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Ilaria Pascucci

@pascucci.bsky.social
669 followers 155 following 54 posts

Astrophysicist and Planetary Scientist. Professor at the University of Arizona. Fellow, American Astronomical Society. Outdoor enthusiast with a love for hiking, biking, and dogs.

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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Christopher Nolan Stared Into Elon Musk’s Soul www.nytimes.com/video/opinio...
nytimes.com
Video: Opinion | Christopher Nolan Stared Into Elon Musk’s Soul
‘The Odyssey’ is the political movie of the decade.
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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Interesting and surprising result: Giant-planet occurrence around low-mass stars keeps rising out to 3 au! Check Gonglewski+ Looking forward to Gaia and Roman to put this to the test. #Astronomy #Exoplanets @uarizonalpl.bsky.social @gaiamission.bsky.social @nancyromansci.bsky.social
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Kat Volk @katvolk.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Looks like the nasa AGs are no more science.nasa.gov/planetary-sc...
science.nasa.gov
Letter from the NASA Planetary Science Director: the Future of the Planetary Science Analysis and Assessment Groups (AGs) - NASA Science
A Letter from the NASA Planetary Science Director, Dr. Louise M. Prockter: the Future of the Planetary Science Analysis and Assessment Groups (AGs)
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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Amazing view of the SpaceX COSMO-SkyMed launch from my backyard! 🚀
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Alexis Quintana @alexis-space.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
A new 3D map of interstellar dust with Gaia! 🌌 A new study, led by Marie Barbillon, exploited the spectroscopic parametriser from Gaia DR3 to build a high-resolution extinction map! It extends up to 4 kpc from the Sun, with a finer version focused on the Local Bubble area. #astro #galactic
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Science Friday @scifri.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
In 2020, Google’s AI lab released a tool called Alphafold that could predict how amino acids would fold into proteins under many different scenarios. Here’s where it—and its Nobel-winning team—are five years later.
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How Alphafold Has Changed Biology Research, 5 Years On
Google's tool for predicting how proteins “fold” turns 5 this year. How is it fitting into biological research—and where is it going?
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Mark Marley @markmarley.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
We need a reimagined LPSC flavored meeting and the locale should be Tucson in March, after the gem show. Plenty of hotel choices along the free tram line that goes to the convention center. Visit Tucson is onboard to support this. If anyone has the bandwidth to invent the meeting we've got the city.
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Gijs D Mulders @gijsmulders.com · 19/11/2025
Question for the #exoplanets crowd: Does any one know where to find an updated version of this plot? I'm looking for the "standard" exoplanet mass vs. semi-major axis plot, but with an overlay of which planets have a spectroscopic measurement of their atmosphere wasp-planets.net/2020/09/29/w...
wasp-planets.net
Which exoplanets do we have atmospheric spectra for?
Here’s an interesting plot created by Zafar Rustamkulov (@exoZafar), a PhD student at Johns Hopkins University. He has added up all the exoplanets for which we have either transmission spectr…
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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Glad to have toured the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) at the Pima Air & Space Museum. Amazing to see the aircraft that carried infrared astronomy above the clouds, I almost got the chance to fly on it. #spacescience #astronomy #NASA #DLR
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Matthew Kenworthy @mattkenworthy.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
‘An Overview of Exocomets’ is a very comprehensive review led by Daniela Iglesias started at an @issibern.ch meeting. I worked on Figure 1 detailing comets around the Sun, Beta Pic and a white dwarf - I’m very proud of it, and it is available on @github.com: Exocomet systems #astrodon #exoplanet ☄
A magnificent plot showing the equilibrium temperature as a proxy for distance from the Sun and two other stars, indicating the locations of debris belts, planets, and detected exocomets.
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Paul Byrne @theplanetaryguy.com · 12/11/2025
Seeing some beautiful photos of aurorae tonight, so here's a reminder that other planets get them, too! This is Saturn, with aurorae visible at both poles in this UV image from Hubble's Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, taken in October 1997 when the planet was 1.3 billion km away.
A bland view of Saturn, but with bright orange glows at both poles; these are the planet's aurorae seen in UV light.
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University of Leicester, Physics & Astronomy @physicsuol.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
🔭🧪🎢 PhD Project focus: Understanding protoplanetary disc evolution We're advertising this project with Prof Richard Alexander, making simulations of accretion of planet-forming discs onto their star. For details of all our PhD projects look here: le.ac.uk/study/resear... 🔭🧪🎢
Artist’s impression of a disc wind dispersing a planet-forming disc around a young star. Credit ESO / M. Kornmesser.
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Nereide @drnereide.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
🧵 Here is the Nebra sky disk, considered by some the oldest known illustration of the night sky. The artifact was discovered near Nebra alongside several Bronze Age weapons and is linked to the Unetice culture, which thrived in parts of Europe... ➡️ apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap18031... 🔭 🧪 #histsci 1/4
A circular bronze disk, about 30 cm across, with a dark green patina from age. Gold leaf inlays form a night sky: scattered round dots represent stars, a tight cluster of seven marks the Pleiades, a full circle near the center is the Sun, and a thin crescent below it is the Moon. Two gold arcs curve along opposite edges, possibly horizons or solstice markers; a third arc at the bottom may indicate a boat or river. The surface shows faint hammer marks and corrosion.
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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
Fall in full color on Mount Lemmon, Arizona 🍁 #SonoranDesert #DesertBeauty #nature
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Mark Marley @markmarley.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
This weekend I read that the entire Breaking Bad franchise is estimated to have had $385M in economic impact for the state of NM and this is celebrated by a statue at the ABQ convention center. Meanwhile University of Arizona space science has an economic impact of $560M on our state every year.
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Eric Mamajek @ericmamajek.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
3I/ATLAS #comet #3IATLAS
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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Enjoyed giving a UofA Origins talk on how protoplanetary disks evolve – featuring new results from ALMA and JWST. The recording is available here 👇 youtu.be/mdgGgnjVbb0 @uarizonalpl.bsky.social @stewardobservatory.bsky.social
youtu.be
Protoplanetary Disk Evolution in the ALMA–JWST Era (Ilaria Pascucci, UArizona/LPL)
YouTube video by Origins Seminars
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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Congrats to my student Dingshan Deng on a new paper! 🎉 A self-consistent thermochemical model to measure disk masses, fully consistent with dynamical estimates – no need for ×100 CO depletion! Enables reliable disk-mass estimates for many more stars. #ALMA #Astronomy @uarizonalpl.bsky.social
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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
UArizona is eligible for the 51 Pegasi b Fellowship in Planetary Astronomy 🚀 Covering solar system & exoplanets. Apply to join us: heisingsimons.app.box.com/s/y8jg5tbsbd...
heisingsimons.app.box.com
51 Pegasi b Guidelines and Application.pdf | Powered by Box
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Sarah Tuttle @niais.cryptoanarchy.network · 15/08/2025
This is devastating, and part of a larger move to entirely push science out of NASA's mission. It is horrific betrayal of so much work, not to mention the fact that it violates NASA's charter.
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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
🚀 Join us Tue Aug 19 for #ExoPAG32 — NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group meeting! ✅ Free & virtual 🗳️ Vote on a community finding 🌌 Mission updates 👩‍🔬 Early career talks 🛰️ NASA program updates from the Astrophysics Division Director Register: go.nasa.gov/45r07LV
go.nasa.gov
Exoplanet Program: Registration
NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program, the search for planets and life beyond our solar system.
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Heidi B. Hammel @hbhammel.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
2019: "NASA is one of the most recognised, revered and iconic brands in the world" (davidsonbranding.com.au/nasa-modern-...). 2025: >1000 NASA mission-support staff (and 2800 other NASA employees) have left under the current administration.
The chart shows the hemorrhage of NASA staff in recent months, with darker orange indicating mission-support staff (over 1000 people), and the lighter color other NASA staff.  GSFC alone has lost over 800 people. NASA HQ lost over 400 people, as did Kennedy Space Center.  Source: NASA, reported by Politico.
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Emily Rauscher @astronemly.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
It’s depressing how much faster it is to break a thing than it is to build it
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Kevin Hardegree-Ullman @kevinkhu.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
@caltechipac.bsky.social is featuring me in their "Meet the Scientists" profiles! Check it out to learn more about how I became an astronomer, what I work on, and how I ended up at IPAC! www.ipac.caltech.edu/meet-the-sta... #exoplanets 🔭🧪
ipac.caltech.edu
Kevin Hardegree-Ullman
In this profile, we feature Kevin Hardegree−Ullman, who supports the NASA Exoplanet Archive at IPAC.
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Mike Henry @onlyveesaz.bsky.social · 10/08/2025
Parting shot of this rock star from last week… Costa’s Hummingbird on cholla skeleton 🪶☀️🌵 (sunrise reflection in bird’s eye)
Male Costa’s Hummingbird
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Indivisible Tucson Action Alliance @indivisibletucson.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Thank you Mitchell Anderson for your Letter to the Editor in today's Daily Star.
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darren32359.bsky.social @darren32359.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
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James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 01/07/2025
Call it millennial cynicism if you like, but I truly believe nothing will turn the Republican base or leadership against Trump. Our only hope is getting young voters to turn out for elections, and every march/petition is useful only if it serves that goal.
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Indivisible Tucson Action Alliance @indivisibletucson.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
DEMAND CISCOMANI MUST DO THE RIGHT THING. Tomorrow - July 2
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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Great result led by Kate Su at the University of Arizona: discovery of gas released by a giant impact around a 150 Myr-old star – glad to have contributed! #JWST #DebrisDisks #Exoplanets @jwstfeed.bsky.social @uarizonalpl.bsky.social @nasaexoplanets.extwitter.link
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NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory @rubinobservatory.org · 23/06/2025
Meet your new cosmic neighbors ☄️ Introducing a swarm of over 2100 new asteroids discovered by NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory! Rubin discovered these asteroids in about 10.5 hours of observing across 7 nights. They've never been seen by humanity before...until now.🔭🧪 youtu.be/DTuq-vBsDJE
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Dr. Lucian Walkowicz @notnotrocketscience.com · 23/06/2025
Because it's not being said as part of this press conference, @vrubinobs.bsky.social would not be possible without the many, many international scientists and collaborators, some around the world, but many who immigrated to the US and are scientists and engineers here
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Eric Bellm @ebellm.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Here it is: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIJf...
youtube.com
Trifid and Lagoon Nebulae - VIDEO - EN
YouTube video by Rubin Observatory
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James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 23/06/2025
Zeljko talking about galaxies in @vrubinobs.bsky.social data, and showing off some amazing nail polish. A reporter asked what’s up with the color: it’s the signature observatory color scheme… branding!
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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Thrilled to wake up this morning to the first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory! Stunning images and videos - here’s the link: www.nsf.gov/news/first-i...
nsf.gov
Ever-changing universe revealed in first imagery from NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory
The NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, a major new scientific facility jointly funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy…
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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 14/06/2025
Massive #NoKings march in New York City!
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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
Twelve ALMA/AGE-PRO papers just out! Exploring how gas and dust evolve in disks 🌟🌀 — Congrats to all authors! 🎉 NRAO press release: public.nrao.edu/news/alma-pl...
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Łukasz Tychoniec @ltychoniec.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
I attended a meeting: "Recovery plan for Ukrainian astronomy" organized by @unileiden.bsky.social @astro4dev.bsky.social It was great to interact with Ukrainian astronomers, learn about their science and challenges. I look forward to fostering new collaborations in both the Netherlands and Poland.
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David Gura @davidgura.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Sen. Alex Padilla, who was just forcibly removed from a DHS press conference, is the ranking member of Judiciary’s subcommittee on immigration, citizenship, and border safety, which has “oversight of federal agencies with citizenship, asylum, refugee, and immigration enforcement responsibilities.”
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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
It’s been a privilege to serve as Chair of the Executive Committee for NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group. I’m pleased to pass the torch to Prof. Ian Crossfield and look forward to his vision and leadership. #NASA #Exoplanets
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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
Full Tucson night hike experience: tarantula, scorpion, and coyotes howling in the distance🦂🌵🌌 #Wildlife #NightHike #SonoranDesert
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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
My dog discovered the Moon 😄 #PetStories #MoonDiscovery
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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
Big congrats to Dr. Galen Bergsten on earning the title! If you’re wondering how many Earth-like planets are out there, Dr. Bergsten is the one to ask. #proudadvisor #Exoplanets #Astrophysics
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Kristian G. Andersen @kgandersen.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
The end of US leadership in science, technology, and innovation. All in one little table. A tremendous gift to China, courtesy of the GOP. nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF...
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American Astronomical Society (AAS) @aas.org · 30/05/2025
AAS and 52 other science societies and organizations sent a letter to Congress this morning expressing concern over recent organizational and financial developments at NSF, and urging Congress to exercise its oversight authority to preserve American STEM leadership. aas.org/press/letter... 🔭
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Emily Hunt @emily.space · 31/05/2025
🔭☄️
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Paul Byrne @theplanetaryguy.com · 31/05/2025
This is seismic. Isaacman had clearly articulated a strong support for science, and the withdrawal of his nomination yet further imperils NASA's Science Mission Directorate. www.semafor.com/article/05/3...
semafor.com
White House to pull NASA nominee Isaacman
Jared Isaacman was set for a vote next week, but now the president is yanking his nomination.
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James Tuttle Keane @jtuttlekeane.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
The NASA planetary science fleet chart if the president’s budget is enacted.
The NASA planetary science fleet chart. It shows two spirals with missions to Moon/Mars and the Solar System. I’ve crossed off all of the missions that will be cancelled in the president’s budget… and there are a lot of them.
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Angela Marusiak @planetaryquakes.bsky.social · 31/05/2025
Now would be a great time to start advocating for science funding. @planetarysociety.bsky.social has some great resources 🔭🧪 www.planetary.org/save-nasa-sc... Save NASA Science - Action Hub | The Planetary Society
planetary.org
Save NASA Science - Action Hub
NASA science faces record cuts. Take action to stop it—we'll show you how.
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Ilaria Pascucci @pascucci.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
🚀 Join us in a week for #ExoPAG32 — NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group meeting! ✅ Free & virtual 🗳️ Vote on a community finding 🌌 Mission updates 👩‍🔬 Early career talks 🛰️ NASA updates incl. from the Astrophysics Division Director Register: exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/exopag/...
exoplanets.nasa.gov
Exoplanet Program: Registration
NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program, the search for planets and life beyond our solar system.
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