Caltech professor becomes first woman to head Palomar Observatory

For astrophysicist Mansi Kasliwal, her appointment to the historic Palomar Observatory as the new director was a full-circle moment.

The California Institute of Technology announced her new position on Sept. 26, making her the first woman to lead the San Diego-based facility.

As a professor in Caltech’s astronomy department for a decade, Kasliwal first came to the observatory as a graduate student pursuing her doctorate in astrophysics.

“In many ways, I learned my ABC’s of astronomy at Palomar,” Kasliwal said in an interview. “So, my roots in astronomy are very closely connected to Palomar. I consider it my second home, my professional home.”

Kasliwal’s research experience has primarily focused on the discovery of new stars and cosmic fireworks, a term used to describe astronomical fla