My name is Raymond Kelly. I am a student of the stars, a disciple of Christ, and an explorer of the cosmos. I am currently studying physics and astronomy at Brigham Young University and preparing to apply for graduate school in the fall to study worlds without end: to discover how planets form, what they are made of, why they are the way they are, and how their moons, rings, and surrounding stellar systems evolve.
My current research focuses on planet formation and interior composition. I am wrapping up my summer 2025 REU at the American Museum of Natural History with Dr. Linn Eriksson, modeling the formation of Uranus and Neptune from dust to planets. At BYU, I work with Dr. Darin Ragozzine modeling the interiors of Kepler multi-planet systems. I have also collaborated with Dr. Aleksander Mosenkov on the morphology of galaxies in the TNG50-SKIRT Atlas. Through these projects, I am helping to advance our understanding of planetary systems and of the infinite cosmos we all call home. I hope to publish my findings on these topics in the coming months.
Alongside research, I am dedicated to outreach and education and am passionate about sharing the wonder of the universe with the public. Science should be open and accessible to all, beautiful, filled with wonder, and awe-inspiring to grasp and behold. As President of the BYU Astronomical society (2024-2025), I have organized eclipse events, telescope nights, public planetarium shows, and service outreach across campus and community. Dr. M. Jeannette Lawler taught me how to develop planetarium content using Digistar, and I have been learning how to extend those skills to OpenSpace, creating immersive storytelling experiences to ignite curiosity. I also serve as a teaching assistant for the BYU Physics and Astronomy Department, especially in observational astronomy (Physics 127), where I help students connect scientific discovery with personal meaning.
My academic journey is inseparable from my spiritual one. I believe in an unending and ever-expanding cosmos filled with infinite worth and divine potential in each and every soul and star. As a disciple of Christ and a Latter-day Saint, I see scientific exploration as a sacred calling to learn truth, spread light and love, and build Zion - the pure in heart - in all its forms today.
As a part of that journey of becoming, I sing in choirs (such as the BYU Men’s Chorus and Concert Choir), compose music, and write about theology, philosophy, politics, and more. I am married to the lovely, talented, and delightful violinist Sarah Francis Kelly. Together, we explore this world side by side - filled with music, wonder, and a sky full of stars.
This site is a home for curiosity, clarity, and conversation. I will post updates on my grad school journey, research projects, and my thoughts on science, technology, theology, philosophy, music, and anything else that stirs my curiosity. Whether you are here for exoplanets, eternal progression, or just a moment of wonder - I am glad you are here.
“Who reveals? Everybody around us; we learn of each other. I have something which you have not, and you have something which I have not; I reveal what I have to you, and you reveal what you have to me. I believe that we are revelators to each other. Are the heavens opened? Yes, to some at times, yet upon natural principles, upon the principle of natural philosophy” (JD 3:202, BY).
Stay tuned for updates and let’s connect! I would love to learn from your unique perspective, celebrate our shared humanity, and rejoice in the ideas and differences that make each of us divine in our own special way.
Thanks for reading,
Raymond Kelly