Boston University
Astronomy Department
Astronomy Department Research Highlights
Research in the Department of Astronomy is conducted under the auspices of either the Institute for Astrophysical Research or the Center for Space Physics. On this page we will call attention to some of our more recent projects or larger ongoing projects. In most instances clicking the image will direct you to a higher resolution version of the image, clicking the title will take you to a related web site; click on the name of the researcher to go to his or her home page.
CRaTER
Professor Spence
The primary goal of CRaTER (Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation) is to characterize the global lunar radiation environment and its biological impacts. This objective is critical if we are to implement a sustained, safe, and affordable human and robotic program to search for evidence of life, understand the history of the solar system, and prepare for future human exploration, a vision established by the President's Space Exploration Policy Directive.
Features:
- A team effort between several groups: scientific laboratories, institutions of higher learning.
- CRATER currently under construction, to be launched in 2008.
- Crater is one of a series of instruments that will be aboard the LRO mission craft.
GLIMPSE
Professors Bania, Clemens, and Jackson
GLIMPSE (Galactic Legacy Infrared Mid-Plane Survey Extraordinaire) was one of the experiments using the Spitzer (formerly called SIRTF, for Space Infrared Telescope Facility) satellite and telescope. GLIMPSE conducted a survey of the inner part of our galaxy, the Milky Way. Professors Bania, Clemens, and Jackson were members of the GLIMPSE team.
Milky Way Galactic Ring Survey
Professors Bania, Clemens, and Jackson
The Galactic Rung Survey (GRS) is a survey of 13CO molecular line emission, tracing the star-forming molecular clouds in the Milky Way galaxy. Although the 5 kpc ring in the inner Milky Way Galaxy was discovered over 25 years ago, most of its properties remain unknown. The main objectives of the Galactic Ring Survey are to:
- catalog the molecular clouds and cloud cores,
- establish kinematic distances to many clouds and their associated Young Stellar Objects,
- determine their sizes, luminosities, and distributions,
- and determine the structure of the inner Milky Way, especially that of the 5 kpc ring.
Cluster of Galaxies Abell 2052
Professor Blanton
X-ray image from the Chandra X-ray Observatory of the central region of the cooling flow cluster of galaxies, Abell 2052, with contours of radio emission superposed. In the cooling flow model, large amounts of gas in the intracluster medium are expected to cool radiatively and flow to cluster centers. However, the expected quantities of very cool gas and associated forming stars are not seen (the "cooling flow problem"). Heating from radio sources associated with supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies is now the leading candidate for explaining the lack of cool gas seen at cluster centers. (credit: Prof. Blanton)
RBSP-ECT
Professor Spence
Radiation Belt Storm Probes – Energetic Particle, Composition, and Thermal Plasma (RBSP-ECT), will place several science instruments into Earth’s orbit on a pair of satellites designed to measure the behavior of charged particles which cause space radiation. The study aims to achieve a better understanding of the physical processes that control the shape and intensity of the ever-changing radiation belts to help make space exploration safer for humans and satellites.
The two-satellite mission, slated for launch in 2012, is part of NASA’s Living with a Star (LWS) program which aims to learn how and why the sun varies, how planetary systems respond, and the effects on human activities in space and on Earth.
Spiral Galaxy
Professor Brainerd
A large spiral galaxy and its satellite, obtained from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Professor Brainerd and graduate student Ingolfur Agustsson are using this and about 3000 similar systems to study the location and orientation of satellite galaxies with respect to the primary galaxies about which they are orbiting.
Saturn Aurora
Professor Clarke
Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images of Saturn and its polar auroral emissions on 24, 26, and 28 January 2004. Each of the three images of Saturn combines ultraviolet images of the south polar region (to show the auroral emissions) with visible wavelength images of the planet and rings. The HST images were obtained during a campaign by the Cassini spacecraft to measure the solar wind approaching Saturn and the Saturn kilometric emissions. The strong brightening of the aurora on 28 January corresponded with the recent arrival of a large disturbance in the solar wind. These results are presented in three letters in the February 17, 2005 issue of Nature. (credit: Z. Levay and J. Clarke: cover)
Mimir
Professor Clemens
A near-infrared imager, spectrometer, and polarimeter for the Perkins Telescope. Mimir was designed, fabricated, and tested by teams at Boston University and Lowell Observatory with support provided by NASA, NSF, and the W.M. Keck Foundation. Mimir saw first light on August 19, 2004.
Sounding Rockets
Professors Chakrabarti, Clarke, Cook
The BU sounding rocket programs use small suborbital rockets to observe the earth, the solar system, and beyond as part of NASA's low cost access to space program.
Cluster
Professor Fritz
The Cluster mission, consisting of four identical spacecraft flying in formation between 25000 and 125000 km above the Earth, is studying the planet's magnetic field and electric surroundings in three dimensions. In particular, it is looking at the effects of the solar wind, the hot wave of energy produced by the Sun, which buffets Earth's protective magnetosphere. This wind often breaks through at the poles, producing auroras. Cluster was launched in July and August of 2000.
Coronal Mass Ejection
Professor Hughes
An MHD computer simulation of a solar coronal mass ejection propagating through interplanetary space. Color indicates plasma density (cm-3) and shows the compressed plasma behind the shock ahead of the CME. The magnetic field lines show how the field in the CME is twisted into a flux rope that connects back to the sun (red dot). This simulation was performed with models used within the Center for Integrated Space Weather Modeling (CISM), an NSF Science and Technology Center led by Boston University.
The MACCS magnetometer array
Professor Hughes
The MACCS magnetometer site at the reservoir at Pangnirtung, Baffin Island, Canada. MACCS is an array of magnetometers that monitors ionospheric currents at high magnetic latitudes in Canada. It is jointly run by Boston University and Augsburg College.
NGC 891
Professor Janes
Image of NGC 891, obtained by Kenneth Janes and Jason Eastman using the PRISM instrument on the 1.83-meter Perkins telescope at Lowell Observatory.
Comparative Exospheres
Professor Mendillo
Using our telescope at the "BU Station" at the McDonald Observatory (Texas) and BU detector systems attached to the 3.6 m AEOS telescope on Haleakala (Hawaii), studies are conducted of the escaping atmospheres of solar system bodies. Imaging is done at sodium wavelengths, a convenient tracer for the more abundand gases that are sputtered from surfaces with sufficient energy to escape the weak gravity of their parent bodies. The examples shown here are: the large-scale exosphere of the Moon, the patchy atmosphere close to Mercury and the highly structured escaping exosphere of Jupiter's moon Io.
Comparative Ionospheres
Professor Mendillo
Comparative studies of the same process on two planets offer ways to explore and to constrain physical mechanisms in atmospheric science. Two cases are shown, one giving the response to the same solar flare upon the ionospheres of Mars and Earth. This study was made possible by the Mars Global Surveyor satellite at Mars, groundbased ionospheric radars on Earth, and X-rays monitored by the GOES spacecraft. The second example compares effects of sudden introductions of water vapor clouds carried into the Earth's ionosphere by NASA sounding rockets --- releases that cause "ionospheric holes" via enhanced plasma loss chemistry. Such effects are remarkably similar to proposed ionospheric depletion scenarios at Saturn --- where the water influx is due to sputtering from Saturn's rings and water jets from its moon Encelades.
Anomalous Cosmic Rays
Professor Schwadron
Professor Schwadron studies the "Outer Source" of Anomalous Cosmic
Rays generated from dust in the Solar System's Kuiper Belt. (See Schwadron
et al., The Outer Source of
Pickup Ions and Anomalous Cosmic Rays, Geophysical Research Letters,
2003.)
Earth-Moon-Mars Radiation Exposure Module
Professor Schwadron
EMMREM is a numerical module that integrates numerous sub-modules describing radiation transport, and planetary interactions to predict radiation exposure. EMMREM behaves as an effective Greens Function for broad use by researchers and modelers to predict radiation exposure by integrating over almost any incident particle distribution from interplanetary space.
Interstellar Boundary Explorer
Professor Schwadron (IBEX Science Operations Lead)
The Sun and solar system move through a part of the galaxy referred to as the local interstellar medium. It is built up from material released from the stars of our galaxy through stellar winds, novae, and supernovae. The interstellar medium has considerable structure as illustrated here. IBEX images reveal global properties of the interstellar boundaries that separate our heliosphere from the local interstellar medium. Image courtesy of L. Huff/P. Frisch; The box shows an astrosphere at the binary star BZ Cam (photo courtesy of R. Casalegno, C. Conselice et al., WIYN, NOAO).
New England Space Science Consortium
Professor Schwadron
The New England Space Science Consortium (NESSC) creates a cross-disciplinary, multi-institutional forum to address cutting edge research topics with a broad view toward collaboration on major opportunities in solar and space science. The consortium brings together researchers and students at Boston University (BU), the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), the MIT, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Hanscom AFB, the University of New Hampshire (UNH), Dartmouth College, the Haystack Observatory, and Tufts University.
The consortium is a grass roots organization founded by Nathan Schwadron and Nancy Crooker at Boston University, John Raymond at CfA, Justin Kasper at MIT, Chuck Smith and Eberhard Moebius at the UNH, and Mary Hudson at Dartmouth College. The group has begun a series of informal monthly meetings in which highly relevant, interdisciplinary research topics are presented and discussed. The consortium’s broad scope has, thus far, engaged researchers from the solar, heliospheric, solar wind, magnetospheric and ionospheric communities. Continued growth in the consortium’s scientific breadth and depth will be encouraged.