Galaxy Explorer

Author: kevin

  • Dream of Strings: The Elegant Universe

    After finishing the last page of The Elegant Universe, I looked up at the night sky, and the stars seemed to shine brighter than usual. As a high school student deeply interested in physics and astronomy, Brian Greene’s book not only guided me through the world of modern physics but also inspired me to reflect on humanity’s place in the cosmos.

    What attracted me most about this book is the way it explains relativity, quantum mechanics, and string theory, turning difficult science into something both exciting and inspiring. String theory—an idea that once confused me—becomes an elegant ballet of mathematics through Greene’s writing. He uses vivid comparisons to illuminate nearly incomprehensible concepts: the universe as a grand symphony, with fundamental particles as musical notes vibrating on strings, and the extra dimensions as the hidden stage where the performance unfolds. These analogies allowed me to glimpse the profound depth of modern physics.

    This book did more than just expend my knowledge. It changed my perspective on overcoming toward challenges. Physicists have been striving to find the grand unified theory of physics for many decades, and faced many failures but do not give up. This spirt of seeking truth of the universe inspire me, a student that may give up when facing difficult situation , to reignite the courage of seeking new knowledge.

    Closing the book, I realized that I may never become a theoretical physicist, but it gave me something even more valuable: an unquenchable curiosity. Gazing at the night sky, the universe still feels full of mysteries, and as Greene describes, it is these unanswered questions that make scientific exploration so captivating. Perhaps the key to understanding the universe lies hidden right before our eyes…🌌🪐💫

  • Honorable Mention at VJAS

    The results of the 2025 Virginia Junior Academy of Science (VJAS) Symposium came out today. I placed 4th in my category and received an Honorable Mention. Honestly, I felt a bit let down when I first saw the results, as I was hoping for something more.


    But after letting the news sink in, I realized that this experience was about so much more than rankings. I had the chance to present my research, to stand alongside other passionate students, and to share my love for astronomy with people who actually understood and appreciated it. That’s something I’ll never forget.


    Science isn’t just about is not about winning every competition—it’s about curiosity, persistence, and the drive to keep asking questions even when the answers don’t come easily. And in that sense, I don’t feel like I lost anything. This Honorable Mention is still a recognition of hard work, and more importantly, a stepping stone toward what’s next. I’m walking away from VJAS motivated and inspired. The journey continues. 🚀✨

  • The 2025 VJAS Symposium

    Today, I attended the 2025 Virginia Junior Academy of Science (VJAS) Symposium, held at Ferrum College in Virginia. Getting there was already a journey—we drove more than four hours yesterday afternoon.

    At first, I was hesitant to submit my research to VJAS since I had already presented the main results at the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) back in April. However, my science teacher encouraged me to share the updated findings from my project, and I’m glad I followed that advice.

    After leaving school early yesterday, I stayed overnight in one of the college dorms—quiet and empty since most students had gone home for the summer. This morning, I woke up early, had breakfast in the dining hall, and walked around the campus, soaking in the calm before heading to the classroom for the Physics & Astronomy session at 8:45 a.m.

    As expected, I was the only student presenting research in Astronomy. I felt more confident in delivering my presentation this time, but I couldn’t help feeling a little uneasy when no one asked detailed questions about my work. Still, I was proud to share my findings and represent my field among peers focused on a variety of scientific topics.

    After the session, we had lunch, which included an engaging presentation about student research on water quality monitoring. Then, we headed home, knowing that the competition results won’t be announced for another two weeks.

    Overall, the experience was more than just presenting research—it was a chance to step out of my comfort zone, reflect on my growth as a student-researcher, and appreciate the diverse interests and talents of other young scientists. It also gave me the opportunity to enjoy the scenic beauty of rural Virginia.

  • The 63th National JSHS Competition

    Being selected as one of only five students to represent the Virginia Region at the 63d National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) was both an honor and an incredible opportunity. With 245 finalists gathered from across the country, I knew I was stepping into something much bigger than myself.

    The event took place at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, Virginia—just a short drive from my home. At first, I thought about commuting each day, but I quickly realized that staying at the hotel would let me truly be part of the experience. Living among the other students, sharing meals, and engaging in late-night conversations about science, research, and even everyday life made the symposium unforgettable.

    Not everything went as planned. I had an asthma attack earlier in the day, and it affected my presentation more than I wanted. At the time, I felt disappointed. But as the days went on, I realized that JSHS wasn’t only about the performance on stage. It was about the chance to learn from brilliant peers, to hear the stories behind their projects, and to receive thoughtful feedback from judges who genuinely cared about encouraging young scientists.

    Looking back, I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. Even though my presentation didn’t go perfectly, I walked away with something more valuable—lessons in resilience, inspiration from others, and the confidence that I belong in a community of curious and passionate minds.

  • The 2025 National Astronomy Competition

    Today was the test day for the 2025 National Astronomy Competition (NAC), the second round of the USA Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad. This marks the fourth time I’ve made it to the second round since 8th grade, and each year still feels like a milestone.

    In the past few years—ever since the COVID-19 pandemic—the first and second rounds were administered online and proctored via video. But the rules changed this year: the NAC exam in 2025 required an in-person proctor, certified to oversee the test. That meant I had to drive to the K.W. Barrett Branch Library in Alexandria, VA, where a librarian served as the official proctor. Sitting in a quiet corner of the library, the experience felt more formal and perhaps more serious than in previous years.

    As for the test itself, it was definitely a little tougher than I expected. Some of the problems really pushed me to think deeply and apply concepts in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Still, I gave it my best effort. Hopefully, I’ll perform better this year and take another step forward in this journey.

  • Pi Day Meets a Blood Moon

    Today is March 14, 2025—𝜋 Day, a celebration of the most famous mathematical constant. But this year, the day came with an extra cosmic gift: a total lunar eclipse, also known as a blood moon, visible across much of North and South America.

    The eclipse began late on the night of March 13th and extended into the early hours of March 14th. Totality started around 2:26 a.m. EDT and lasted for just over an hour, painting the Moon in a deep red glow as Earth’s shadow passed across its surface.

    For me, this was more than just another chance to skywatch—it was an opportunity to capture the moment. Using my Pixel 6 phone attached to the eye-piece of my telescope, I was able to take my very first high-resolution photo of a blood moon. The experience of seeing the image come into focus on my screen was unforgettable, and it felt like the perfect blend of science, technology, and personal passion.

    Celebrating Pi Day with a blood moon felt like a rare alignment between mathematics and astronomy—two of my favorite worlds.

  • My First Research Paper

    After a long wait of more than 3 months, my first research paper, From Theory to Observational Results: Baryon Acoustic Oscillations Detected at High Redshift Ranges, finally got published by Journal of Student Research.

    This research paper grew out of my science research project at the Academy of Loudoun, which I began in September 2024. Astronomy and space have fascinated me since childhood, so I was eager to dive right into the work. That said, the early stages weren’t smooth—I struggled to decide which specific direction my project should take.

    A turning point came when I spoke with a graduate student at USC, who shared a few possible ideas. Around the same time, I read several research papers by professors at Harvard and Ohio State, which helped me narrow my focus to baryon acoustic oscillations. After further investigation of all possible resources, I decided to use the DESI Early Data Release (EDR) dataset for my study.

    To work with the dataset, I used ADQL to pull data from the NOIRLab DataLab database, then started coding in Python to process and analyze the results. However, I quickly ran into performance issues—Python was too slow for the scale of computation I needed. That challenge became an opportunity: I taught myself Java to design more efficient algorithms and data structures, which ultimately sped up the processing by an order of magnitude.

    Over the next several months, I worked intensively on data extraction, algorithm design, and fine-tuning the data model. Step by step, the project came together, and by November 2024, I was able to finalize my research. To my excitement, my paper was accepted for publication in the Journal of Student Research.

    Looking back, this journey was more than just completing a project—it was about persistence, problem-solving, and following a lifelong passion.

  • The 2025 Virginia JSHS Competition

    On February 22, 2025, I attended the annual Virginia Junior Science and Humanities Symposium at Longwood University.

    As I scanned the presentation schedule, I noticed that most projects fell into popular categories such as biology, chemistry, environmental science, and computer science. Mine was the only presentation related to astrophysics and astronomy. That realization made me a bit nervous since I had no direct peers for comparison.

    Fortunately, one of the three judges for my session was Dr. Gary L. Page, a member of the International Astronomical Union who was familiar with my research area. He asked several precise and challenging questions, and I was grateful that I could respond to his inquiries confidently.

    After the lunch break, I took a walk around Longwood’s campus. The university is beautiful, with many recently renovated buildings that gave it both charm and modern appeal.

    At 4:00 PM, all participants gathered at the Soza Ballroom in the Upchurch University Center for the awards ceremony. Once again, I felt nervous, but my biology teacher—who serves as the Academy of Loudoun’s sponsor for this event—reassured me that everything would be fine.

    Around 4:25 PM, after winners were announced in the first five categories, my name was called as the winner in the Physics category.

    All eight category winners were then invited to the stage, where the overall rankings were revealed. My name was announced second, as one of two runner-ups, followed by the third-place, the second-place and the first place announcement. As the 4th place winner, I was thrilled to learn that I would represent Virginia at the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in April!

  • Play Golf on the Moon

    Fifty-four years ago today, during Apollo 14 mission, Astronaut Alan Shepard did something no one else had ever done—he played golf on the Moon. With a makeshift 6-iron club and a bulky spacesuit, he hit two golf balls into the lunar dust, using only one hand. His first shot went only 24 yards, the second about 40—but those swings became legendary, showing the world that even in the midst of science and exploration, there’s always space for fun.

    I’ve been playing golf since I was a first grader, and moments like this capture my imagination. Every time I step onto a golf course, I think about Shepard’s lunar swings. What would it feel like to launch a ball under one-sixth gravity, watching it soar endlessly against the black sky? Or to play on Mars, where each shot would bend differently through its thin atmosphere?

    For me, golf is more than a sport—it’s a bridge between the Earth I know and the stars I dream about. One day, I hope humanity builds golf courses beyond our planet, and when that happens, I want to be there. Maybe I’ll stand where Shepard stood, club in hand, ready to play a game that connects joy, science, and the endless adventure of space.

    Dream big, swing smooth, and always aim the stars!

    Fore!…⛳

  • F=MA Rocket Launch Failure

    F = MA is Newton’s Second Law of Motion, but for me, it turned into a different kind of disaster—the rocket never even left the ground.

    For more than a year, I had been preparing for the F=MA Physics competition. Since Loudoun County Public Schools doesn’t offer AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, I decided to self-study the subject alongside Mechanics. By May 2024, I had taken both AP Physics C: Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism exams—and scored 5 on each. I felt ready.

    But then disaster struck, without warning. I had assumed the Academy of Loudoun would host the F=MA exam, and I even sent inquiries about it. No one replied until the Friday before registration closed, when I was told to contact a teacher at a different high school. By then, it was already too late.

    I scrambled to check other test centers, only to find that none could accommodate me. The rules had changed—F=MA competition no longer allows for-profit test centers to host the exam. With that, all my preparation and effort came to nothing.

    Looking back, I know the fault was mine. I should have researched the rule changes and test locations much earlier instead of relying on assumptions. Lesson learned: in physics and in life, momentum only builds when you prepare in advance.

    Still, this isn’t the end of my journey. Missing F=MA is disappointing, but I’ll keep pushing forward. There are more opportunities ahead to test what I’ve learned. Maybe I’ll do better next time—not just in physics, but in planning too. If anything, this experience is a reminder that setbacks are experiments in disguise. Each one provides data to refine our next launch.