Research » Solar, Stellar, and Exoplanetary Group
The stellar group at NMSU is active in research on interacting binaries (particularly cataclysmic variables and binary black holes), stellar dynamics such as those in globular clusters, variable stars, and helioseismology. Researchers make use of the facilities at Apache Point Observatory and have obtained time on the Keck telescopes, Gemini, and NOAO telescopes in both Arizona and Chile. Continuing research projects also include using the Hubble Space Telescope to obtain parallaxes of both cataclysmic variables and galactic Cepheid variables in order to obtain accurate distances to these objects.
In solar physics, NMSU plays a vital role in studies of the solar interior, heating of the solar atmosphere and the study of solar storms and space weather. This uses both space-based (SoHO, RHESSI, Solar Dynamics Observatory) and ground-based (the Dunn Solar Telescope, GONG, ISOON) facilities. We also work closely with the Engineering and Computer Science departments on image processing, space weather prediction, and data search and archiving.
More details on research are available on our Solar and Stellar Research page.
Solar Structure |
Seismology |
Associations |
New Stars |
Star Clusters |
Particular interests of members include the following.
| Thomas Harrison | Observatory Research Specialist |
| Cataclysmic variables; infrared spectroscopy | |
| Jason Jackiewicz | Assistant Professor |
| Helioseismology | |
| Joni Johnson | Research Fellow |
| Cataclysmic variables; PAGB stars | |
| James McAteer | Assistant Professor |
| Solar astrophysics; coronal mass ejections; space weather | |
| Bernie McNamara | Professor |
| Stellar dynamics, X-ray variable stars; gamma-ray bursts | |
| Jillian Bornak | Recent PhD |
| Stellar remnants; accretion processes; X-ray binaries; dust | |
| Kyle Degrave | Graduate Student |
| Solar astronomy | |
| Ryan Hamilton | Recent PhD |
| Stellar populations | |
| Michael Kirk | Recent PhD |
| Solar astronomy | |
| Gordon MacDonald | Graduate Student |
| Solar flares; space weather | |
| Laura Mayorga | Graduate Student |
| Extrasolar systems; instrumentation | |
| Jean McKeever | Graduate Student |
| Asteroseismology; variable stars | |
| Dawid Mozdzierski | Visting Graduate Student |
| Asteroseismology of hot stars | |
| Rakesh Nath | Graduate Student |
| Helioseismology; astroseismology | |
| Meredith Rawls | Graduate Student |
| Stellar and galactic astronomy | |
| Sam Schonfeld | Graduate Student |
| Solar astronomy; stellar astronomy | |
| Greg Taylor | Graduate Student |
| Adaptive optics; solar prominences | |
| Nick Ule | Graduate Student |
| Variable stars; star formation |