Nidia Morrell - Astronomer at Las Campanas Observatory

1- Present yourself : who you are + describe your job

I am a resident astronomer at Las Campanas Observatory. My job is quite diverse: I help with service observations for Carnegie astronomers, I help to keep the du Pont and Swope instrumentation manuals up to date (kind of... I am always behind); I participate in engineering runs. Sometimes (like now) I replace du Pont telescope operators; I eventually help people in getting started on their observing runs or answer their questions while preparing observing proposals, or give advice on data reductions for the instruments I am familiar with. But I am also a member of the Carnegie Supernova Project, and work on some other research projects in collaboration with astronomers from Chile and abroad (those are related to massive stars research).

2- Can you explain your study + professional paths?

I've got a Licenciado (1977) and  PhD (1984) degrees in Astronomy from the University of La Plata, in Argentina, where I worked since my graduation until I moved to Las Campanas in 2002. In the meanwhile I only left La Plata once for a 2-year stay at Kitt Peak National Observatory (1989 and 1990) where I worked with Helmut Abt  as a CONICET fellow. Back in La Plata in early 1991 I combined teaching, research,  and Licenciado (Master) and PhD thesis advising for many years. My research has focused on young stars in open clusters, and massive binary properties. I did most of my observations at Cerro Tololo, starting back in 1978 (if someone is interested, I am now 64), and then at Complejo Astronomico El Leoncito (CASLEO, Argentina) where the 2.15-m Sahade telescope began operations in 1985. I always wondered how nice would be working at an observatory permanently. In October 2002 I joined the staff of Las Campanas  as a visiting scientist, soon after I started my participation in  the Carnegie Supernova Project, and after several years I became a resident astronomer.

3- How long have you been working in an observatory?

The answer to this has already been given: almost 15 years now.

4- Pros and Cons (Likes/Dislikes) of your life in an observatory?

I just love the observatory and working here. Observing is the favourite part of my job. I love the mountain, the silence, the work I do at night. The cons are that sometimes I have no time for other things, such as taking care of my house, or going for trekking excursions; and I certainly would like to see my family more ofen: I have 2 kids and 6 grandchildren who all live in Argentina.

5- What is the funniest thing that has happened to you at the observatory?

Everything is fun here. I was here when the  IMACS instrument was installed, I have seen the first light of MIKE and even took data for my own projects and for a graduate student from La Plata during some of those very first nights on that beautiful instrument. At times I observe alone at du Pont (being both the observer and the telescope operator) and that is also great.

6- What is the scariest thing that has happened to you at the observatory?

I tend to get scared when something goes wrong with the telescope or the instruemt and I believe I should be able to understand what's going on. I wish I would know a lot more about the instruments themselves, not just how to take data with them, as I usually do. I get scared, but I call the technicians and most of the times they can fix the problem and observations are resumed.  

7- When was a time that you weren't sure if you could do something, but you did it?

That happens many times, at first I never know whether I will be able to do things.

In line with my previous answer, when I was asked for the first time if I would be willing to replace a telescope operator for a week, I definitely wanted to do that, but also I wondered if I would be able to fulfill the expectations. I had seen the telescope operators working for years, but performing their job myself was a different thing. Fortunately, everybody in the technical staff were very helpful and supportive and things turned around smoothly. Since then, I am happy to replace du Pont telescope operators whenever it is needed.

8- What advice would you give to someone interested in working at an observatory? Anything specifically if they are a woman?

If you feel like you'd enjoy working at an observatory, you should give it a try. It is great. You  learn things, you get in touch with great, extremely clever people, you learn how to use new instruments.

You never get bored!

I don't see why should it be different for men or women.

9- What do you do for fun at the observatory?

I love walking around, for example from du Pont telescope to the Astronomers Support Building, or to the dinning room. I also love reading books; and of course working on my own projects when time allows.

10- What do you do for fun when you're *not* at the observatory?

I meet with friends for dinner, I take care of my house, my plants, I read books, I watch movies, I cook. I also go trekking sometimes.