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About

V. P. Hentunen is a dedicated astronomer whose research focuses on the characterization and ephemeris refinement of transiting exoplanets, with a strong emphasis on citizen science and educational outreach. Their most notable contribution is the ORBYTS (Original Research by Young Twinkle Students) program, which pairs professional astronomers with secondary school students to conduct original research. Hentunen’s 2020 paper on ephemeris refinement of transiting exoplanets, which has garnered 36 citations, exemplifies this approach by using a fully robotic ground-based telescope network, citizen astronomer observations, and TESS data to improve transit timing accuracy for exoplanets with large uncertainties or long observational gaps. This work not only advances the precision of exoplanet ephemerides—critical for future atmospheric characterization with missions like JWST—but also demonstrates the power of collaborative, education-driven research. Hentunen’s achievements highlight how integrating young students into real scientific workflows can produce high-impact results while inspiring the next generation of astronomers. Their research stands as a model for accessible, rigorous exoplanet science.