Susan/NASA Moderator: Hi Yvonne. In your bio you mentioned making discoveries. What discoveries have you made?

Yvonne: Well, I have added to the body of knowledge we now have concerning what interstellar dust is made of. This is the material that new stars form out of, and some of it is incorporated into comets. The comets deliver the interstellar dust to planets like the Earth, and that material may have helped start life here.

Hunters Woods - Abi: How did you get interested in being an Astrophysicist?

Yvonne: . Hi Hunter- I got interested in astrophysics after I came to NASA. I knew I wanted to be close to the space program in some way when I was quite young, but then I turned more towards science and astronomy seemed to be the way for me to go. After I got my feet wet at NASA Ames, I had the confidence to study astrophysics.

Yvonne: . OOPS- I see that was Abi I was responding to- from Hunters Woods

Hunters Woods - Kara: How do you stay up all night when your looking through a telescope ?

Yvonne: Hi Kara- well, after sleeping during the day, it isn't that hard to stay up at night. The first night is always hard, because you aren't on the other schedule yet. The altitude is more difficult for me to adjust to.

Sandy@Pasadena: Does interstellar dust look like dust on Earth?

Yvonne: Sandy- interstellar dust is a lot smaller than grains of sand on the beach, but a lot of it is similar to beach sand in composition (silicate material). Other parts of the dust are carbon like the graphite in pencils, and sometimes there are icy shells around the core of the dust grain.

Hunters Woods - Jaspreet: What telescopes do you normally use? Have you ever been to some of those of those big telescopes around the world?

Yvonne: Hi Jaspreet, yes, I have been to some of the biggest telescopes in the world. This past August and then again in September, I went to Hawaii to use the NASA 3 meter telescope and then the Keck 10 meter telescope. It was very exciting!

Susan/NASA Moderator: Yvonne, Is the Keck Observatory in Hawaii too?

Yes, Susan, the Keck is also on the Big Island

Alice: Did you ever want to be an Astronaut?

Yvonne: . Alice- you know it is funny, or sad perhaps, but I never thought of being an astronaut. It wasn't something women did yet. I thought only of being a console operator at Mission control. There weren't any women there either, but somehow that seemed more attainable.

Hunters Woods - Abi: How does it feel to make a discovery?

Yvonne: . . . Well, Abi, it feels very special to be aware that what you are seeing has never been seen by human eyes before. It doesn't happen that often, but when I was working on my Ph.D thesis I had that feeling during a couple of observing runs

Hunters Woods - Abi: . . . I want to be an astronaut, What do you suggest I do to get myself ready? I really want to this bad!

Yvonne: . . Good for you, Abi. I wish you all the best. I suggest you study math and every science you can learn about. I would set aside some time each day to try to learn something above and beyond what you are doing in school. You'll have to show that you are an exceptional person. Be a team player; a leader whenever possible. Cultivate the ability to work well with others. A lot of really smart people never make the final cuts because they aren't seen as team players.

Susan/NASA Moderator: . . Welcome Hunter Woods! Where is your school?

Hunters Woods - Jaspreet: . . Our school is in Northern Virginia, just about 15 miles outside of Washington DC. We are having our lunches right in front of our computer!

Sandy@Pasadena: . . Where is your favorite place in the world to observe? And where is your least favorite place to observe and why?

Yvonne: . . . Hi Sandy- I enjoy Mauna Kea on the big island of Hawaii the best and I don't really like going to Mount Lemmon, Arizona. Mount Lemmon is beautiful, but the living conditions are pretty rustic, and on Mauna Kea it feels like you are in a comfortable dormitory. Also, because Mauna Kea is higher (14,000 ft rather than 9,000 ft), the atmosphere effects are not as bad and the observational data is therefore better.

Hunters Woods - Kara: . How long does it take to go through college and get your PH.D ?

Yvonne: . . . . Kara, it takes a long time to get a Ph.D. I spent 4 years at Georgia Tech, 2 years at Stanford (first Master's degree), one year at U. of Michigan (started Ph.D.), and 4 years at U.C. Santa Cruz (second Master's and Ph.D).

Sandy@Pasadena: I read in your bio that you find the time to read one book a week! What I want to know is HOW? I sometimes can't get all the homework done that my teachers give me!!!

Yvonne: Hi Sandy- I am a lunatic when it comes to books. I carry them everywhere. When I go to the health club, I try to read while I am on the treadmill. I like paperbacks because they fit in my purse. If I'm in line waiting somewhere, I read. It is an escape, pure and simple. If I thought I HAD to do it, I know I wouldn't.

Hunters Woods - Kara: I want to be an scientist with Astronomy , but my father wants me to be an Doctor .

Yvonne: Kara, it will be hard to stand up for what you want to do, but if you are sincere and work really hard, they will all see that you belong where your heart is.

: Where have you had your articles published?

Yvonne: I have published in professional journals (The Astrophysical Journal primarily), and popular science magazince like Sky and Telescope (check out the cover story, March, 1994; Life from the Stars? which I wrote with my husband). I have another Sky and Tel article coming out this March.

Susan/NASA Moderator: . How did you deal with your Mom when she encouraged you to be a flight attendant?

Yvonne: Well, Susan, I'm probably still dealing with her! She is one of my biggest fans, now, but she still doesn't understand what I do or really why I do it. We just tried to understand how different we each look at the world, and let our love carry us along. As a teenager, I wasn't so charitable, though!

What was your biggest goal in life when you became an astrophysicist? Have you achieved it? If not, is it still a major goal?

Yvonne: The question about the biggest goal I had going into this is such a good one. I think I just wanted to contribute in some significant, even if small, way to the edge of the envelope. I think I am doing that, but it isn't something you see so much at the time. I have been invited to write review papers and give lectures on my topics- I go to Italy in March for a lecture series- so I suppose I am achieving that goal. I'll have to think about that further. Thanks for asking.

Elyse Krezmien: Could you tell us, if you haven't already, what your favorite mystery book is?

Yvonne: I adore anything by Patricia Cornwell, and I think Postmortem was her best so far.

Jen What do you do in your spare time, or should I first ask, do you have any spare time?

Yvonne: Jen- there isn't a lot of spare time, but when it comes along I usually spend it with my kids. I love to go to the movies (can't wait to see the new Star Trek movie) and the beach.

Teven: How many days a week do you work, or do you have a regular working schedule?

Yvonne: Hi Teven, I work everyday, even days like this one where I'm home with a sick little boy. He is happy playing Sega while I do this (he's 7).

Susan/NASA Moderator: Hi Teven, Welcome! Where do you go to school?

Teven & Jen: Susan, we attend Whitwell Middle in Whitwell, TN. We're just outside of Chattanooga, TN.

Sandy@Pasadena I think it would be so cool to have a mom who was an astronomer at my school! Do your kids like it when you come to their school? Do they want to study what you study?

Yvonne Thanks, Sandy, they do like most of the time. My daughter told me the down side is that after I leave, the kids (and sometimes the teachers) ask HER questions that they think she will know the answers to just because I'm her mom. I never meant to put that kind of extra pressure on her, so now we do a thorough briefing before I visit the school so that she is better prepared. Also, I am working with her to stand up for herself and assert that she is a different person. She used to say she wanted to be an astronomer and work with me at the telescope. Now she is moving more towards writing and art. My son says he'd like to be a scientist- one who digs up dinosaur bones. Predictable!

Teven & Jen: How old are your kids?

.Yvonne Teven and Jen: my kids are 9 (Kimberly) and 7 (Michael) and they are in 4th and 2nd grades.

Teven & Jen How old are your children? Where do you live? Do your children understand why you have to travel with your job?

Yvonne: Teven and Jen: We live in Sunnyvale, California. They usually understand about the travel. Their Dad and I got divorced four years ago, but we are still very good friends. He lives nearby and they always stay with him when I travel, or with me if he travels. He is a lawyer, and he doesn't travel often.

Alice: What is your current research about?

Yvonne: Hi Alice, you asked about my current research. I am most interested in how life started on Earth. Organic (carbon-containing) matter came to the early Earth (and the other planets, and probably played a role in starting life here.

Teven & Jen: Have you ever been inside a space shuttle? Have you ever met any astronauts that have been up in space?

Yvonne: Teven and Jen: I was in a mock-up of the space shuttle. It is where the astronauts train sometimes. The one I was in was in Houston. One of the astronauts that just flew (Tammy Jernigan) was in school with me at Stanford and worked at NASA Ames for awhile.

Sandy@Pasadena: Is it ok if I ask you how old you are? I know you're not really supposed to ask people that. But you do so many things I think you must be very young.

Yvonne Hi Sandy, I don't mind telling my age. I'm 39. I sometimes still feel like a kid though!

Sandy@Pasadena Thanks for answering my question Yvonne!

Teven & Jen: Do your kids ever travel with you on business? Where do you like to vacation? Is it far from your home?

Yvonne Teven and Jen: the kids don't go to the telescopes with me. The altitude wouldn't be good for them, and I don't think I could do that kind of work and be in mommy mode at the same time. Sometimes they go to meetings with me, if there is a family member who can join us and watch them while I am busy. Do you travel with your parents?

Teven & Jen: Teven doesn't, but I do. My dad travels alot on business. My mom and I sometimes travel with him. -Jen

Susan/NASA Moderator: Yvonne, do different telescopes answer different questions?

Yvonne Yes, Susan, different telescopes do answer different questions. If you want to study star formation, you use a telescope that observes best at long wavelengths. The visible portion of the spectrum is good for stars that are already out of the birth cloud

Teven & Jen Do you have pets? When did you become interested in working for NASA? Did anyone influence your decision? Do or did you have any role models that you admired that made you interested in your job?

Yvonne Teven and Jen: We have one boring turtle (named spot), who came home in Michael's backpack after a trip to North Carolina. I used to raise Keeshonds (dogs), and hope to have a dog again when I can fit it in. Next life, maybe?

Teven & Jen Then spot just came home with you? You work with a lot of different telescopes. Do you have a favorite?

Yvonne Teven and Jen: Yeah, Spot appeared after we walked in the door. Michael "saved" it when he found it in the road!

Yvonne: My favorite telescope is the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. I get the best results there, because of the instruments they have designed

Sandy@Pasadena: What's a birth cloud? Do you mean that clouds are really born?

Yvonne: Sandy- not the cloud, but the stars in the cloud. Stars form from gas and dust that is swept up into thick, dense clouds. After they "turn-on" they blow their way out of the cloud, and go on to evolve into the bright, shining stars you see at night.

Sandy@Pasadena Wow! Thank you!

Susan/NASA Moderator: Welcome, Elyse Krezmien! Where are you today?

Elyse Krezmien: Yvonne, we can't seem to get through to you. Have you ever discovered anything new? What was it? I am from Springville, New York at my teacher's house

Yvonne: Hi Elyse, I have only discovered little things that add to the big picture. The geometry of a star forming region or some aspect of the composition of interstellar dust.

Susan/NASA Moderator:Elyse, that's neat that your teacher let you use the computer at her house. Is your school networked?

Elyse Krezmien: Just Our class room is.

Thomas: What are the differences between using an earth based telescope and one in space like the Hubble telescope?

Yvonne Hi Thomas, the advantage of space is that you get up above the Earth's atmosphere. Water and other parts of the atmosphere absorb the starlight we wish to observe.

Teven & Jen: Thanks for politely answering our questions. This was our first NASA chat and we greatly enjoyed it.

Yvonne: Thanks to all of you! This has been fun. Keep looking UP!

Sandy@Pasadena: I really had a lot of fun too. Thanks for answering all my questions. I liked the ones about your age and how stars are born :-)

Teven & Jen: We'll be back next week!

Susan/NASA Moderator: Thanks everyone this has been an amazing chat. The Next Chat is Tuesday December 17, 8-9 with Estella Hernandez Gillette and 9-10 with Carol Davies

Susan/NASA Moderator: Yvonne, Thanks so much! How exciting for the kids! We'll keep looking up!

Yvonne: Thanks, Susan. You really helped a lot. See you next time.

Thomas: Thank you for having this.