Reposted by Mark Cheung
Submitted your PhD in the last three years (but before 2025)?
There is an *awesome* prize fellowship for you at Macquarie in Sydney: the Lighthouse Fellowship.
If you're into exoplanets, stars, and/or stats, get in touch with me or any of the other faculty and we can talk about it!
There is an *awesome* prize fellowship for you at Macquarie in Sydney: the Lighthouse Fellowship.
If you're into exoplanets, stars, and/or stats, get in touch with me or any of the other faculty and we can talk about it!
March 9, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Submitted your PhD in the last three years (but before 2025)?
There is an *awesome* prize fellowship for you at Macquarie in Sydney: the Lighthouse Fellowship.
If you're into exoplanets, stars, and/or stats, get in touch with me or any of the other faculty and we can talk about it!
There is an *awesome* prize fellowship for you at Macquarie in Sydney: the Lighthouse Fellowship.
If you're into exoplanets, stars, and/or stats, get in touch with me or any of the other faculty and we can talk about it!
Reposted by Mark Cheung
Tired of wondering which atomic lines are in your spectra? You need:
*whose line is it anyway?* An interactive tool for identifying atomic spectral lines. 🧪🔭 #stars
install:
pip install whoseline
source:
github.com/bmorris3/who...
*whose line is it anyway?* An interactive tool for identifying atomic spectral lines. 🧪🔭 #stars
install:
pip install whoseline
source:
github.com/bmorris3/who...
February 24, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Tired of wondering which atomic lines are in your spectra? You need:
*whose line is it anyway?* An interactive tool for identifying atomic spectral lines. 🧪🔭 #stars
install:
pip install whoseline
source:
github.com/bmorris3/who...
*whose line is it anyway?* An interactive tool for identifying atomic spectral lines. 🧪🔭 #stars
install:
pip install whoseline
source:
github.com/bmorris3/who...