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Lowell Observatory Issue 92 Fall 2011 from Discovering to Describing Near-Earth Asteroids by Tom Vitron

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Lowell Observatory Issue 92 Fall 2011 from Discovering to Describing Near-Earth Asteroids by Tom Vitron LOWELL EXPANDING OUR UNIVERSE OBSERVER The quarterly newsletter of Lowell Observatory Issue 92 Fall 2011 From Discovering to Describing Near-Earth Asteroids by Tom Vitron When the Lowell Observatory Near-Earth Object Search (LONEOS) Asteroids like Ida can have small companion moons like Dactyl (right). Discovering companions is one came to a close in 2008, it did not of the tasks for NEAPS researchers. (Photo courtesy: NASA/JPL) mark the end of near-Earth object research at Lowell. Rather, it marked a With the 24-inch Schmidt Telescope project’s main data output. However, shift from discovering these objects to as the workhorse instrument, research more work is required before robust characterizing them. “[Dr. Ted Bowell] assistant Brian Skiff and other observers statistics about NEA rotation can be opted to use our resources to study one generated a lot of data over the course compiled. of the physical properties of near-Earth of the project. For example, one of the Since this research does not require asteroids (NEAs): rotational period,” most challenging asteroids observed by the biggest, most modern telescopes, says Dr. Bruce Koehn, who recently NEAPS was 2011 AL37. This asteroid amateur astronomers are participating in took the reigns from Dr. Bowell (see closely approached Earth on January asteroid research. “Their data, combined article on page 5) and is the principal 26, 2011 and was moving at almost with ours, will likely make a very good investigator to LONEOS’s successor, the 60 degrees per day. Fortunately, it was data set,” says Dr. Koehn. “We have Near-Earth Asteroid Photometric Survey bright enough that Skiff took short made a significant contribution to the (NEAPS). The goal is to watch several exposures using the Schmidt telescope. understanding of rotation of near-Earth NEAs each night and, ultimately, get The Schmidt, with its wide field, could asteroids.” statistics on the rotational properties keep the asteroid in sight even when it of NEAs, says Dr. Koehn. Insights was moving so fast. The NEAPS team IN THIS ISSUE are being gleaned about the variety found the asteroid had a rotational 1 From Discovering to Describing ... of rotational periods (or how long it period of 6 minutes, 20 seconds. The takes an asteroid to rotate on its axis), only way it could be rotating so fast is if 2 Director’s Letter the type of rotation (principal axis or it was a solid piece of rock. Otherwise, it 3 Three New Astronomers tumbling), and the number of NEAs would come apart. Strangely, astronauts 5 Dr. Ted Bowell Retires that have “companions,” or other, even would not be able to stand on the smaller objects orbiting around them. surface of this asteroid. If they tried, 6 John Radway “If we were lucky, we could also find the they would be hurled into space. 6 Departures and Arrivals direction of the principal axis and shape NEAPS researchers produced several 7 In Memoriam of the asteroid,” explains Dr. Koehn. hundred light curves, which are the 2 THE LOWELL OBSERVER | Fall 2011 performed its successful first flights superb control for eight years. But it also in late June, with a number of Lowell saw some arrivals: we welcomed three folks involved in the airplane itself and outstanding astronomers – Evgenya afar, including Ted Dunham, Georgi Shkolnik, Kevin Covey, and Gerard Mandushev, Tom Bida, Brian Taylor, van Belle – to the scientific staff, and Amanda Bosh, and Stephen Levine. electrical engineer Mike Sweaton joined The summer also involved the the DCT team. Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT) And as always, we saw the continued engineers successfully mounting the lovely mix of engineering and art primary mirror in its support cell and that goes into making DCT a reality. lifting the whole 27,000-pound thing Commanding some of the top bids at three stories up to the observing level the silent auction at our June Friends of the dome, where it was seamlessly event were signed, framed copies of bolted to the telescope (see below). Ralph Nye’s drawings of the DCT’s Director’s During all this heavy lifting, a Discovery instrument cube and guider assembly. Channel film crew was here getting Ralph’s full-size drawings of the cube Letter everything on video and interviewing a and the filter wheel – especially the filter by Jeffrey Hall number of us for Discovery’s first major wheel! – are spectacular, and as I write DCT feature, which will air next year. this, lots of parts are being carefully It saw our scientific staff regularly machined to his specifications by Steve involved with the public on our summer Lauman and electronics assembled Summer at Lowell started in meet-an-astronomer nights – always a hit by Rich Oliver, and the impressive- the second week of last June in with our visitors – and astronomer Lisa looking cube is being assembled in characteristically busy fashion. Not only Prato traveled as far as Maine to give our instrument shop. In all aspects did we hold the annual meeting of our one of her engaging talks on celestial of the DCT from its primary mirror advisory board, but also a Friends of dust bunnies (a.k.a. star formation) at an to its complex guiding system and Lowell thank you event that featured a event sponsored by several of our board instruments, form meets function in wonderful talk by Bill Sheehan, noted members. singular fashion. Lowell and Mars historian. In addition, It involved some farewells, including With all of this and more humming thanks to the impetus and support Byron Smith, who oversaw the along, you won’t be surprised if I say of our trustee Bill Putnam, Flagstaff construction of a beautiful telescope that summer has disappeared in a flash, enjoyed a visit that week by Garrison and passed the commissioning baton in but that’s okay. May fall be equally Keillor and a live broadcast of his well- July to Bill DeGroff, and Bev Welling, quiet. known radio show from Fort Tuthill who kept the company books under County Park. I remember reading Keillor’s story collections as a teenager and smiling DCT M1 Mirror Mounting as each tale opened with his signature line: It has been a quiet week in Lake The DCT staff recently achieved a major construction Wobegon. Invariably those weeks ended and commissioning milestone. DCT project manager Bill up involving headless chickens, septic DeGroff (pictured, tanks, or waterlogged Lutheran pastors, proceeding with glorious inevitability right) oversaw from quiet into mayhem. In that the mounting of spirit, it has been a quiet summer on the primary (M1) Mars Hill. I am not aware of anything involving chickens, except possibly as mirror cell in early part of the non-seafood menu at the August. A big Trustee’s annual staff lobster party in congrats to the August. But the summer has involved Boeing DCT folks who aircraft, specifically the remodeled made it happen! 747 called Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) that THE LOWELL OBSERVER | Fall 2011 3 to exoplanets for her PhD. husband Aaron and their College, a Master’s in physics Three New “Exoplanets are what got me three young children, Dr. from The Johns Hopkins into astronomy,” she says, Shkolnik is very impressed University, and a PhD in Astronomers pointing to the discovery of with the diversity of Flagstaff physics from the University the first exoplanet in 1996 and feels welcomed. Coming of Wyoming in Laramie, by Tom Vitron as decisive for her. After to work at our historic where he came to enjoy the completing her studies institution seems like a high-altitude, small-town in 2004, she worked as a great fit. “You get to spend lifestyle. postdoctoral fellow at the your day in a way that Eager to share that Institute for Astronomy at benefits your research to the lifestyle in Flagstaff with his the University of Hawaii at fullest possible extent,” Dr. wife, Stephanie, and their Manoa and as a Carnegie Shkolnik says. “Being in a three young boys, Dr. van Fellow at the Carnegie place like Lowell is perfect.” Belle comes to Lowell with a Institution of Washington’s wealth of expertise in near- Department of Terrestrial infrared interferometry, or Magnetism. the group of techniques in Dr. Shkolnik’s focus is which electromagnetic waves characterizing exoplanets are superimposed in order after their discovery. For to extract information about Dr. Evgenya Shkolnik almost 10 years, she’s been the source object. Aside from studying these newfound ESO, he previously worked When asked what she worlds for magnetic fields, at Jet Propultion Laboratory wanted to be while in the atmospheric composition, (JPL) as an instrument 7th grade, Dr. Evgenya tidal evolution, and any architect for NASA’s Keck Shkolnik said she wanted effect on the parent star. Interferometer and at to be an astronaut. By the “I’m not yet a planet hunter,” Caltech’s Michelson Science next year, the goal was even she says. Center (now the NASA bolder: be the first person on Choosing to come to Exoplanet Science Institute), Mars. Clearly motivated and Lowell made perfect sense Dr. Gerard van Belle where he participated in not shy, Dr. Shkolnik instead to her. “The ideal is what commissioning Georgia State became a highly skilled and Lowell is putting together,” L os Angeles, Boston, University’s CHAR A Array respected astronomer and is Dr. Shkolnik explains. Flagstaff… Wait, how and the Palomar Testbed now bringing her talent and Excited to join to Lowell’s does Flagstaff fit into this Interferometer. Using the expertise to Lowell. expanding exoplanet group, equation? “Flagstaff is a latter, Dr. van Belle led a Born in Kiev, Ukraine, she points to the freedom real cluster of scientific team that made the first Dr.
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