My name is Megan Tannock (she/her) and I am a software developer and professional astronomer. I hold a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Western Ontario (grad 2021) and a BSc in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Victoria (grad 2015).

My doctoral thesis was focused on understanding the atmospheres of sub-stellar objects known as brown dwarfs. Brown dwarfs are not quite large enough to be a star, yet too massive to be a planet, and they have complex atmospheres that can be very dynamic. Basically, I studied weather on distant worlds! This research gained notable citations and media attention, including press releases with NASA, an appearance on the Physics World Weekly Podcast, and highlights in the prestigious journal Nature.

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I left academia to join the videogames industry in 2022, and I am currently a developer for Cosmographic Software, working on the universe simulator SpaceEngine. I am passionate about applying my astrophysics-knowledge to this project, which shows the beauty and scale of space in a scientifically accurate way.

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I was born and raised on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, and have spent time living and working on the Big Island of Hawaii, USA, and in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. I am currently located back in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. In my free time I enjoy baking, rock climbing, hiking, and camping.