Astronomy PhD works in the star domes: ‘I don’t like the weather’

Who are you and what do you do?

‘I’m Aastha Parikh, 27 years-old and a third-year PhD student at the Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy where I’m studying double stars. A double star is a two-star system where each star circles around the other. One star will always be a white dwarf  — a neutron star — or a black hole: so a dead star. I conduct research together with my supervisor and two other PhD students. My promotional topic concerns the crust of cooling neutron stars. I find it mind boggling. Take the variation in their density for instance: within a kilometer of a star’s crust, density can increase by a factor of hundred million!’

Where do you work?

‘I have a permanent office at Science Park that I share with nine other PhDs. My desk is the one with all Snoopy stuff — I really like Snoopy. But I also do a lot of work on the train. I live in Delft so I have time to fill on the ride to Amsterdam, but I’ll work from home when I have deadlines. Otherwise my favourite place to work is the star dome at Science Park.’

What do you like about it?

‘There was an incredible amount of light pollution where I grew up, so on starry nights I love watching the stars in the star dome when it’s completely dark. I also like how I can watch the images taken through the telescope from the comfort of inside — otherwise you’re waiting in the cold all night.’

What do you dislike?

‘The Dutch weather. I’ll be looking forward to a starry night when clouds will come and cover everything... And it’s not easy to get back to Delft at 2 AM!’