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Anisha Bajaj is a high school junior at The Bush School and the Founder and President of the Youth Astronomers Society of Seattle, a youth astronomy organization created in partnership with the Seattle Astronomical Society. She also serves as the Youth Representative to the Seattle Astronomical Society Board, helping lead astronomy outreach, observing events, workshops, and youth programming across Seattle and the broader Puget Sound region.

Her research focuses on observational astrophysics, including binary-star astrometry, speckle interferometry, exoplanet detection, and light-curve analysis. Through a two-year Mount Wilson Observatory double-star astrometry project, Anisha is studying binary star systems and preparing a manuscript for submission to the Journal of Double Star Observations. She has also conducted exoplanet research through the NASA Young Scholars Data Science Analysis and Research Paper Program, using AstroImageJ and Python to analyze transit signals in stellar light curves.

Anisha’s work has been recognized at the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair, where she earned 1st Place in Astronomy & Physics for her binary-star research, 2nd Place in Astronomy & Physics for her exoplanet research, Top 20 Overall Finalist recognition, and a four-year scholarship award. She is also the author of Sci-Stories: Spaced Out, a children’s book designed to make space and STEM concepts accessible to younger readers.

As Secretary of YASS, I record meeting notes, manage social affairs, organize events, and assist the president with any board matters.

Apart from YASS, I founded the Astronomy club at Issaquah High School, where we host biweekly meetings to discuss current astronomical events and learn about space! Overall, we hope to connect with other likeminded teens around the greater Seattle area to create a community of curious teens.

Dhruv is a high school junior and the Vice President of the Youth Astronomers Society of Seattle.

He has been involved in astronomy for 5 years now, participating in Science Olympiad and the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair (WSSEF) for many years along with other activities. He has pursued independent research in astrophysics, from analyzing exoplanet transits using NASA’s Exoplanet Watch program to studying binary star systems through speckle interferometry to applying ML models to James Webb Space Telescope Data and identifying galaxies in the early stages of the universe. His research has won him two 1st place awards in the Physics and Astronomy section at WSSEF and ad $80k scholarship award.

Dhruv hopes to connect with teens who are also interested in astronomy and create a community of teens who have the same passion and can work together.

Hello! I’m Nicole, and I am overjoyed to be the treasurer of YASS! What I love even more than learning about astronomy and the universe is getting to see it with my own eyes. Whether it’s a star party, naming constellations on a backpacking trip, or hauling my telescope over to a nearby park, the stars never fail to excite me. Outside of YASS, I love hiking, singing along to music, sunbathing, rock climbing, hanging with friends, and late night conversations- pretty much anything as long as I’m in good company! I am a junior at Bush and can’t wait for a year of memories and growth!