From a childhood struggle with mathematics to unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos, Dr. Kaew Tipyanon’s journey is a testament to the power of curiosity and the transformative nature of finding purpose. Dr. Tipyanon, a researcher in cosmology and high-energy astrophysics at the National Astronomical Observatory of Thailand (NARIT), recounts how a youthful fascination with the stars ignited a passion that ultimately reshaped his academic path.
The story begins not with an innate aptitude for numbers, but with a frustration. “When I was young, I didn’t understand math at all. I would study and be confused – I didn’t know what it was for,” Dr. Tipyanon shared in a recent interview with Thai PBS Sci & Tech. “But when I realized I loved looking at the stars, I wanted to understand how the Earth orbits the Sun. That’s physics, and mathematics. Everything is calculation.” This realization proved pivotal, transforming a source of difficulty into a powerful tool for understanding the universe.
Dr. Tipyanon’s early exposure to astronomy came through science books and a pivotal experience at age ten: attending a meteor shower viewing at the Science Museum in Bangkok. The timing coincided with his birthday and the peak of the Leonid meteor shower in November. “It was something amazing. I remember going to sleep in a tent. Around 10-11 pm, people started shouting from outside. I crawled out of the tent and saw many meteors streaking across the sky. From that moment on, I was deeply impressed with the night sky,” he recalled.
Despite his early enthusiasm, growing up in Bangkok presented a challenge – light pollution obscured the view of the stars. However, this didn’t deter him. He joined the Thai Astronomical Society’s astronomy camp during middle and high school, eventually representing Thailand at the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics in Indonesia. This experience earned him a scholarship to study in the United States, where he pursued a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degree in astronomy.
Interestingly, Dr. Tipyanon’s initial academic struggles weren’t limited to mathematics. He confessed to finding the subject difficult throughout middle school. It wasn’t until he connected mathematical concepts to his passion for astronomy that his understanding – and performance – improved. “We have equations that can tell us when the next lunar eclipse will occur, when the last solar eclipse occurred in Thailand. One can calculate all of that, and it’s all mathematics. After gaining this new understanding, I became better at learning math because I knew what I was learning would be used for.”
He emphasizes that astronomy isn’t simply about observing stars; it’s about answering fundamental questions about the universe’s origins and evolution. “How did the universe come about? How did it evolve? When did the first stars form? Where did the matter and dust around us come from? Because when the universe began, there was only hydrogen and helium. Even the human body, with its carbon, calcium in bones, iron in blood – where did these come from?”
Dr. Tipyanon’s current research focuses on observational astronomy, utilizing telescopes to analyze the composition and properties of celestial objects. He is particularly interested in the evolution of massive stars. “Most of the elements in the universe come from massive stars. When a massive star reaches the end of its life, it doesn’t die quietly, but explodes. When it explodes, the elements it synthesized throughout its life are dispersed into space, and can then form new stars and planets, like Earth.”
Recently, Dr. Tipyanon’s team captured images of a newly discovered supernova, designated SN 2025rbs. This type Ia supernova, resulting from the explosion of a white dwarf star in a binary system, is crucial for measuring distances to galaxies and understanding the expansion of the universe. These supernovae serve as “standard candles,” allowing astronomers to calculate cosmic distances and study the phenomenon of dark energy.
The process of discovering and studying supernovae involves a systematic approach. Dr. Tipyanon explains that they use wide-field telescopes to scan the entire sky each night, looking for new points of light. When a potential supernova is detected, a spectrograph is used to analyze its light, determining its composition, velocity, and other properties. “We want to find stars after they explode as quickly as possible. The initial hours after a supernova explosion are crucial because the star’s surface is relatively stable. After a few days, it becomes chaotic as the explosion unfolds.”
He notes that while thousands of supernovae are discovered each year, finding them in the immediate aftermath of the explosion is a significant challenge. His team’s current research aims to capture data within the first few hours of a supernova’s occurrence.
Dr. Tipyanon also highlights the technological advancements driven by astronomical research. “Astronomy may seem distant and impractical, but it ultimately pushes the development of technology. If we want to study stars that are further away, we need to develop new technologies. For example, digital photography originated from the need to capture images of stars.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Tipyanon envisions a future where Thailand can independently manufacture astronomical equipment. NARIT currently operates a network of 2.4-meter telescopes globally, but these are all purchased from foreign manufacturers. A current project involves building a 0.8-meter telescope in Thailand, with the goal of eventually producing larger telescopes domestically, fostering local expertise and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.
Dr. Kaew Tipyanon’s story is a compelling illustration of how a childhood fascination, coupled with perseverance and a willingness to embrace the challenges of scientific inquiry, can lead to groundbreaking discoveries and inspire a new generation of astronomers.
