Paula Szkody
Encyclopedia
Dr. Paula Szkody is a professor in the Department of Astronomy
at the University of Washington
in Seattle. She specializes in cataclysmic variable stars, which are binary star systems that periodically undergo energetic outbursts. She is an active participant in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
(SDSS) searching for new dwarf novae and has worked with the XTE, ASCA
, ROSAT
, IUE, HST
, EUVE and XMM-Newton
space missions.
In 2005 she became the editor-in-chief of the astronomical journal
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
(PASP). In 1978, she was awarded the Annie J. Cannon Award in Astronomy
by the American Astronomical Society
. She is also very active in professional-amateur collaboration, especially in conjunction with the American Association of Variable Star Observers
, for whom she has served both as an officer on the board and, for the term 2007-08, as President of the organization.
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle. She specializes in cataclysmic variable stars, which are binary star systems that periodically undergo energetic outbursts. She is an active participant in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
Sloan Digital Sky Survey
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey or SDSS is a major multi-filter imaging and spectroscopic redshift survey using a dedicated 2.5-m wide-angle optical telescope at Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico, United States. The project was named after the Alfred P...
(SDSS) searching for new dwarf novae and has worked with the XTE, ASCA
ASCA
ASCA can refer to:* Association for Student Conduct Administration* ASCA * Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics* Australian Shepherd Club of America* Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis* American School Counseling Association...
, ROSAT
ROSAT
ROSAT was a German Aerospace Center-led satellite X-ray telescope, with instruments built by Germany, the UK and the US...
, IUE, HST
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
, EUVE and XMM-Newton
XMM-Newton
The XMM-Newton is an orbiting X-ray observatory launched by ESA in December 1999 on a Ariane 5 rocket...
space missions.
In 2005 she became the editor-in-chief of the astronomical journal
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific is a monthly scientific journal which publishes astronomy research and review papers, instrumentation papers and dissertation summaries....
(PASP). In 1978, she was awarded the Annie J. Cannon Award in Astronomy
Annie J. Cannon Award in Astronomy
The Annie Jump Cannon Award in Astronomy is awarded annually by the American Astronomical Society to a woman resident of North America, who is within five years of receipt of a Ph.D., for distinguished contributions to astronomy or for similar contributions in related sciences which have immediate...
by the American Astronomical Society
American Astronomical Society
The American Astronomical Society is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC...
. She is also very active in professional-amateur collaboration, especially in conjunction with the American Association of Variable Star Observers
American Association of Variable Star Observers
Since its founding in 1911, the American Association of Variable Star Observers has coordinated, collected, evaluated, analyzed, published, and archived variable star observations made largely by amateur astronomers and makes the records available to professional astronomers, researchers, and...
, for whom she has served both as an officer on the board and, for the term 2007-08, as President of the organization.