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@AstroKirsten
Hi there! I’m Dr. Kirsten Banks, but you can call me Kirsten. I have a PhD in astrophysics and I’m passionate about making the wonders of the universe accessible and exciting for everyone. Feel free to explore my content and send me any space and science questions you might have – I’m here to help you understand the un
Watch my latest YouTube Video
The Chance of Impact Just Got Higher
Watch my TEDx talk
Find out more about my PhD
Frequently Asked Questions
Please use the contact form below if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Yes! The public version of my PhD Thesis is available here:
The Spectroscopic Disambiguation of the Red Clump from the Red Giant Branch
Yes! Here's a list of all my publications so far:
- The role of carbon in red giant spectro-seismology
- CN and CO Features: Key Indicators of Red Giant Evolutionary Phase in Moderate-Resolution X-Shooter Spectra
- Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): The Merging Potential of Brightest Group Galaxies
- Evidence for Centrifugal Breakout around the Young M Dwarf TIC 234284556
- The Planets in Indigenous Australian Traditions
Yay, you're going to buy a telescope! I own a little 5" computerised telescope that you can operate with an app on your phone.
It's a Celestron Astro Fi 5 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope and does a good job at seeing the planets, the Moon looks GORGEOUS, and you can see some good deep sky objects like my favourite, the Orion Nebula.
Everyone has a different path to their dreams. I did Physics and Extension 1 Mathematics for my HSC, as well as Music and Geography for a bit of fun. I enrolled at UNSW in a Bachelor of Science Degree, majoring in Physics and continued my undergraduate study with a Physics Honours year studying the evolution of galaxies in the universe. After my honours year I had the opportunity to stay at UNSW for my PhD where I transitioned to studying stellar astrophysics to unravel information about the history and formation of the Milky Way galaxy. And now, I have a PhD in astrophysics!
If I didn't have a good foundational knowledge in mathematics and physics, studying astrophysics would have been a lot more difficult for me. Another tip that I wish I knew before starting university is to take a few computing and coding courses. I use coding and programing almost everyday when I'm doing astrophysics research!
To find the right path for you, reach out to some of your favourite universities and colleges to find out some education and career paths they can support you through. I can't wait to see where you go!