Julian Shapiro presents: Our Elusive Cosmic Neighbors
We are proud to welcome back returning guest speaker Julian Shapiro for what promises to be an exceptional and inspiring presentation:
“Our Elusive Cosmic Neighbors: Uncovering Isolated Dwarf Galaxies in the Local Volume”
Julian Shapiro, at just 18 years old, has already established himself as an award-winning astronomer and astrophotographer, with research spanning dwarf galaxies and planetary nebulae. His work focuses on understanding galaxy evolution through detailed observational studies of stellar populations in the Local Volume.
In 2025, Julian identified three candidate backsplash galaxies near Messier 101, providing observational evidence for a population long predicted in hydrodynamical simulations but not yet definitively observed locally. This research plays a key role in testing the foundations of the Lambda-CDM model, particularly at small scales involving faint satellite galaxies around Milky Way analogs.
In parallel, Julian is also conducting research into ghost planetary nebulae—a shock-powered late evolutionary phase—through collaborations with the Space Telescope Science Institute and University of California, Los Angeles.
His accomplishments are remarkable:
- National Young Astronomer Award (2025)
- Discovery of a candidate quasar light echo
- Presentations at the American Astronomical Society and the American Physical Society Global Physics Summit
- Recipient of the Sir Patrick Moore Prize and Astrophotography Prize for Remote Imaging
Currently a senior at The Dalton School, Julian represents the very best of what the next generation of astronomers can achieve—and how early passion, when nurtured, can lead to extraordinary contributions.
This is a talk you will not want to miss. To learn more about Julian, visit his website https://www.julianastro.com