THE UNIVERSE to YOUR COMPUTER Or “A Hitchhikers Guide to Learning the Galaxy for Free
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Curriculum Vitae for MERCEDES T. RICHARDS
Curriculum Vitae for MERCEDES T. RICHARDS Work Address: Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Penn State University, 525 Davey Lab, University Park, PA 16802-6305 Telephone: (814) 865-0150 (office); (814) 863-3399 (fax) E-mail address: [email protected] Web address: http://www.astro.psu.edu/~mrichards Education Ph.D., 1986, Astronomy, University of Toronto M.Sc., 1979, Astronomy, York University B.Sc., 1977, Physics, University of the West Indies Graduate Awards: University of the West Indies Graduate Scholarship, 1977-1979; York University Scholarship, 1977-1979; University of Toronto Doctoral Fellowship, 1979-1981; Frank Hogg Fellowship, 1981-1982; C. A. Chant Fellowship, 1982-1983; Carl Reinhardt Fellowship, 1981-1986. Academic Positions 2003 – : Assistant Head, Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Penn State University 2002 – : Professor, Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Penn State University 2000 – 2001: Visiting Scientist, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton 1999 – 2002: Professor, Department of Astronomy, University of Virginia 1993 – 1999: Associate Professor, Department of Astronomy, University of Virginia 1987 – 1993: Assistant Professor, Department of Astronomy, University of Virginia 1986 – 1987: Visiting Scholar, Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, U. North Carolina, Chapel Hill 1979 – 1985: Teaching Assistant, Department of Astronomy, University of Toronto, Canada 1977 – 1979: Research/Teaching Assistant, Centre for Research in Earth & Space Science, York University Academic Service Positions 2007 – 2010: -
Table of Contents
AAS Newsletter November/December 2012, Issue 167 - Published for the Members of the American Astronomical Society Table of Contents 2 President’s Column 23 Committee on Employment 3 From the Executive Office 24 Committee on the Status of Women in 4 On the Waterfront: AAS Returns to Long Astronomy Beach 25 Bringing Sustainability into Your Institution 5 2012 Kavli Lecturers 27 Calendar of Events 7 HAD News 28 Announcements 8 JWST Update 29 United Nations Basic Space Science Initiative 12 Candidate Statements (UNBSSI) 1991-2012 21 News from NSF Division of Astronomical Sciences (AST) Back page Washington News 22 News from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) A A S American Astronomical Society President's Column AAS Officers David J. Helfand, President David J. Helfand, [email protected] Debra M. Elmegreen, Past President Nicholas B. Suntzeff, Vice-President Edward B. Churchwell, Vice-President Paula Szkody, Vice-President From close-up pictures of water-sculpted pebbles on Hervey (Peter) Stockman, Treasurer G. Fritz Benedict, Secretary Mars, to the detection of galaxies at the boundary of Anne P. Cowley, Publications Board Chair the Dark Ages, discoveries in our field continue to Edward E. Prather, Education Officer advance our understanding of the Universe and to Councilors fascinate legions of the public who support our inquiry. Bruce Balick Nancy S. Brickhouse Unfortunately, we do not see similar progress in the Eileen D. Friel political sphere, even now that the consequences have Edward F. Guinan been spelled out of allowing budget sequestration to hit Todd J. Henry Steven D. Kawaler every government agency in January. -
Broad Absorption Line Variability on Multi-Year Timescales in a Large Quasar Sam- Ple; Filiz Ak, N., Brandt, W
The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School College of Science BROAD ABSORPTION LINE VARIABILITY ON MULTI-YEAR TIMESCALES IN A LARGE QUASAR SAMPLE A Dissertation in Astronomy and Astrophysics by Nurten Filiz Ak c 2014 Nurten Filiz Ak Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy May 2014 The dissertation of Nurten Filiz Ak was reviewed and approved∗ by the following: William Nielsen Brandt Distinguished Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Dissertation Adviser Chair of Committee Donald Schneider Distinguished Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Head of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics Michael Eracleous Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Mercedes Richards Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Benjamin Owen Professor of Physics Steinn Sigurdsson Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Chair of the Graduate Program of Astronomy and Astrophysics ∗Signatures on file in the Graduate School. iii Abstract Outflows launched near the central supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are a common and important component of active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Outflows in luminous AGNs (i.e., quasars) play a key role in mass accretion onto SMBH as well as in the feedback into host galaxies. The most prominent signature of such outflows appears as broad absorption lines (BALs) that are blueshifted from the emission line with a few thousands kms−1 velocities. In this dissertation, I place further constrains upon the size scale, internal structure, dynamics, and evolution of the outflows investigating profiles, properties, and variation characteristics of BAL troughs. I present observational results on BAL troughs in a large quasar sample utilizing spectroscopic observations from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey spanning on multi-year timescales. -
Black Lives in Astronomy: a Resource Guide Compiled by Andrew Fraknoi (Fromm Institute, U
Black Lives in Astronomy: A Resource Guide Compiled by Andrew Fraknoi (Fromm Institute, U. of San Francisco) July 2020 © copyright 2020 by Andrew Fraknoi. The right to use or reproduce this guide for any nonprofit educational purpose is hereby granted. For permission to use in other ways, or to suggest additional materials, please contact the author at e-mail: fraknoi {at} fhda {dot} edu This introductory guide is not a comprehensive listing, but merely an introduction, for students and their instructors, to the contributions and profiles of black astronomers, and to some of the issues facing them. Most of the entries are drawn from my Astronomy of Many Cultures: http://bit/ly/astrocultures Banneker’s Almanac Neil deGrasse Tyson Dara Norman Aomawa Shields ______________________________________________________________________________ Overview Materials About Black Astronomers Astronomy in Color blog: http://astronomyincolor.blogspot.com/ American Institute of Physics Center for the History of Physics: African-American Astronomers (a lesson plan with materials): https://www.aip.org/history-programs/physics- history/teaching-guides-women-minorities/african-americans-astronomy-and-astrophysics Fikes, Robert “From Banneker to Best: Some Stellar Careers in Astronomy & Astrophysics” (on black astronomers): http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/special/Black.Astronomers-Fikes.pdf Greene, Nick “African-Americans in Astronomy & Space (concise guide, links to brief bios): http://space.about.com/od/astronomyspacehistory/tp/Black_History_Month.html Reaching to the Stars: African American Astronomers (in celebration of Black History Month in 2011, Swarthmore hosted three African-American scientists: Derrick Pitts (Fels Planetarium), Eric Wilcots (U. of Wisconsin) and astronaut Mae Jemison, discussing the future of the field.) [90 min]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q8I3bU68Gw Sokol, J. -
Women in Astronomy: an Introductory Resource Guide
Women in Astronomy: An Introductory Resource Guide by Andrew Fraknoi (Fromm Institute, University of San Francisco) [April 2019] © copyright 2019 by Andrew Fraknoi. All rights reserved. For permission to use, or to suggest additional materials, please contact the author at e-mail: fraknoi {at} fhda {dot} edu This guide to non-technical English-language materials is not meant to be a comprehensive or scholarly introduction to the complex topic of the role of women in astronomy. It is simply a resource for educators and students who wish to begin exploring the challenges and triumphs of women of the past and present. It’s also an opportunity to get to know the lives and work of some of the key women who have overcome prejudice and exclusion to make significant contributions to our field. We only include a representative selection of living women astronomers about whom non-technical material at the level of beginning astronomy students is easily available. Lack of inclusion in this introductory list is not meant to suggest any less importance. We also don’t include Wikipedia articles, although those are sometimes a good place for students to begin. Suggestions for additional non-technical listings are most welcome. Vera Rubin Annie Cannon & Henrietta Leavitt Maria Mitchell Cecilia Payne ______________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents: 1. Written Resources on the History of Women in Astronomy 2. Written Resources on Issues Women Face 3. Web Resources on the History of Women in Astronomy 4. Web Resources on Issues Women Face 5. Material on Some Specific Women Astronomers of the Past: Annie Cannon Margaret Huggins Nancy Roman Agnes Clerke Henrietta Leavitt Vera Rubin Williamina Fleming Antonia Maury Charlotte Moore Sitterly Caroline Herschel Maria Mitchell Mary Somerville Dorrit Hoffleit Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin Beatrice Tinsley Helen Sawyer Hogg Dorothea Klumpke Roberts 6. -
January 2004 Issue of the OSS Voyages Newsletter
COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF MINORITIES IN ASTRONOMY J ANUARY 2004 SPECTRUM A report on underrepresented minorities in astronomy INSIDE THIS ISSUE: So… What About 1 So… What About Diversity? Diversity? by Marcel Agueros Professional Organi- 1 zations of Minorities Led by a team of graduate students, the University of in Physical Sciences Washington Astronomy Department has developed a The Accountability 4 departmental plan for more effectively engaging diver- Side of Diversity sity issues through enhanced coordination of effort and improved leveraging of available resources. What’s in a Name? 6 Marcel Agueros describes how they went about it and Astronomy Faculty 9 what they learned along the way. Diversity Survey: Preliminary Results A Small First Step 10 he meeting was over. For nearly an hour the graduate students and the graduate program ad- Ph.D. Productivity of 12 visor had intensively discussed a number of Historically Black T Colleges pressing departmental issues. We were wrapping up Marcel Agueros is a when a question was casually dropped on the table: 4th-year astronomy SASS: Cultivating the 14 “What about diversity?” graduate student at the Next Generation of University of Washing- Astronomers What seemed like a simple enough question to ask ton. His dissertation NASA Space Science 16 turned out to be a very difficult question to answer. That research is on X-ray Diversity Initiatives meeting took place about a year ago, and we are still selected stars from the working our way to a good answer. However, with the RASS and SDSS Sur- Meet Dara Norman at 17 help of some friends—the Graduate Opportunities and veys under the direc- CTIO Minority Achievement Program and ADVANCE here at tion of Scott Anderson. -
Making a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) About Astrobiology: Why? for Whom? How?
EPJ Web of Conferences 200, 01019 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201920001019 ISE2A 2017 Making a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) about Astrobiology: Why? For Whom? How? Charles H. Lineweaver1,* 1Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia Abstract. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are becoming the textbooks of the 21st century. I describe what a MOOC is, and try to answer the questions: Why make a MOOC? Who are MOOCs for? and How to make a MOOC? Anxiety about MOOCs replacing teachers is largely misplaced. I describe my on-going experience of putting together an astrobiology MOOC for the Australian National University. 1 What is a MOOC? 1.1 History: from tutoring, to lecturing, to MOOCing Socrates, Plato and Aristotle participated in private tutoring and small group discussions (Fig. 1). They did not give lectures to hundreds of students. Lectures seem to have been invented by the first European universities in the 13th or 14th centuries (Fig. 2). N.B. this was before the 1440 invention of the printing press by Gutenberg. At our meeting, the International Symposium on Education in Astronomy and Astrobiology, Karen Meech recounted some of her experiences organizing workshops, schools and fieldtrips. The most rewarding permanent learning and bonding was done with “long small meaningful discussions” in the context of a community of learners in some kind of isolation from the world. She seemed agnostic about the type of isolation: Hawaiian military barracks, island monasteries, ivory towers, Walden ponds, even deserts would do. -
2024 Solar Eclipse: Totality Over Texas
2024 Solar Eclipse: Totality Over Texas April 6-9, 2024 $2,295 PER PERSON, DOUBLE OCCUPANCY, $3,895, SINGLE OCCUPANCY, PLUS AIRFARE Join MSU Professor and astronomer *Dr. Megan Donahue and experience an incredible natural phenomenon of a total eclipse. On April 8, 2024, the moon will pass between the earth and the sun and be replaced by pink flames and silver streamers that stretch across the sky. Come see the eclipse from the beautiful Lake District north of Austin, Texas. Along with Dr. Donahue, enjoy outstanding expert speakers including Dr. Doug Duncan, Dr. Steve Hawley, Chris Impey, Erica Ellingson, Nick Schneider and Dr. Emily Levesque. Accommodations are at the Hyatt Regency Austin, close to downtown Austin and where guest lectures will occur or the Horseshoe Bay Resort, in the countryside Lake District, near the centerline of where the eclipse will be viewed. A total eclipse is like Tour Inclusions: no other and one of the best viewing spots for the • 3 night’s accommodations at either the Hyatt eclipse will be on this trip. Don’t miss this chance of a Regency Austin or *Horseshoe Bay Resort. lifetime, the next total eclipse visible in the U.S. will not • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily occur until 2045. • Internationally know guest speakers • Eclipse viewing Star Party • Night viewing with telescopes from Horseshoe Bay MSU Faculty Host which is a Dark Sky Reserve Dr. Megan Donahue is a University Distinguished Professor of • Transportation to and from the Austin International Physics and Astronomy at Michigan State University. She was Airport, as well as to and from all scheduled eclipse the President of the American sessions at the Horseshoe Bay Resort and Hyatt Astronomical Society from 2018-2020, and has been very ac- Regency Austin tive in national and international • Pair of special glasses to view the eclipse scientific advisory groups for the last 30 years. -
Frontiers of Astrobiology Edited by Chris Impey, Jonathan Lunine and José Funes Frontmatter More Information
Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-00641-6 - Frontiers of Astrobiology Edited by Chris Impey, Jonathan Lunine and José Funes Frontmatter More information Frontiers of Astrobiology Astrobiology is an exciting interdisciplinary field that seeks to answer one of the most important and profound questions: Are we alone? In this volume, leading international experts explore the frontiers of astrobiology, investigating the latest research questions that will fascinate a wide interdisciplinary audience at all levels. What is the earliest evidence for life on Earth? Where are the most likely sites for life in the Solar System? Could life have evolved elsewhere in the Galaxy? What are the best strategies for detecting intelligent extraterrestrial life? How many habitable or Earth-like exoplanets are there? Progress in astrobiology over the past decade has been rapid and, with evidence accumulating that Mars once hosted standing bodies of liquid water, the discovery of over 700 exoplanets, and new insights into how life began on Earth, the scientific search for our origins and place in the cosmos continues. The book is based on a meeting at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, which gathered leading researchers to present state-of-the-art reviews on their research and address topics at the forefront of astrobiology. CHRIS IMPEY is a University Distinguished Professor and Deputy Head of the Depart- ment of Astronomy at the University of Arizona, Tucson. His research interests are observational cosmology, gravitational lensing, and the evolution and structure of galaxies. He is a past Vice President of the American Astronomical Society, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and has been NSF Distinguished Teaching Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar, and the Carnegie Council on Teaching’s Arizona Professor of the Year. -
Introduction & Overview to Symposium 240: Binary Stars As Critical Tools
Binary Stars as Critical Tools & Tests in Contemporary Astrophysics Proceedings IAU Symposium No. 240, 2006 c 2007 International Astronomical Union W.I. Hartkopf, E.F. Guinan & P. Harmanec, eds. doi:10.1017/S1743921307003730 Introduction & Overview to Symposium 240: Binary Stars as Critical Tools and Tests in Contemporary Astrophysics Edward F. Guinan1, Petr Harmanec2 and William Hartkopf3 1Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA e-mail: [email protected] 2Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 251 65 Ondrejov, Czech Republic 3Astrometry Dept., U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, DC, 20392, USA Abstract. An overview is presented of the many new and exciting developments in binary and multiple star studies that were discussed at IAU Symposium 240. Impacts on binary and multiple star studies from new technologies, techniques, instruments, missions and theory are highlighted. It is crucial to study binary and multiple stars because the vast majority of stars (>60%) in our Galaxy and in other galaxies consist, not of single stars, but of double and multiple star systems. To understand galaxies we need to understand stars, but since most are members of binary and multiple star systems, we need to study and understand binary stars. The major advances in technology, instrumentation, computers, and theory have revolutionized what we know (and also don’t know) about binary and multiple star systems. Data now available from interferometry (with milliarcsecond [mas] and sub-mas precisions), high-precision radial velocities (∼1-2 m/s) and high precision photometry (<1–2 milli-mag) as well as the wealth of new data that are pouring in from panoramic optical and infrared surveys (e.g., >10,000 new binaries found since 1995), have led to a renaissance in binary star and multiple star studies. -
Indices Circumstellar Matter 1994
INDICES CIRCUMSTELLAR MATTER 1994 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Nancy Ageorges:- MPE, Garcning, GERMANY Geary Albright:- University of Virginia, USA Phillipe Andre:- Centre d'Etudes de Saclay, FRANCE Bernhard Aringer:- University of Vienna, AUSTRIA Jane Arthur:- Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, MEXICO Lorne Avery:- Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, CANADA Stefano Bagnulo:- Armagh Observatory, NORTHERN IRELAND Eric Bakker:- SRON, Utrecht, NETHERLANDS Dominique BaJIereau:- Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, FRANCE Mary Barsony:- UC Riverside, California, USA Nicole Berruyer:- Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur, FRANCE Nina Beskrovnaya:- Pulkova Observatory, St. Petersburg, RUSSIA Peter Brand:- University of Edinburgh, SCOTLAND Danielle Briot:- Observatoire de Paris, FRANCE Henry Buckley:- University of Edinburgh, SCOTLAND Valentin Bujarrabal:- Centro Astronomico de Yebes, SPAIN Harold Butner:- DTM-Carnegie Institute of Washington, USA John Carr:- Ohio State University, USA Mark Casali:- Royal Observatories, Edinburgh, SCOTLAND Josephine Chan:- Max-Planck Research Group, Jena, GERMANY Claire Chandler:- NRAO, Socorro, New Mexico, USA Steve Charnley:- UC Berkeley/NASA Ames, California, USA Isabelle Cherchneff:- Royal Observatories, Edinburgh, SCOTLAND Ed Churchwell:- University of Wisconsin, USA Mark Clampin:- Space Telescope Science Institute, Maryland, USA Stuart Clark:- University of Hertfordshire, ENGLAND Jim Cohen:- NRAL Jodrell Bank, ENGLAND Martin Cohen:- University of California, Berkeley, USA Francisco Colomer:- Centre Astronomico de Yebes, -
Unique Education & Workforce Development for NASA Engineers
Unique Education & Workforce Development for NASA Engineers Roger C. Forsgren, Lauren L. Miller NASA Academy of Program/Project & Engineering Leadership (APPEL) NASA Headquarters Office of the Chief Engineer, Washington, D.C. [email protected], [email protected] Abstract NASA engineers are some of the world’s best-educated graduates, responsible for technically complex, highly significant scientific programs. Even though these professionals are highly proficient in traditional analytical competencies, there is a unique opportunity to offer continuing education that further enhances their overall scientific minds. With a goal of maintaining the Agency’s passionate, “best in class” engineering workforce, the NASA Academy of Program/Project & Engineering Leadership (APPEL) provides educational resources encouraging foundational learning, professional development, and knowledge sharing. NASA APPEL is currently partnering with the scientific community’s most respected subject matter experts to expand its engineering curriculum beyond the analytics and specialized subsystems in the areas of: understanding NASA’s overall vision and its fundamental basis, and the Agency initiatives supporting them; sharing NASA’s vast reservoir of engineering experience, wisdom, and lessons learned; and innovatively designing hardware for manufacturability, assembly, and servicing. It takes collaboration and innovation to educate an organization that possesses such a rich and important history—and a future that is of great global interest. NASA APPEL strives to intellectually nurture the Agency’s technical professionals, build its capacity for future performance, and exemplify its core values—all to better enable NASA to meet its strategic vision—and beyond. NASA Engineering Education Responsible for technically complex, highly significant scientific programs, it is only fitting that NASA employs some of the best and brightest engineers in the world.