Dr. Samantha Lawler

Associate Professor of Astronomy
BS Astrophysics (California Institute of Technology), MA Astronomy (Wesleyan University), PhD (University of British Columbia)

samantha.lawler@uregina.ca
Phone: 306.586.4242 ext. 217

WEBSITE

http://uregina.ca/~slb861/

Research Interests

Representative Publications

Peer-reviewed

• LiDO: Exploring the Stable Plutino Parameter Space Lawler et al. (The Planetary Science Journal, 2025)
• Small Bodies in the Distant Solar System Lawler & Pike (book chapter for the Encyclopedia of Astrophysics, 2024)
• Visibility Predictions for Near-future Satellite Megaconstellations: Latitudes near 50° Will Experience the Worst Light Pollution Lawler, Boley, & Rein (The Astronomical Journal, 2022)

For the general public

• What goes up must come down: How megaconstellations like SpaceX’s Starlink network pose a grave safety threat to us on Earth Lawler (Live Science, 2025)
• A New, Deadly Era of Space Junk is Dawning, and No One is Ready Lawler (Scientific American, 2024)
• Bright satellites are disrupting astronomy Lawler (Nature News & Views, 2023)
• Soon, 1 out of every 15 points of light in the sky will be a satellite Lawler (The Conversation 2022)

Awards and Distinctions

• University of Regina Award for Excellence in Public Education and Outreach (2025)
• Asteroid 1999 RB₂₂₁ officially named (42910) Samanthalawler by the IAU (2021)