Astronomy
Faculty Research
Faculty research is coordinated through the Institute for Astrophysical Research, the Center for Integrated Space Weather Modeling, and the Center for Space Physics, research units closely affiliated with the department. Faculty research interests include observational and theoretical studies in galactic and extragalactic astrophysics, cosmology, magnetospheric and ionospheric physics, planetary atmospheres, space plasma physics, star formation and galactic structure, stars and star clusters, active galaxies and quasars, high-energy astrophysics and galaxy evolution.
Research Instrumentation and Facilities
Members of the Department of Astronomy use a wide range of instrumentation and facilities in their scientific research. Some of this instrumentation is developed locally and is used at a variety of sites, including the Boston University campus. In many cases, however, researchers need to use the unique instrumentation available at national and international centers for research in astronomy, atmospheric physics, and space physics. More detailed information can be found on the department website at bu.edu/dbin/astronomy/.
Boston University Research and Teaching Facilities
Facilities for instructional observing are maintained at the Judson B. Coit Observatory on the roof of the College of Arts & Sciences building and elsewhere within the department. The facilities include many portable 8” reflectors, permanently mounted 10” and 14” reflectors, a spectroscopic telescope, and a small radio telescope. The department also maintains a comprehensive astronomical research library with subscriptions to nearly 50 scientific journals and comprehensive sky surveys.
Computational Resources An extensive network of computer facilities links the well over one hundred computers and workstations in the department to campus-wide facilities. For intensive computational research, students have access to the University’s parallel processor supercomputers and advanced graphics and visualization facilities supported by the Scientific Computing & Visualization group.
Lowell Observatory Boston University and the Lowell Observatory are partners in the operation of the 1.8m Perkins Telescope on Anderson Mesa near Flagstaff, Arizona. The Perkins Telescope is used primarily for optical and infrared imaging, polarimetry, and spectroscopy. The telescope is equipped with two Boston University instruments: Mimir for near-infrared and PRISM for optical imaging, polarimetry, and spectroscopy. Students and faculty use the Perkins telescope 180 nights per year for class projects, dissertations, and research programs.
Imagers: BU researchers and students designed, built and operate a number of imagers including: The MIRSI (Mid-Infrared Spectrometer and Imager) camera system with both spectroscopic and imaging capabilities. This BU instrument resides at the Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The CEDAR (Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions) All-sky Imagers operate at Millstone Hill (MA), McDonald Observatory (Texas), Arecibo Observatory (Puerto Rico), El Leoncito and Mercedes Observatories (Argentina) and Mt. John Observatory (New Zealand). These imagers record emissions from the ionosphere associated with solar-terrestrial disturbances. The Planetary Environment Imaging Spectrograph and Monochromatic Imager are used to image large-scale faint emissions from the exoatmospheres of solar system bodies. Currently located at the McDonald Observatory in Texas.
MACCS (Magnetometer Array for Cusp and Cleft Studies) This array of 12 magnetometers in arctic Canada is operated by Boston University in collaboration with Augsburg College. The magnetic variations recorded are used to study magnetospheric waves and dynamic flows.
IBEX Science Operations Center In partnership with the Southwest Research Institute, BU manages the science operations of the Interstellar Boundary Explorer Mission. This mission has the central objective of imaging the global interaction between the solar wind and the local interstellar.
NASA-supported rocketry BU researchers and students are currently developing a number of sounding rocket payloads including VESPR, to study hydrogen escape from Venus; PICTURE, to image the planet epsilon Eridani b; and IMAGER to understand the role of dust in shaping galaxies.
Spacecraft Instrument Development and testing BU is a center for instrument development including but not limited to instruments for Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRATER); Radiation Storm Belt Probes; Cassini, Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) Mission; Magnetosphere MultiScale (MMS); POLAR; EMM; and CLUSTER.
National and International Research Centers Used by Boston University Researchers
Below is a partial list of the national and international research center facilities recently used by faculty, staff, and students to conduct research in astronomy, planetary science, ionospheric, and space physics.
Astronomy and Astrophysics ground-based facilities: National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center Arecibo Observatory; National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) Green Bank Telescope, Very Large Array and Very Long Baseline Array; Gemini Int. Observatory; National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Kitt Peak and Cerro-Tololo; Mauna Kea (California Submillimeter Observatory and James Clerk Maxwell submillimeter telescope); Max Planck Institute for Radioastronomy 100-meter telescope; and IRAM 30-meter telescope.
Astronomy and Astrophysics satellites: Hubble Space Telescope; Rossi; X-Ray Timing Explorer; Chandra; XMM Newton; Swift; Spitzer Space Telescope; and Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope.
Planetary and Space Physics ground-based facilities Millstone Hill Radar/Haystack Observatory, Westford, Massachusetts; Sondrestom Radar, Greenland; ALTAIR Radar, Kwajalein (Marshall Islands); NASA Sounding Rockets, Wallops Island, Virginia; McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis, Texas; Arecibo Observatory; Auroral Observatory and Optical Facility in Svalbard, Norway; Jicamarca Radar Observatory in Peru; EISCAT Radar in Tromso, Norway.
Planetary- and Space Physics-based facilities NASA Space Shuttle; Hubble Space Telescope; Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRATER); Radiation Storm Belt Probes; Cassini, Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) Mission; Magnetosphere MultiScale (MMS); POLAR; EMM; CLUSTER, TWINS.
The Graduate Program
The Department of Astronomy offers a PhD program in astronomy for students interested in research and academic careers in astrophysics and space physics, and an MA program in astronomy for those interested in careers in scientific applications, scientific computing, and other related fields.
The Center for Space Physics, a unit devoted to research in solar system atmospheres, plasmas, and magnetic fields, and the Institute for Astrophysical Research, a unit devoted to research in astronomy and astrophysics, are affiliated with the department. The faculty and graduate students in the department are typically also members of the center or institute.
Degree Programs
The graduate program consists of formal courses in astronomy and original research work conducted under the guidance of a faculty advisor. During the first academic year, students generally concentrate on foundation coursework; a thesis research area is usually chosen during the second year. Original research, the most important part of the graduate program, occupies much of the students’ time after the first year. Formal admission to PhD candidacy is based on satisfactory performance in coursework and on the comprehensive examination, which is administered to ensure that students have mastered the basic physics and astronomy necessary for research in space science. There is no foreign language requirement for the PhD or MA degrees in astronomy. Further information about the Graduate School’s residence, dissertation, and final oral examination requirements for both the MA and PhD programs may be found in the Policies section of this website.
Graduate students are supported through University Fellowships or Department of Astronomy scholarships, teaching fellowships, and research assistantships. The normal procedure is for students to receive a fellowship in the first year or two and then to be supported with research assistantships when they begin working closely with individual faculty members in their research.
Seminars and Colloquia Faculty, visiting scientists, and graduate students present their research work and review current topics of interest in two regular colloquium and seminar series—one in astrophysics and one in space physics. Graduate students may receive course credit for work done in seminars; all graduate students are expected to attend colloquia and those seminars that are relevant to their general research areas.
Admission Tests and Prerequisites Applicants to the graduate program should have a strong physics background implied by a bachelor’s degree in either physics or astronomy. Undergraduate credits in physics should include upper-level courses in mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, optics, and thermodynamics/statistical mechanics. Mathematics through differential equations is required, and courses in introductory astronomy and/or astrophysics are highly recommended. Applicants should have a cumulative GPA equivalent to B or higher as a minimum requirement. Admission is competitive, based on a number of factors including grades, letters of recommendation, and scores on the GRE examinations.
To be considered for admission, it is necessary to submit the Application for Graduate Admission (available from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences) and three letters of recommendation. All applicants are required to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, including the Subject Test in Physics. Applicants whose native language is not English must have a TOEFL exam score or must demonstrate equivalent proficiency in the English language.
Further information on graduate programs and financial aid may be obtained from: Graduate Admissions Committee, Department of Astronomy, Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-2625.
