Bob Benjamin
@bobbenjamin.bsky.social
Wisconsin. All about the Milky Way.
There are a lot of beautiful star formation regions out there, but RCW 49/Westerlund 2 is special to me. It was the first thing that was observed by the Spitzer Space Telescope as part of GLIMPSE. So…wow.
Webb: Dwarf stars in a glittering sky www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
This star cluster, known as Westerlund 2, resides in a stellar breeding ground known as Gum 29, located 20 000 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Carina (the Keel).
This star cluster, known as Westerlund 2, resides in a stellar breeding ground known as Gum 29, located 20 000 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Carina (the Keel).
December 26, 2025 at 11:32 PM
There are a lot of beautiful star formation regions out there, but RCW 49/Westerlund 2 is special to me. It was the first thing that was observed by the Spitzer Space Telescope as part of GLIMPSE. So…wow.
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
🚀The Roman Cycle 1 Call for Proposals is OPEN!
Unlock new discoveries with the Wide Field Instrument—your science starts here! Apply for funding to analyze Roman data, perform theory/lab research, and propose new observations. 🔭☄️
📅 Deadline: Mar 17, 2026 (5 PM PDT)
📝 bit.ly/4q3jbbL
Unlock new discoveries with the Wide Field Instrument—your science starts here! Apply for funding to analyze Roman data, perform theory/lab research, and propose new observations. 🔭☄️
📅 Deadline: Mar 17, 2026 (5 PM PDT)
📝 bit.ly/4q3jbbL
December 10, 2025 at 5:01 PM
🚀The Roman Cycle 1 Call for Proposals is OPEN!
Unlock new discoveries with the Wide Field Instrument—your science starts here! Apply for funding to analyze Roman data, perform theory/lab research, and propose new observations. 🔭☄️
📅 Deadline: Mar 17, 2026 (5 PM PDT)
📝 bit.ly/4q3jbbL
Unlock new discoveries with the Wide Field Instrument—your science starts here! Apply for funding to analyze Roman data, perform theory/lab research, and propose new observations. 🔭☄️
📅 Deadline: Mar 17, 2026 (5 PM PDT)
📝 bit.ly/4q3jbbL
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
Remember that lovely aurora last week?
Well...um...this is what Euclid saw... 😱
🧵
Well...um...this is what Euclid saw... 😱
🧵
November 19, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Remember that lovely aurora last week?
Well...um...this is what Euclid saw... 😱
🧵
Well...um...this is what Euclid saw... 😱
🧵
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
Three #NASAWebb discoveries in ONE! Webb shows there are FOUR dust shells (only one was previously seen), allowing researchers to narrow the stars’ orbit of one another to a LONG 190 years. Plus, they confirmed a third star is part of the “party”: https://bit.ly/4n1tpas 🔭 🧪
November 19, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Three #NASAWebb discoveries in ONE! Webb shows there are FOUR dust shells (only one was previously seen), allowing researchers to narrow the stars’ orbit of one another to a LONG 190 years. Plus, they confirmed a third star is part of the “party”: https://bit.ly/4n1tpas 🔭 🧪
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
I put forward a simple amendment to the government funding bill that would’ve extended health care tax breaks to give folks some breathing room.
Every. Single. Republican. Voted NO.
This fight isn’t over.
Every. Single. Republican. Voted NO.
This fight isn’t over.
November 12, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I put forward a simple amendment to the government funding bill that would’ve extended health care tax breaks to give folks some breathing room.
Every. Single. Republican. Voted NO.
This fight isn’t over.
Every. Single. Republican. Voted NO.
This fight isn’t over.
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
Pre-ACA, I was a postdoc on an NSF fellowship at a university that didn't offer employment benefits to independent fellows. At that time, being a woman meant that my premiums were double that of my male counterparts. The extra cost came out of my grant's budget for benefits, equipment, and travel.
November 10, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Pre-ACA, I was a postdoc on an NSF fellowship at a university that didn't offer employment benefits to independent fellows. At that time, being a woman meant that my premiums were double that of my male counterparts. The extra cost came out of my grant's budget for benefits, equipment, and travel.
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
The @herts.ac.uk astronomy MSc and PhD applications are open.
I'm offering PhD projects on JWST spectroscopy of young stars in Tr 14 and star-cluster formation.
I'm also offering an MSc project on variability of YSOs.
www.herts.ac.uk/research/cen...
#galactic #stellarastro #astro #Physics
I'm offering PhD projects on JWST spectroscopy of young stars in Tr 14 and star-cluster formation.
I'm also offering an MSc project on variability of YSOs.
www.herts.ac.uk/research/cen...
#galactic #stellarastro #astro #Physics
Solar, Stellar and Time-domain Astrophysics
Star formation and Stellar Evolution PhD Projects.
herts.ac.uk
November 4, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The @herts.ac.uk astronomy MSc and PhD applications are open.
I'm offering PhD projects on JWST spectroscopy of young stars in Tr 14 and star-cluster formation.
I'm also offering an MSc project on variability of YSOs.
www.herts.ac.uk/research/cen...
#galactic #stellarastro #astro #Physics
I'm offering PhD projects on JWST spectroscopy of young stars in Tr 14 and star-cluster formation.
I'm also offering an MSc project on variability of YSOs.
www.herts.ac.uk/research/cen...
#galactic #stellarastro #astro #Physics
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
This is what the band of the Milky Way would look like at night if your eyes could see radio waves. A hidden beauty.
It's a new image created by the Murchison Widefield Array, which scanned the sky in 20 radio "colors" over frequencies from 72 to 231 megahertz. 🧪🔭
www.icrar.org/gleam-x-gala...
It's a new image created by the Murchison Widefield Array, which scanned the sky in 20 radio "colors" over frequencies from 72 to 231 megahertz. 🧪🔭
www.icrar.org/gleam-x-gala...
November 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
This is what the band of the Milky Way would look like at night if your eyes could see radio waves. A hidden beauty.
It's a new image created by the Murchison Widefield Array, which scanned the sky in 20 radio "colors" over frequencies from 72 to 231 megahertz. 🧪🔭
www.icrar.org/gleam-x-gala...
It's a new image created by the Murchison Widefield Array, which scanned the sky in 20 radio "colors" over frequencies from 72 to 231 megahertz. 🧪🔭
www.icrar.org/gleam-x-gala...
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
Hey, astronomers. Can you imagine astronomy research without ADS?!?!? No? So, have you filled out the ADS survey yet?
Help archives help you!
(Help archives keep funding!)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Help archives help you!
(Help archives keep funding!)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Astrophysics Data System (ADS) User Feedback Survey
Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the Astrophysics Data System (ADS) digital library. Your insights will help us improve the platform and better serve the scientific community. All ...
docs.google.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Hey, astronomers. Can you imagine astronomy research without ADS?!?!? No? So, have you filled out the ADS survey yet?
Help archives help you!
(Help archives keep funding!)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Help archives help you!
(Help archives keep funding!)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
November 3, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
I've made my new Star Central VR world public for anyone who would like a peek.
horizon.meta.com/world/775774...
horizon.meta.com/world/775774...
Star Central
Travel and learn about the Milky Way. Still in beta.
horizon.meta.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I've made my new Star Central VR world public for anyone who would like a peek.
horizon.meta.com/world/775774...
horizon.meta.com/world/775774...
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
If you're interesting in observations of stellar populations/nearby galaxies, Dan Weisz's group is hiring two postdocs! Come work with me and live in paradise in California 🌞
aas.org/jobregister/...
aas.org/jobregister/...
Postdoc Positions in Nearby Galaxies | American Astronomical Society
POSITION DESCRIPTION The Department of Astronomy at UC Berkeley is seeking up to two highly motivated individuals to carry out postdoctoral research on nearby galaxies using data from a variety of fac...
aas.org
October 20, 2025 at 11:20 PM
If you're interesting in observations of stellar populations/nearby galaxies, Dan Weisz's group is hiring two postdocs! Come work with me and live in paradise in California 🌞
aas.org/jobregister/...
aas.org/jobregister/...
Oct 18, 2025 Madison, WI. No kings protest
October 18, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Oct 18, 2025 Madison, WI. No kings protest
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
👶🌟 ICYMI, Gaia released the most accurate 3D map of stellar nurseries in the Milky Way.
The map extends 4000 light-years from us, with the Sun at the centre.
Explore it here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/lkkmqlzqih 🔭
The map extends 4000 light-years from us, with the Sun at the centre.
Explore it here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/lkkmqlzqih 🔭
October 10, 2025 at 9:02 AM
👶🌟 ICYMI, Gaia released the most accurate 3D map of stellar nurseries in the Milky Way.
The map extends 4000 light-years from us, with the Sun at the centre.
Explore it here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/lkkmqlzqih 🔭
The map extends 4000 light-years from us, with the Sun at the centre.
Explore it here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/lkkmqlzqih 🔭
🤩
Exciting talk from @mac0598.bsky.social in Stellar Origins 2025, showing a time-resolved supernovae map, tracing back the orbits of young star clusters and comparing them with extinction and H-alpha maps!
#stellarorigins2025 #astronomy
#stellarorigins2025 #astronomy
September 20, 2025 at 3:29 AM
🤩
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
🐦 Fly through a 3D map of stellar nurseries ✨
Scientists have created the most accurate 3D map of star-formation regions in our Milky Way galaxy, based on data from #ESAGaia.
The map extends to a distance of 4000 light-years from us, with the Sun at the centre 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭 🧪
Scientists have created the most accurate 3D map of star-formation regions in our Milky Way galaxy, based on data from #ESAGaia.
The map extends to a distance of 4000 light-years from us, with the Sun at the centre 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭 🧪
September 16, 2025 at 12:09 PM
🐦 Fly through a 3D map of stellar nurseries ✨
Scientists have created the most accurate 3D map of star-formation regions in our Milky Way galaxy, based on data from #ESAGaia.
The map extends to a distance of 4000 light-years from us, with the Sun at the centre 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭 🧪
Scientists have created the most accurate 3D map of star-formation regions in our Milky Way galaxy, based on data from #ESAGaia.
The map extends to a distance of 4000 light-years from us, with the Sun at the centre 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭 🧪
My favorite parts of this movie are flying by the California Nebula and then speeding by W40. These HII regions are starting to feel like old friends.
🐦 Fly through a 3D map of stellar nurseries ✨
Scientists have created the most accurate 3D map of star-formation regions in our Milky Way galaxy, based on data from #ESAGaia.
The map extends to a distance of 4000 light-years from us, with the Sun at the centre 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭 🧪
Scientists have created the most accurate 3D map of star-formation regions in our Milky Way galaxy, based on data from #ESAGaia.
The map extends to a distance of 4000 light-years from us, with the Sun at the centre 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl... 🔭 🧪
September 17, 2025 at 3:20 AM
My favorite parts of this movie are flying by the California Nebula and then speeding by W40. These HII regions are starting to feel like old friends.
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
The NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program (NITARP) is celebrating 20 years of high school teachers & students doing astronomy research at IPAC!
“NITARP changed my life,” said one teacher who participated in the program.
Read more great quotes here:
www.ipac.caltech.edu/news/20-year...
“NITARP changed my life,” said one teacher who participated in the program.
Read more great quotes here:
www.ipac.caltech.edu/news/20-year...
September 6, 2025 at 1:23 AM
The NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program (NITARP) is celebrating 20 years of high school teachers & students doing astronomy research at IPAC!
“NITARP changed my life,” said one teacher who participated in the program.
Read more great quotes here:
www.ipac.caltech.edu/news/20-year...
“NITARP changed my life,” said one teacher who participated in the program.
Read more great quotes here:
www.ipac.caltech.edu/news/20-year...
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
Hello everyone! We have joined BlueSky!!
August 21, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Hello everyone! We have joined BlueSky!!
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
Currently attending a ~35 person workshop on HI in galaxies, at a venue just outside Kruger Nat’l Park. Today we had four special attendees in the rafters: lesser galagos, or lesser bushbabies!
August 19, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Currently attending a ~35 person workshop on HI in galaxies, at a venue just outside Kruger Nat’l Park. Today we had four special attendees in the rafters: lesser galagos, or lesser bushbabies!
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
I don't post a lot, but I am particularly proud of this paper. It's the first observational sample of binary companions to stripped envelope supernovae. And places constraints on the binary evolution physics.
It only took me 10 years to build with HST!
arxiv.org/abs/2508.12677
It only took me 10 years to build with HST!
arxiv.org/abs/2508.12677
August 19, 2025 at 12:51 PM
I don't post a lot, but I am particularly proud of this paper. It's the first observational sample of binary companions to stripped envelope supernovae. And places constraints on the binary evolution physics.
It only took me 10 years to build with HST!
arxiv.org/abs/2508.12677
It only took me 10 years to build with HST!
arxiv.org/abs/2508.12677
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
🌌 What does our Milky Way look like from the outside? 🌀 How has that changed over time? ✨ Why did my coauthors let me use the phrase “child movie star” in an actual paper? ⚡️
Check out arxiv.org/abs/2507.17637, and the incredible work by Imig et al in arxiv.org/abs/2507.17629 to find out!
Check out arxiv.org/abs/2507.17637, and the incredible work by Imig et al in arxiv.org/abs/2507.17629 to find out!
July 31, 2025 at 4:00 PM
🌌 What does our Milky Way look like from the outside? 🌀 How has that changed over time? ✨ Why did my coauthors let me use the phrase “child movie star” in an actual paper? ⚡️
Check out arxiv.org/abs/2507.17637, and the incredible work by Imig et al in arxiv.org/abs/2507.17629 to find out!
Check out arxiv.org/abs/2507.17637, and the incredible work by Imig et al in arxiv.org/abs/2507.17629 to find out!
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
What happens if you combine @esa.int's Gaia satellite's variable star classifications with open clusters? 🔭☄️🧪 #stellarastro
In paper #2 out today, Richard Anderson & I collaborated on doing just that and seeing what we could learn! There are tons of pretty plots and insights, so let's dive in ⤵️
In paper #2 out today, Richard Anderson & I collaborated on doing just that and seeing what we could learn! There are tons of pretty plots and insights, so let's dive in ⤵️
August 19, 2025 at 9:46 AM
What happens if you combine @esa.int's Gaia satellite's variable star classifications with open clusters? 🔭☄️🧪 #stellarastro
In paper #2 out today, Richard Anderson & I collaborated on doing just that and seeing what we could learn! There are tons of pretty plots and insights, so let's dive in ⤵️
In paper #2 out today, Richard Anderson & I collaborated on doing just that and seeing what we could learn! There are tons of pretty plots and insights, so let's dive in ⤵️
Reposted by Bob Benjamin
Supreme Court Rules Supreme Court Rules theonion.com/supreme...
August 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Supreme Court Rules Supreme Court Rules theonion.com/supreme...