Explore Light
Astronomers use telescopes to see objects far away in space. Did you know that we can only see an object if it emits light or if it reflects light?
Create An Expanding Universe
Nergis Mavalvala
Credit: Bryce Vickmark.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Occupation: Astrophysicist
Year born: 1968
Research Areas: Astrophysics, Experimental Physics, Quantum Mechanics
Norio Kaifu
Credit: IAU via Wikimedia Commons
Occupation: Astronomer
Year born: 1943
Research Areas: Radio Astronomy, Infrared Astronomy
Timeline of Astronomy
Did you know that our understanding of science and space had gradually been built over thousands of years? Discover the people from the past whose observations and experiments helped us understand our Solar System and the
Astronomical Influencers Quiz
Test your astronomy knowledge while learning about the who's who of ancient to present day astronomy!
Samuel Okoye
Credit: AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives,
John Irwin Slide Collection
Low res image used with permission
Occupation: Astrophysicist
Year born: 1939
Masatoshi Koshiba
Credit: 首相官邸ホームページ
Occupation: Astrophysicist
Year born: 1926
Research Areas: Neutrinos, Detectors, Particle Physics, Cosmic Rays
John Johnson
Credit: NASA
Occupation: Astrophysicist & Professor of Astronomy
Year born: 1977
Research Areas: Exoplanets
Beth A. Brown
Early Life
Beth was born in Roanoke, Virginia, USA. She was always asking questions as a child and wanted to know how things worked. She had a passion for science fiction. During a school trip to an observatory she looked through a telescope for the first time and saw the Ring Nebula. That was the inspiration she needed to decide to study astronomy. She was the highest achieving student in her high school. Beth then went to Howard University to study astrophysics.
Year born: 1969
Research Areas: Black Holes, Elliptical Galaxies, X-ray Emission, Data Archives
"Space fascinated me. I was into anything that had to do with space."