27/05/2026
Member Spotlight: Meet Ben Zitzer! 🔭✨
Ben’s journey into astronomy started with something many of us can relate to… science fiction. Growing up watching Star Trek and other sci-fi classics sparked endless curiosity about the universe and questions like: “Why don’t we have warp drive yet?” 🚀
That curiosity quickly turned into a passion for science — and eventually a degree in physics from Purdue University. During a senior research project analyzing X-ray pulsar data, Ben discovered astrophysics and never looked back.
Ben went on to earn his PhD at Purdue, where he became involved in the groundbreaking VERITAS gamma-ray observatory project in Arizona. He helped build and commission the telescopes and spent a year living near the observatory site while researching pulsars and pulsar wind nebulae using some of the earliest VERITAS data. 🌌
After Purdue, Ben continued his research through postdoctoral work at Argonne National Laboratory and McGill University in Canada, expanding into astroparticle physics — the fascinating intersection of astronomy and particle physics. His work included studying dark matter, cosmic rays, and even testing ideas that challenged Einstein’s theories of light itself. 🤯
Today, Ben works at L3Harris in Fort Wayne, helping design and test weather satellites 🛰️ and has been a member of the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society since 2020.
Ben’s story is a reminder that curiosity can truly take you incredible places — from childhood dreams of science fiction to helping advance modern astronomy and space science.
Drop a 👏 or 🚀 in the comments to show Ben some appreciation!
