Dr. Tanja Petrushevska

Strongly Lensed Supernovae

Galaxies and galaxy clusters can act as gravitational lenses, magnifying background galaxies at high redshift. Supernovae in these galaxies can be detected thanks to the lensing boost, even when they would otherwise be too faint for current telescopes. In favourable geometries, strong lensing also produces multiple images of the SN host. Type Ia supernovae are of particular interest due to their standardisable brightness: they improve lens models and, when multiply imaged, enable independent measurements of the Hubble constant from time delays. Read more about my work on lensed SNe here.

Multiple-image Type Ia supernovae detected in recent years include iPTF16geu, SN Zwicky, SN H0pe, and SN Encore.

Paper by Mateusz Bronikowski on cluster-lensed SN yields from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Luminous Flares from Galactic Nuclei

Wide-field optical surveys have uncovered a diverse population of nuclear transients, including tidal disruption events (TDEs)—stellar disruptions by supermassive black holes—and changing-look AGN (CLAGN). Due to overlapping observational properties, distinguishing CLAGN from TDEs remains challenging, compounded by a historical lack of well-sampled, long-duration datasets. In our study of PS16dtm, a nuclear transient in a Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxy, we presented multi-year spectroscopy and photometry that help contextualise outbursts in NLSy1 systems (A&A paper).

In another study led by Philip Wiseman (University of Southampton), we analysed the most energetic non-quasar transient observed, AT2021lwx (MNRAS), covered by the Guardian, BBC, Time, and the New York Times.

Axion Dark-Matter Search

The nature of dark matter—over 85% of the Universe's matter content—remains unknown. Many models predict new fundamental particles. Together with Dr. Manuel Meyer, we use extra-galactic supernovae to search for axion-like particles. See our press release and our Physical Review Letters paper.

Collaborations

I am a member of the following international collaborations:

• 2021–present: ePESSTO+ — advanced Public ESO Spectroscopic Survey for Transient Objects (active in the TDE group)
• 2021–present: LensWatch — targeted searches for lensed supernovae in known strong-lensing systems
• 2019–present: Individual member, International Astronomical Union (IAU)
• 2018–present: Vera C. Rubin Observatory — Dark Energy Science Collaboration (DESC)
• 2013–2017: intermediate Palomar Transient Factory — candidate vetting, follow-up triggering, and spectroscopic classification

Previous teaching

School of Science, University of Nova Gorica

• 2017/18–2018/19 — Teaching assistant, 2nd-year Bachelor course Galaxies and Cosmology
• 2018/19 — Teaching assistant, 2nd-year Bachelor course Astronomical Observations

Petnica Science Center, Serbia

• 2019 — Invited lecturer at the Summer School on Astrophysics for undergraduate and early graduate students

Department of Physics, Stockholm University, Sweden

Teaching assistant (2011–2016):

• 2nd-year Bachelor course Programming for Physicists
• 2nd-year Bachelor course Mechanics

School of Science, University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia

I coordinate promotional activities for the School of Science. Below is a selection of public events; more can be found here.

• 2026 Jul 10–18 — Fifth GoChile Summer School of Astronomy
• 2026 Jun 18 — FN students participated in the Zotkini talenti fair at Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana, with a student-made resonance music plate and a stellar evolution game. The event welcomed over 1,300 guests, including 520 award recipients.
• 2026 May 28 — University Day at Lavričev trg, Ajdovščina with interactive stands, workshops and hands-on experiments. CAC activities included solar observations (Sun and sunspots through a telescope), a Who Wants to Be a Millionaire-style astroquiz with prizes, and a "Paint a Black Hole" art workshop by SMASH postdoc Nikki Arendse.

  

• 2026 Mar — Slovenian Space Days at the School of Science, UNG, Ajdovščina. A public event open to high-school students, university students, and anyone considering a future in science, engineering, or the space industry. Programme: opening address by Prof. Dr. Egon Pavlica (Dean, School of Science); talks by Suzana Papež Skubic (Slovenian Space Office) on Slovenia in Space and the Importance of Education, Joost Vanreusel on ESA Academy opportunities for students and early-career researchers, Jai Grover (ESI, via video) on ESA co-funded PhD opportunities, and T. Petrushevska on Space Research and Projects at the School of Science; presentations by space sector companies Sinergise (Grega Milčinski), C-Astral (Goran Gačnik), and Instrumentation Technologies (Vega Abrahamsberg Lipičar).
• 2025 Oct 17 — Career Fair in Ajdovščina (Zaposlitveni bazar), held at Hiša mladih from 8:30 to 14:00
• 2025 Oct 01 — Orientation Day at EPIC, Kolodvorska pot 10, Nova Gorica
• 2025 Sep 19 — INCASTRA — Ajdovščina Industry and Entrepreneurship Day. The School of Science, University of Nova Gorica took part in the event, opening the doors of its laboratories and research centers. Visitors explored science first-hand through interactive demonstrations.
• 2025 Jun 29–Jul 06 — Fourth GoChile Summer School of Astronomy
• 2025 Jun 23 — Rubin First Look watch party. More here
• 2025 Jun — FN students participated in the Zotkini talenti fair with a student-made resonance music plate and a stellar evolution game.
• 2025 May 28 — University Day at Lavričev trg, Ajdovščina: Activities included: a stellar evolution challenge (place the magnets in the right order and win a prize); solar telescope and DVD spectrograph; build-a-LEGO-Vera-Rubin-Observatory; a Who Wants to Be a Millionaire-style astroquiz with prizes; LFOS microscope and manipulator demonstrations with prizes; liquid nitrogen show (balloons, roses, grapes); a Rubin Observatory art challenge (best artwork displayed at FN afterwards); and a SMASH activity with a SMASH prize.

  

• 2025 Jan — Astronomy outreach event in Ilirska Bistrica (lecture, quiz with prizes, telescope observations)
• 2024 Dec 03 — Astronomy evening in Vipava (lecture + telescope observations). Info here
• 2024 Oct 11 — INSPIRO symposium for undergraduate research projects (students supervised by me presented their work). More here
• 2024 Aug 25–31 — Third GoChile Summer School
• 2024 May 22 — FN students presented at the Parade of Knowledge, Lavričev trg, Ajdovščina
• 2024 Feb 16–17 — UNG Info Days. Program here
• 2024 Feb 02 — Astronomy evening in Ilirska Bistrica (lecture, experiments, quiz, observations)
• 2023 Aug 13–19 — Second GoChile Summer School. More
• 2023 May 24 — Parade of Knowledge: resonance plate demo at Ajdovščina town square
• 2023 May 29 — Visit from OŠ Šturje and OŠ Col: lab experiments, lab tours, and a lecture by Prof. Andreja Gomboc
• 2023 May 15 — Veno Pilon High School visit: labs and lecture by Prof. Andreja Gomboc
• 2023 Feb 16–18 — Open Days at the School of Science (EN / SL)
• 2023 Jan 26 — Hosted 45 students from Slovenska Bistrica for a presentation on our faculty and research
• 2022 Nov 07 — Public outreach evening (lecture + telescope observations) in Ajdovščina; collaboration with Astronomical Society Nanos, Veno Pilon High School, and local primary schools
• 2022 Oct 07 — Stargazing at Nova Gorica public library during University Week (more)
• 2022 — First GoChile Summer School (more)
• 2022 — Taborniki Zlet (700 students, 300 volunteers): FN activities, telescope observations, constellation tours, astrophotography, quiz

• 2022 — Hosted students from the Slovene Liceo, Gorizia (internship). More
• 2022 — School of Science Open Days (Feb 11–13, May 17, Sept 17): in-person & hybrid events
• 2021 — European Researchers' Night
• 2019 — University Week astronomy evening: experiments, public lecture, telescope observations

• 2019 — European Researchers' Night (Science Espresso, experiments, telescope observations, lecture)
• 2019 — "From Solar Eclipse to Black Holes": 100th anniversary of the 1919 eclipse confirming GR (lecture + observations)
• 2019 — International Day of Women and Girls in Astronomy (lecture, quiz, sky observations)

• 2018 — University Week at UNG (lecture, three interactive workshops, telescope observations)
• 2018 — "Einstein Day": public lecture on Einstein's contributions + interactive workshop

Department of Physics, Stockholm University, Sweden

• I participated in Fysikshow, bringing physics to schools via live experiments. See posts from 2016, 2015, 2014.

• In 2016, with Semeli Papadogiannakis, I co-organised a summer research school for talented high-school students (summary)
• Inner & Outer Cosmos, Our Universe Expands — a researcher–artist collaboration; our exhibition was hosted at Edsvik Konsthall
• Outreach event: The Cosmic Cocktail
• My image of galaxy M82 was exhibited at ArteScienza (2017)

• 2026 — Vera Rubin Observatory Begins Capturing the Greatest Cosmic Movie Ever Made — UNG press release (30 June 2026); Snemanje najdaljšega filma o vesolju se je uradno začelo — Delo (in Slovenian).
• 2025 — Astronomers Uncover Black Hole Choreography — based on Wang et al. 2025 incl. Petrushevska, published in Science Advances .
• 2024 — "Webb Researchers Discover Lensed Supernova, Confirm Hubble Tension" — NASA
• 2023 — Radio interview (supernovae & cosmology) — Rai Play Sound
• 2023 — Coverage of the LSST@Europe5 conference (organised with UNG, Rijeka, Belgrade, Ruđer Bošković Institute): English / Slovene
• 2023 — "Astronomers capture largest cosmic explosion ever witnessed" (Wiseman et al. 2023, incl. Petrushevska) — MNRAS, covered by the Guardian, BBC, Time, New York Times
• 2021 — Ugriznimo znanost (RTV Slovenia): how astronomers measure distances in the Universe — episode
• 2020 — UNG press: Hunting dark matter with supernovae
• 2020 — Delo: Iskanje narave temne snovi
• 2018 — RTV SLO 1: Odmevi — Slovenska raziskovalka opazovala nenavadno supernovo
• 2018 — Caltech press: "Ultra-Stripped Supernova Produces Neutron Star Binary" (De et al. 2018, incl. Petrushevska) — ScienceAlert
• 2018 — Delo: Zvezde eksplodirajo tudi ob nedeljah
• 2017 — Stockholm University & Caltech press: "Light rays from a supernova bent by the curvature of space-time around a galaxy" (Goobar et al. 2017, incl. Petrushevska)
• 2014 — Stockholm University & Caltech press: "The Nearest Standard Candle Supernova in Several Decades" (Goobar et al. 2014, incl. Petrushevska)
• 2014 — Interview on Sveriges Radio

Sem astrofizičarka in docentka na Centru za astrofiziko in kozmologijo Univerze v Novi Gorici. Moji raziskovalni interesi so na področju opazovalne astrofizike in kozmologije, predvsem na časovno spremenljivi astronomiji. Moje raziskave so pokazale, da je mogoče odkrivati močno lečene supernove s teleskopi na površju Zemlje; med drugim smo odkrili pet najbolj oddaljenih supernov s kolapsom zvezdne sredice in preučili njihovo prostorninsko pogostost pri velikih rdečih premikih. Z lastnostmi močno lečene, zelo oddaljene supernove smo pokazali, da so takšni izvori zelo koristni pri kozmoloških raziskavah. Trenutno se ukvarjam še s plimskimi raztrganji zvezd (TDE) in iskanjem kratkih izbruhov sevanja gama, ki nastanejo pri supernovah in jih lahko povzročijo aksionom podobni delci — obetavni kandidati za temno snov.

Članki

Celotna bibliografija: NASA ADS in SICRIS.

Mednarodni in institucionalni programi

• ESA PRODEX (2025–2026) — Euclid Astronomical Transient Hunt (EArTH). Vodja: dr. Saptashwa Bhattacharyya; so-vodja: T. Petrushevska.
• 2024–2026: Program Erasmus+ — mobilnost študentov in osebja z Univerzo Johnsa Hopkinsa. Koordinatorica: T. Petrushevska; koordinator na ameriški strani: prof. Armin Rest.

ARIS projekti

• N1-0461 (2026–2028) — ERC Perspektiva: Raziskave močno lečenih supernov v dobi observatorija Vere Rubin. Vodja: T. Petrushevska.
• BI-US/24-26-085 — Kozmologija s prvim statističnim vzorcem močno lečenih supernov (Space Telescope Science Institute, STScI). Vodja: T. Petrushevska.
• BI-VB/23-25-005 — Raziskave v fiziki zvezd in kozmologiji z uporabo supernov in močnega gravitacijskega lečenja (Inštitut za astronomijo Univerze v Cambridgeu; vodja: dr. Suhail Dhawan)
• BI-US/22-24-006 — Razkrivanje širjenja vesolja z močno lečenimi supernovami z vesoljskim teleskopom Roman (Space Telescope Science Institute, STScI)
• Z1-1853 (1. 12. 2019 – 30. 6. 2022) — Razkrivanje širjenja vesolja z močno lečenimi supernovami
• BI-US/18-20-017 — Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, Stanford University (Iskanje kratkih izbruhov sevanja gama iz supernov, ki jih sprožijo aksionom podobni delci)

Poučevanje

• od 2018/19 — Nosilka predmeta Astrofizika zvezd (2. letnik, dodiplomski študij, smer Fizika in astrofizika)
• od 2021/22 — Nosilka predmeta Astrofizikalni laboratorij (3. letnik, dodiplomski študij, smer Fizika in astrofizika)
• od 2025/26 — Nosilka predmeta Astronomska opazovanja (dodiplomski študij, smer Fizika in astrofizika)

Dogodki za splošno publiko (več)

• 2026 10.–18. julij – Peta poletna šola astronomije GoChile
• 2026 18. junij – Študentke in študenti FN so sodelovali na prireditvi Zotkini talenti v Gallusovi dvorani Cankarjevega doma v Ljubljani z resonančno glasbeno ploščo in igro razvoja zvezd, ki so ju izdelali sami. Prireditve se je udeležilo več kot 1.300 gostov, med njimi 520 zlatih nagrajencev.
• 2026 28. maj – Dan univerze na Lavričevem trgu v Ajdovščini. Med aktivnostmi CAC so si obiskovalci skozi teleskop ogledali Sonce in njegove sončne pege, se pomerili v astrokvizu v slogu Kdo hoče biti milijonar z nagradami in ustvarjali na likovni delavnici »Pobarvaj črno luknjo«, ki jo je vodila postdoktorska raziskovalka SMASH Nikki Arendse.

  

• 2026 marec – Slovenian Space Days na Fakulteti za naravoslovje UNG, Ajdovščina. Javni dogodek za dijake, študente in vse, ki razmišljajo o prihodnosti v znanosti, inženirstvu ali vesoljski industriji. Program: uvodni nagovor prof. dr. Egona Pavlice (dekan FN); predavanja Suzane Papež Skubic (Slovenska vesoljska pisarna) o Sloveniji v vesolju in pomenu izobraževanja, Joosta Vanreusela o priložnostih Akademije ESA za študente in mlade raziskovalce, Jaija Groverja (ESI, video) o doktorskih priložnostih, ki jih sofinancira ESA, ter dr. Tanje Petrushevske o vesoljskih raziskavah in projektih na FN; predstavitve podjetij Sinergise (Grega Milčinski), C-Astral (Goran Gačnik) in Instrumentation Technologies (Vega Abrahamsberg Lipičar).
• 2025 17.10 – Zaposlitveni bazar v Ajdovščini.
• 2025 19.09 – Incastra: obisk raziskovalnih laboratorijev Fakultete za naravoslovje.
• 2025 29.06–06.07 – Četrta poletna šola astronomije GoChile .
• 2025 23. junij – Organizirali smo objavo prvih posnetkov najzmogljivejšega teleskopa na svetu, Observatorija Vera C. Rubin. Več preberite tukaj.
• 2025 junij – Študentke in študenti FN so sodelovali na prireditvi Zotkini talenti z resonančno glasbeno ploščo in igro razvoja zvezd, ki so ju izdelali sami.
• 2025 28. maj – Dan univerze na Lavričevem trgu v Ajdovščini: Aktivnosti so vključevale: izziv razvoja zvezd (magneti v pravilnem vrstnem redu za nagrado); solarni teleskop in DVD spektrograf; sestavljanje LEGO modela Observatorija Vera Rubin; astrokviz v slogu Kdo hoče biti milijonar z nagradami; prikaze mikroskopa in manipulatorja LFOS z nagradami; show s tekočim dušikom (baloni, vrtnice, grozdje); umetniški izziv »Pobarvaj Observatorij Vera Rubin« (najboljše delo razstavljeno na FN); ter aktivnost SMASH z nagrado SMASH.

  

• 2025 januar – Astronomski večer v Ilirski Bistrici s predavanjem, kvizom z nagradami in opazovanjem s teleskopom.
• 2024 03. decembra – Astronomski večer, Vipava. Poljudno astronomsko predavanje in teleskopska opazovanja. Več.
• 2024 16.–17. februar – Info dnevi – več in več.
• 2024 02.02 – Astronomski večer, Ilirska Bistrica. Poljudno astronomsko predavanje, astronomski kviz, fizikalni eksperimenti in teleskopska opazovanja.
• 2023 13.–19. avgust – Druga poletna šola astronomije GoChile, blizu Slovenj Gradca. Preberi več in STA članek.
• 2023 16.–17. februar – Info dnevi – več in več.
• 2022 7. november – Dogodek za splošno publiko v Amfiteatru Fakultete za naravoslovje v Ajdovščini. Predavanje Veronike Vodeb »Po poti odkrivanja temne snovi«, sledila so opazovanja Lune, Jupitra in Saturna. Dogodek v sodelovanju z Astronomskim društvom Nanos, Gimnazijo Veno Pilon in lokalnimi osnovnimi šolami.
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• 2022 – V času Tedna Univerze 2022, v Goriški knjižnici Franceta Bevka, je potekalo predavanje »Po poti odkrivanja temne snovi«. Po predavanju je sledila pogostitev in opazovanje zvezd. Več.
• 2022 – Prva poletna šola astronomije GoChile. Več.
• 2022 – CAC je sodeloval na največjem taborniškem dogodku v Sloveniji (Taborniški Zlet 2022), kjer je bilo 700 dijakov in 300 prostovoljcev. Izvajali smo opazovanja, predavanja in astronomski kviz pod temnim nebom pri Cerknem.
• 2022 – Gostili smo dijakinje in dijake Slovenskega licejskega pola iz Gorice. Več.
• 2022 – Info dnevi (11.–13. februar, 17. maj, 17. september). Več.
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• 2021 – Evropska noč raziskovalcev. Iz Centra za astrofiziko in kozmologijo je dr. Saptashwa Bhattacharyya predstavil gASTRONOMSKI zajtrk na Nizu teleskopov Čerenkov. Program.
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• 2019 – Od Sončevega mrka do posnetka črne luknje: ob 100-letnici potrditve Einsteinove teorije relativnosti. Predavanje, astronomski kviz in opazovanja Sonca s teleskopom.
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• 2019 – Ob mednarodnem dnevu žensk in deklet v astronomiji: dogodek »Ženske v astronomiji« (predavanje, delavnice, opazovanja).
• 2019 Teden Univerze – Astronomski večer s predavanjem, kvizom, delavnicami in opazovanji.
• 2018 Teden Univerze – »Od Ajdovščine do vesolja«: predavanje, interaktivne delavnice in opazovanja.
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• 2018 – »Einsteinov dan«: predavanje o Einsteinu in interaktivne delavnice v Ajdovščini.
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V medijih

• 2026 — Observatorij Vere Rubin začenja snemati največji filmski zapis vesolja — UNG (30. junij 2026); Slovenci sodelujejo v projektu snemanja največjega filmskega zapisa vesolja doslej — STA; Slovenci pri projektu, ki zaznamuje začetek nove dobe v astronomiji in kozmologiji — N1; Snemanje najdaljšega filma o vesolju se je uradno začelo — Delo.
• 2025 — Astronomska skupina odkrila koreografijo črnih lukenj . Mediji: Delo, 24ur, STA, Primorski dnevnik, Primorske novice.
• 2023 – STA – »Na konferenci bodo predstavili zaključne faze gradnje Observatorija Vere Rubin«.
• 2023 – RTV SLO Odmevi – »Astronomi odkrili največjo kozmično eksplozijo.«
• 2023 – STA Znanost – »Astronomi odkrili največjo doslej videno kozmično eksplozijo.«
• 2021 – V oddaji Ugriznimo znanost na RTV sem razpravljala o tem, kako astronomi merijo razdalje v vesolju. Epizoda je tukaj.
• 2020 – Delo: Iskanje narave temne snovi z eksplozijami supernov.
• 2019 – Delo: Teleskope usmerja proti silovitim supernovam.
• 2018 – RTV SLO 1: Odmevi – »Slovenska raziskovalka opazovala nenavadno supernovo.«
• 2018 – Delo: Zvezde eksplodirajo tudi ob nedeljah.
• 2018 – Delo: Odkrili nenavadno supernovo, pri kateri je nastala binarna nevtronska zvezda.