Amy Mainzer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amy Mainzer
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| Born | January 2, 1974 Mansfield, Ohio
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Stanford University California Institute of Technology University of California, Los Angeles |
| Known for | Astrophysical instrumentation and infrared astronomy |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astrophysics |
| Institutions | University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory |
Amy Mainzer (born January 2, 1974) is an American astronomer. She is an expert in building special tools for studying space and using infrared astronomy (which looks at heat, not visible light).
She was a lead scientist for the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission. She also leads the NEOWISE project, which uses the WISE telescope to find and study minor planets like asteroids. Dr. Mainzer is also the main scientist for the upcoming Near Earth Object Surveyor space telescope mission.
Besides her science work, she has been a science consultant and host for the PBS Kids TV show Ready Jet Go!. She also helped with the science for the 2021 movie Don't Look Up.
Life and Work
Amy Mainzer studied physics at Stanford University, earning her first degree in 1996. She then got a master's degree in astronomy from the California Institute of Technology in 2000. In 2003, she completed her Ph.D. in astronomy at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Her research focuses on many exciting space topics. She studies asteroids, which are rocky objects orbiting the Sun. She also looks at brown dwarfs, which are objects bigger than planets but smaller than stars. Her work includes studying planetary atmospheres (the gases around planets) and debris disks (rings of dust and rock around young stars). She also researches how star formation happens. A big part of her job is designing and building new instruments for telescopes on Earth and in space.
Dr. Mainzer has appeared on several TV shows. She was featured in the History Channel series The Universe. She also appeared in the documentary "For the Love of Spock" (2016), which was about the actor Leonard Nimoy and his famous character Spock. As mentioned, she is a science consultant and host for the live-action parts of the Ready Jet Go! series on PBS Kids.
Awards and Honors
Amy Mainzer has received many awards for her important work in science:
- NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal (2012)
- NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal (2011)
- Many group awards for her work on the Spitzer, WISE, and NEOWISE missions.
- Lew Allen Award for Excellence (2010)
- NASA Graduate Student Research Program Fellowship (2001–2003)
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (1996–1999)
- She became a Fellow of the American Astronomical Society in 2025.
Asteroid Named After Her
An asteroid was named after Amy Mainzer! It is called 234750 Amymainzer. Astronomers from the NEAT program discovered it in 2002. The official naming was announced on July 26, 2010.
Another asteroid, 251627 Joyceearl, was named after her grandparents.
See also
In Spanish: Amy Mainzer para niños
- List of women in leadership positions on astronomical instrumentation projects
