News

Mostly astronomy related.


By Academic Year (starting in the preceding summer)

2023 - 2024

Projects:

2011 - 2012

Projects:
  • Identify modes in subdwarf B stars using multicolor photometry and time-resolved spectroscopy. This is year 2 of a 3 year National Science Foundation grant (NSF). In January, we used GT Cam for the first time. This is a simultaneous 3-CCD multicolor photometer funded by NSF and our college at MSU. We have received some press for this instrument:
  • Kepler satellite data on compact pulsating stars (continued).
  • Kepler subdwarf B masses via binarity.
  • Roboscope is a project to put a 16 inch autonomous telescope at MSU's Baker Observatory.
  • This is year three of work on the Baker Observatory Sub-minute Survey originally funded by the National Science Foundation.

Research Group:
  • Andy Baran joins us as a postdoctoral researcher in October!
  • Lee Hicks is an accelerated Master's student who wrote PLC, an automated data reduction program, and is a programmer for Roboscope.
  • Matt Thompson (summer 2011) worked on the post-lightcurve programs (and web pages) for the BOS survey and is a programmer for Roboscope.
  • Laurel Farris (working with Andy). She was highlighted in an edition of Clif's Notes (at the bottom). She has largely been working on Kepler data.
  • Marcus Shadwick. Working on multicolor photometry of subdwarf B stars.

Travel:
  • In June, Mike and Lee go to the Second Workshop on Robotic Autonomous Telescopes in Malaga, Spain.
  • In July, Mike goes to the Xth Kepler Asteroseismology Consotrium Workshop in Boulder, Colorado (and a visit with George Wolf!).
  • In July, Mike goes to the 6th sdO/B conference in South Africa.
  • and a visit to Simon O'Toole in Sydney, Australia after the sdO/B conference.
  • Mike attended the pulsation conference in Grenada, Spain in September.
  • Mike observed at Kitt Peak in November as part of the Whole Earth Telescope.
  • In January, 2012, Andy, Laurel, Marcus, and Mike observed on the Kitt Peak 2.1m and 4m telescopes. This was our first time using GT Cam.
  • In February, Andy and Laurel return to Kitt Peak to use GT Cam.
  • At the end of Marc, Andy and Mike will use GT Cam at Kitt Peak again.

Visitors:
  • Roy Ostensen (from Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium) visited for a few days before we went to the Kepler meeting.

    Outreach:
  • This year I am doing Science Explorers at Willard Intermediate School for 5th grade students.
  • We set up telescopes for a cub scout event in October.
  • Astronomy event for Science Olympiad on Feb. 10
  • Discovery Center event at Baker Observatory on March 17.
  • Annual visit to Mr. Troy Kuckta's Fourth grade class at Boyd Elementary School in Springfield. PR:
  • Laurel Farris was featured in a Clif's Notes
  • And here Laurel is in a News-Leader article.


    2010 - 2011

    Baker Observatory Sub-minute Survey funded by the National Science Foundation.
  • Roboscope is a project to put a 16 inch autonomous telescope at MSU's Baker Observatory.
  • Identify modes in subdwarf B stars using multicolor photometry and time-resolved spectroscopy. This is year 1 of a 3 year National Science Foundation grant. During this year, the project will hire a postdoc and assemble a simultaneous multicolor CCD photometer using off-the-shelf Apogee CCDs.
  • Kepler satellite data on compact pulsating stars. These data are the best available! They have revolutionized long period (g-mode) sdB asteroseismology!
  • Kepler subdwarf masses via binarity. In August, undergrad student Laurel Farris and I observed at the 4 meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory. We obtained spectroscopy to find velocity variations to determine masses from binary stars. Research Group:
    • Amanda Quint is working on NASA's Kepler satellite data.
    • Justin Gilker is working on the BOS Survey.
    • Jennifer Bean is doing her honor's senior project on time-resolved spectroscopy of a pulsating subdwarf B star. We obtained the data at Kitt Peak National Observatory in March, 2009.
    • Matt Thompson is an accelerated Master's student who is working on the BOS Survey.
    • Lee Hicks is another accelerated Master's student who is also working on the BOS Survey.
    • Nathan is a PHY495 student this fall who is going to GUI up stellar atmosphere models BRUCE/KYLIE.
    Travel:
    • In March, Jennifer Bean and I observed on the 4 meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory.
    • In June, Amanda Quint and I attended the 3rd Kepler Asteroseismology Science Collaboration Conference in Aarhus, Denmark.
    • In August, Laurel Farris and I observed on the 4 meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory.
    • In January, Mike and Jennifer travel to the American Astronomical Society meeting in Seattle, WA.
    • In February, Mike and Matt will travel to a conference in Hawaii on robitic telescopes and large surveys.
    Visitors:
    • In July/August, Dr. Simon O'Toole from the Australian Astronomical Observatory visited for two weeks.
    • In August, Dr. Andrzej Baran from the Pedagogical University in Poland, and Iowa State University visited for a week.
    Outreach:
    • In September, Mike directed the department's first Journal Club of the year.
    • In October, Mike organized the open house at Baker Observatory.
    • In October, Justin, Lee, and Jennifer (organized by Mike) set up a telescope with a solar filter for Boy Scout's camporall.
    • In May, a visit to Troy Kuckta's 4th grade class at Boyd Elementary to talk about the Kepler satellite.

    2009 - 2010

    Projects: Research Group:
    • Amanda is working on NASA's Kepler satellite data.
    • Justin is working on the BOS Survey.
    • Cory was working on a multisite campaign on an sdB pulsator.
    • Matt is an accelerated Master's student who is working on the BOS Survey.
    • Lee is another accelerated Master's student who is also working on the BOS Survey.
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