NASA's been pulling out of major astronomy meetings — and scientists are feeling the effects

A white building in front of a cloudy sky.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Something was missing at the American Astronomical Society's 246th meeting this year, a conference sometimes referred to as the "Superbowl of Astronomy."

It's a meeting that brings many of the country's most renowned scientists into the same room to share what they've been working on and thinking about lately; as you can imagine, that tends to organically foster brand new ideas for exploring the universe. Being at these events, you can almost feel study blueprints sprouting up all around you in real-time. It's electric.