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STScI at the 248th AAS Meeting: June 14–18, 2026

STScI Newsletter
2026 / Volume 43 / Issue 01
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Claire Blome (cblome[at)stsci.edu)

Published June 10, 2026

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) will have a limited presence at the 248th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) held June 14 to 18 at the Pasadena Convention Center in California.

STScI enables excellence in astronomical research by optimizing the science from state-of-the-art observational instruments in space. We are the science operations center of the Hubble Space Telescope, and we host the science and operations center for the James Webb Space Telescope. We will play a key role in helping to support the science operations for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, partnering with Caltech/IPAC and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. STScI also houses the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST) which is a NASA-funded project to support and provide to the astronomical community a variety of astronomical data archives, and is the data repository for the HST, JWST, Kepler, K2, TESS missions and more.

Throughout the week, members of STScI will be involved in workshops, science and technical presentations, and press conferences. Our exhibit booth and several associated events will highlight the missions we support on behalf of the science community.

This schedule is preliminary and subject to change. Please check the AAS meeting page for updated details.

Title and Description

Date and Time (PDT)

Type

Location

The Roman Space Telescope Is Almost Here. Are You Ready? 
Roman is due to launch soon! With a launch readiness date no earlier than August 30, 2026, Roman will soon begin to explore the cosmos and revolutionize our view of the universe. This talk will present all of the latest information you need to know about Roman, including the current observatory status, planned community surveys, the Roman Research Nexus cloud-based science platform, expected science data products, training opportunities, and other ways to get involved.

 Monday, June 15
9:30 to 10:00 a.m.		 Exhibitor Theater Pasadena Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Town Hall
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is NASA's next flagship mission. Roman will perform breakthrough science in dark energy cosmology, exoplanet microlensing, and near-infrared sky surveys with its Wide Field Instrument. Roman will also feature the Coronagraph Instrument, a technology demonstration that will directly image and take spectra of exoplanetary systems using several novel technologies together for the first time in space. This session will cover the status of the project and upcoming opportunities for community involvement in planning and executing the science and technology demonstration aspects of Roman.

Monday, June 15
12:45 to 1:45 p.m.

Town Hall

Pasadena Convention Center, Ballroom A

 
JWST: This Is Just the Beginning! Presented by Jennifer Lotz 
STScI Director Jen Lotz will showcase some of the most groundbreaking scientific discoveries the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has already produced in its first few years of observations. The talk will also highlight anticipated discoveries from science programs accepted in the most recent cycles, for which data will be collected between now and 2028.		 Wednesday, June 17
9:30 to 10:00 a.m.		 Exhibitor Theater  Pasadena Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A

STScI Town Hall
The STScI Town Hall will serve as the centerpiece for our AAS 248 presence. We will report on the status of our existing and upcoming missions and describe new opportunities designed to advance astrophysics into the 2030s. In particular, we will focus on the upcoming launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. We will highlight the software and cloud-based analysis tools that are available to the community through the Roman Research Nexus and the Mikulski Archive of Space Telescopes (MAST). We will include progress reports on Hubble and Webb, and highlight synergies with the upcoming Habitable Worlds Observatory. We will include time for discussion to receive community input regarding new capabilities and answer questions about our activities in the coming year.

Wednesday, June 17
12:45 to 1:45 p.m.

Town Hall

Pasadena Convention Center, Ballroom A

 

STScI Booth
Stop by our booth to discuss Hubble, Webb, Roman, the Habitable Worlds Observatory, MAST, and more. We are offering informal JWST Ask-an-Expert sessions. Stop by to schedule an appointment with an expert for individual support and guidance regarding pipeline products, calibration issues, and data analysis tools.

Daily

Exhibit

Pasadena Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A

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