About
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Tere! 🇪🇪 My name is Mari-Liis and I'm an astronomer focusing on planet formation and the role of star-forming environments.
I did my PhD at the European Southern Observatory (ESO), Germany, researching protoplanetary disks, the birthplaces of planets, in high UV conditions. Currently based at Imperial College London, I continue to use observational data to study externally photoevaporating disks known as proplyds. My background also includes a master's degree in Space Sciences from University of Liège, Belgium, and a two-year research experience at the European Space Agency (ESA), the Netherlands. Online, you can find me sharing digestible explainers with the aim to bring astronomy and space exploration closer to a general audience. See the newsletter I publish on Substack in English / in Estonian. * Mari rhymes with starry, Liis is pronounced like Lee•s. The Estonian language loves vowels. And doubling them. Alternative, international spelling: Mari L. Aru |
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Features
Teardrops in the sky
An ESO press release on the proplyd 177-341W, irradiated by a nearby massive star, and observed with VLT/MUSE (Aru et al. 2024).
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Stellar oddball
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Research
How do new planetary systems form? The formation of a new star leaves behind gaseous dusty matter, which surrounds the newly born star in the form of a disk. These objects, known as protoplanetary disks, are the birthplaces of new planets. However, the evolution of protoplanetary disks and their ability to form planets depends on their surrounding environment, and this is an active area of research.
I focus on star-forming regions characterized by strong UV fields created by massive stars. In such cases, protoplanetary disks are irradiated outside-in, giving rise to a teardrop shaped cloud of ionized gas. I study such disks—proplyds—with VLT/MUSE (Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer), and also use synergies with ALMA, VLT/ERIS, and other instruments.
Continue reading about my research on proplyds and other projects below.
I focus on star-forming regions characterized by strong UV fields created by massive stars. In such cases, protoplanetary disks are irradiated outside-in, giving rise to a teardrop shaped cloud of ionized gas. I study such disks—proplyds—with VLT/MUSE (Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer), and also use synergies with ALMA, VLT/ERIS, and other instruments.
Continue reading about my research on proplyds and other projects below.
Scanning through the VLT/MUSE data of proplyd 177-341W.
This video illustrates the data I mostly work with during my PhD.
Credit: ESO/Mari-Liis Aru et al./Luis Calçada
This video illustrates the data I mostly work with during my PhD.
Credit: ESO/Mari-Liis Aru et al./Luis Calçada
Outreach & communityI'm active in science outreach, by being a speaker at events, writing popular science articles, and creating informational posts on social media.
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FAQ & resources for studentsFind some basic information on different fields linked to space, opportunities at ESA, and frequently asked questions related to space careers.
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For collaborations and your outreach opportunities, please see the contact page below.