Kim Weaver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kim Weaver
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Weaver talks to a reporter from WJZ-TV during STS-125 EVA activities at the Goddard visitor center
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| Born | April 19, 1964 |
| Occupation | Professor, Lecturer, Author |
| Known for | Research Science |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | University of West Virginia and University of Maryland |
| Doctoral advisor | Andrew Stephen Wilson and Richard Mushotzky |
| Academic work | |
Dr. Kimberly A. Weaver (born April 19, 1964) is an American astronomer and professor. She studies astrophysics, which is a part of astronomy that uses physics to understand space. Dr. Weaver has worked with NASA on many research projects. You might have seen her on TV shows talking about space. She is an expert in x-ray astronomy, which means she studies space objects by looking at the X-rays they give off.
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Early Life and School
When Kim Weaver was five years old, she was amazed by pictures of planets and galaxies. She also saw a huge 300-foot antenna dish at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia. The Apollo 11 moon landing also inspired her. These experiences made her want to become a scientist at NASA.
She went to West Virginia University. In 1987, she earned a degree in physics. Then, in 1988, she started at the University of Maryland. While there, she worked as a student at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Kim got her Master's degree in Astronomy from the University of Maryland in 1990. She continued her studies there and earned her Ph.D. in astronomy in 1993. Her Ph.D. research was about how certain galaxies, called Seyfert Galaxies, give off X-rays. After her Ph.D., she did more research at Penn State and Johns Hopkins University. In 1998, she returned to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Career in Space Science
At Goddard, Dr. Weaver became a scientist who focused on x-ray astronomy. She worked on the Constellation X satellite project. This project was part of NASA's "Beyond Einstein" program. She was the Deputy Project Scientist for it.
During her time at Goddard, she also worked a lot with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. This powerful telescope helped her make important discoveries. She studied starburst galaxies, black holes, and other amazing things in space. Besides Chandra, she used other X-ray telescopes like XXM-Newton, RXTE, and BeppoSAX.
In 2005, she worked at the California Institute of Technology for NASA. She was the Spitzer Program Scientist there. Today, Dr. Weaver is an astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. She still works in the X-Ray astrophysics lab. She is also a professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Dr. Weaver is interested in many areas of X-ray astronomy. These include active galaxies, starburst galaxies, and how black holes form. She is part of many important science groups. These include the American Astronomical Society and the International Astronomical Union.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Weaver has received many awards for her important work. Some of them include:
- 2011: West Virginia University Academy of Distinguished Alumni
- 2009: Robert H. Goddard Exceptional Achievement Award in Outreach
- 2009: Distinguished Alumna Award, University of Maryland Astronomy Department
- 2007: West Virginia University Alumni Recognition Award
- 1996: Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, NASA
- 1991-1993: NASA Graduate Student Researcher's Fellowship
- 1992: NASA Peer Award
Personal Life and Hobbies
Dr. Weaver enjoys music, art, and singing. She also loves community theatre. She acts, directs, and helps design sets for plays. One of her favorite roles is Elvira in the play Blithe Spirit.
When she was in college, she was part of the West Virginia University marching band. In 1986, she was chosen as Miss Mountaineer. Dr. Weaver really likes to help children learn about astronomy. Her parents, Kenna (who passed away in 2010) and Patricia Weaver, still live in Morgantown, West Virginia.
See also
In Spanish: Kim Weaver para niños
