The Explosive Final Acts of Stars: Discovering New Planetary Nebulae and Supernova Remnants with Julian Shapiro

Julian Shapiro is a 17 year old award-winning astronomer and astrophotographer researching supernova remnants, planetary nebulae, and active galactic nuclei. His work involves survey science and analysis of new objects through optical and spectroscopic imaging. In 2024, he conducted an [O III] survey of the galactic plane, leading to the discovery of many new planetary nebulae and supernova remnants, expanding the known population and understanding of their varied morphologies. He additionally discovered a candidate quasar light echo, an extremely rare class of object surrounding the remains of quasars.

Julian began his journey in astronomy at a young age, inspired by the photographs from the Hubble Space Telescope. His passion in observing started at 12, when he first had the opportunity to see the wonders of space through a small tabletop telescope. He attempted to capture his views in images, discovering a new passion for astrophotography. Over the following years, he gradually expanded his skills and gained experience in observational astronomy. In 2024, Julian was awarded the Sir Patrick Moore Prize, was the winner of the Astrophotography Prize for Remote Imaging, and was runner-up in the National Young Astronomy Award.