Meredith Rawls
Astronomer at UW, data pipeline wrangler for Rubin Observatory, satellite mitigation leader via IAU CPS SatHub, mom, violist, Ballardite (Seattle), family cargo e-bike evangelist, Episcopalian, etc. Opinions all mine
- One thing that was great today - three bikes at preschool pickup! 🥰
- This is my favorite way to get to Carkeek when I have the time - D bus to its northern terminus (randomly behind a QFC when really it should go to Northgate??? sorry I digress) and then crossing right here and walking down along Piper's Creek
- Really can't make this stuff up I did not have a fast-tracked FCC application for an actual megaconstellation (1 million satellites) justified as "taking the first step towards becoming a Kardashev Il-level civilization" on my 2026 bingo card What are we doing friends
- Where is the travel agency that will help me choose family trip destinations based on the existence of this kind of itinerary?! (I've cobbled together a far-too-compressed version of this on Vancouver Island for this summer, and yes it did require planning in January)
- This is what taxpayer-funded open science plus decades of hard-won investment and expertise looks like
- I have an opinion on an important matter ABC Trefoils > LBB Samoas (LBB) > Caramel deLites (ABC) PB Sandwiches (ABC) > Do-Si-Dos (LBB) LBB Adventurefuls > ABC LBB Thin Mints > ABC PB Patties (ABC) and Tagalongs (LBB) differ notably but neither is superior; same for Exploremores (the new one)
- Tell me five classes you took in college: Politology (in Moscow Russia) Interdisciplinary Laboratory (lizard anal thermometers) Performing the Sacred (more trances and less pipe organ than anticipated) Hatha Yoga II (Iyengar) Science and Religion (missed some class due to an observing run in Chile)
- oh okay add it to the bingo card
- At tonight's PTO meeting I learned that when storm drains on the playground backed up, somebody made signs about a new tadpole ecosystem I also learned about the district's new guidance for keeping kids safe from immigration enforcement agents and some initial community responses Lord, have mercy
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- Wow ... maybe if Seattle had better public transit and safer active transport infrastructure we wouldn't have to pay out the nose to send school buses to the far reaches of the city every day? Just spitballing here
- None of these folks have ever helped a kid deliver Girl Scout cookies that's for sure
- Tonight I had a beer with fellow Girl Scout parents and we tried to plan cookie season in the midst of everything. The guy at the next table bought me a drink because his dog kept crashing into us. I thanked him. I sure don't have answers but my kiddo can sell you cookies (US) tinyurl.com/skyler26
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- Reposted by Meredith Rawls"Oh my gosh, it was so nice to see you! Have a lovely day, fuck ICE!" "Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!' - two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
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- Reposted by Meredith RawlsMinnesota is the best of us.
- My husband got to pick a random free corporate gift and he picked 2 bowls because everything else was trash and y'all NEW FAVORITE BOWL BRAND based on the box alone 🤩🥣🚲 Sadly they did not come with a cute crockpot lid or a bike rack attachment, real missed opportunities
- Hey Seattle guess what THAT'S RIGHT it's freaking cold outside Oh and you can just barely see the aurora
- Alas, no obvious aurora from Seattle proper tonight. Maybe hints of greens and reds if you're at a darker site in the greater PNW. Nothing worth sitting out in the cold for IMO
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- Fun fact, I got a similar response ~3 years ago when I asked satellite constellation operators what their plan was for solar maximum or other space weather events 🔭
- "After being told that school was cancelled for two days because of ICE, my elementary school-age daughter replied, “That makes sense, it’s really slippery outside.” " Parenting in the 2020s sure is ... something
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- This profile has been in the works for a while now — they interviewed me in Nov 2024, took photos Jan 2025, bumped me back an issue or two to feature more timely pieces (e.g. wildfire experts), added updates in fall 2025, and now — as @vrubinobs.bsky.social gets going in earnest — it's finally out 🔭
- Hello I have an *important* update, I have received Girl Scout Cookies from BOTH bakeries (there are 2—Little Brownie and ABC, each with subtly different cookies) and the fam shall be taste testing later 🍪 Order some: tinyurl.com/skyler26 (If you want the other bakery too, PDX area scouts use them)
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- Today's post-conference checklist Help kids and spouse go to party/park All of the laundry Change all the sheets Start putting away Christmas Change sheets again after 3yo accident More laundry Wizard of Oz movie Lend neighbor a vehicle Have the ICE chat with the 8yo Laundry again
- Laura is a mom who runs a cargo bike lending library in Minneapolis and this is how she is spending her weekend, after doing a grocery run for some neighbors who feel unsafe leaving their house
- I followed the signs and looked at some art in PHX before getting on my plane
- "We are here to love each other, care for each other, and keep each other safe and whole."
- This was a lovely #aas247 plenary. I wish more of them had been live-post-threaded because amazing astrophysics deserves to be shared far and wide!
- Oooh nice, #aas250 in summer 2027 is going to be designed as fully virtual! Currently #aas247 is wrapping up in Phoenix 248 Pasadena Jun 26 (wasn't it just there?!) 249 Salt Lake City Jan 27 250 Fully online! 251 TBD 252 Madison WI 253, 254 TBD 255 Fake DC (Jan 2030) 🙃 aas.org/meetings/fut...
- Hey #aas247 — Tired? Wheeling a suitcase around? Dazed and confused? Need a few last stickers? Come learn about what's Coming Soon to LEO Near You and ask me all your pressing questions about satellite constellations 🛰️ 11am @ Exhibitor Theater (the odd presentation stage inside the exhibit hall)
- Sometimes you stumble over to a packed breakout session at your big annual academic conference and learn that some billionaires have decided to build not one, but FOUR, complementary new telescope facilities, and build them fast Well OK then! Happy new year! From their pockets to our skies! 🔭
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- Finally A good breakfast burrito at a coffee shop that is not in the convention center A true #aas247 miracle
- When people ask what I want the streets in my neighborhood and near my kid's school to be like, this is my answer 🤩
- We interrupt your regularly scheduled astronomy content to share a timely update from my kiddos 🍪 tinyurl.com/skyler26
