Caroline Moore honored at White House for supernova discovery

Warwick — Warwick Valley High School sophomore Caroline Moore recently stood on a platform outside the White House with President and Mrs. Barack Obama. The President invited her to a White House “star-gazing party” on Oct. 7 for 150 Washington, D.C. middle school students. Caroline, 15, and Lucas Bolyard, 15, a student from West Virginia were there to serve as examples of what young people can achieve. Last November Caroline was catapulted into international fame after she discovered, in her backyard observatory, what has now been named Supernova 2008ha in galaxy UGC 12682. She became the youngest person in the history of astronomy to discover a supernova. This is a stellar explosion in which a star, much like our own sun, has been burning helium. After running out of that fuel, the star burns and depletes all its hydrogen, then starts to collapse and finally explodes. Lucas, Caroline’s co-honoree at the party, had discovered a rare type of pulsar called a rotating radio transient. The President introduced both teenagers to their young audience, telling them that with hard work and study they, too, could make important discoveries. The event followed that day’s Presidential awards for major scientific achievements. It had been prompted, in part, by several events, including 2009 being named the “International Year of Astronomy” as well as the declaration of United Nations Space Week and NASA’s recent “bombing” of the Moon. That evening Caroline met more than a few well-known dignitaries, including Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, and Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. “It was really exciting,” Caroline said. “The Obamas were very nice people, and we also enjoyed meeting their children and the other guests.” The event received wide coverage in television and print media. Caroline also appeared in an interview on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow show. She is the daughter of Bob and Nancy Moore of Warwick. “Caroline has worked hard this year to bring astronomy to young people with talks, star parties, and demonstrations,” said her father. “But I never thought she would be the guest of the President at the White House.”