Department of Astronomy

Mission Statement

The primary missions of the Astronomy Department are: (1) to conduct forefront research in astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology, while effectively integrating research programs with public outreach; (2) to be a leading resource in conveying the methodology, concepts and discoveries of astronomy to the public; (3) to provide content for Adler projects that convey the process of science; and (4) to be a leading center of highly skilled science interpreters, who can effectively bridge the gap between the research and educational communities, and help train other scientists to become more effective in their outreach efforts.

Several members of the Adler Astronomy Department also hold joint appointments at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. The nature of these joint appointments strengthens the integration of the Adler and its educational mission with the research community.

Current Projects

(Image Courtesy of NASA)

Asteroid Characterization
Mark Hammergren, Ph.D., Michael Solontoi, Ph.D.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the asteroid belt has a long and complex history with many stories to tell us about both the origin and evolution of the Solar System. Of particular interest are the clues the asteroids hold about the formation of the first planetesimals, precursors to the terrestrial planets. These first planetesimals, large enough to have differentiated, appear to have been almost entirely either destroyed or lost from the solar system. The Adler's Asteroid Characterization group is carrying out a program of visible to near-infrared spectroscopy using the Apache Point Observatory 3.5-meter telescope to search for asteroids that are fragments of the destroyed planetesimals. The identification of these fragments provides important information on the early history of our Solar System.

The Adler Star Formation Group
Grace Wolf-Chase, Ph.D., Michael Smutko, Ph.D., Chris Lintott, Ph.D., Kim Arvidsson, Ph.D.

This group seeks to understand how different types of stars form.The images compared here show (1) the formation of a low-mass star and its outflow, named the "Wasp-Waist Nebula" (Barsony, Wolf-Chase, Ciardi, O'Linger, & Simpson 2010); and (2) the formation of a cluster of stars with multiple outflows (Wolf-Chase, Smutko, Harper, O'Linger, & Evans 2010). These images were obtained in infrared light, so the colors correspond to different energies of infrared light, not to colors that human eyes would perceive.

(1) The image of the Wasp-Waist Nebula was obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope. It highlights the striking hour-glass shape of the outflow in green. The bright red background shows emission from organic molecules that pervade the region in which this star is forming. The dark region surrounding the star at the center of the outflow shows the cold envelope of material that is still "feeding" the infant star.

(2) The image of the young cluster was obtained with the NICFPS instrument on the Apache Point Observatory 3.5-meter telescope in New Mexico. It actually shows two young star clusters of different ages - the older cluster is depicted by the white stars surrounded by a gas cloud that appears red, yellow, and green in the image. The stars comprising the younger cluster are located to the upper left of the older cluster; they are not visible in this image, but their outflows are seen as long, green streamers.

Learn more on the Spitzer Space Telescope website.

VERITAS
Larry Ciupik, M.S., Jeff Grube, Geza Gyuk

Gamma ray astronomy has opened a new window on the Universe providing actual images from some of the most cataclysmic events imaginable. Since late 2004, the Adler has been an official science team member of the VERITAS collaboration, participating in the construction of four 12-meter gamma-ray telescopes at Mt. Hopkins in southern Arizona. The array was completed in April 2007 and will help map the northern sky in gamma ray energies from 50 GeV to 50 TeV. The image to the right shows the four enormous VERITAS telescopes working together to gather gamma rays.

The VERITAS group at the Adler, along with colleagues at the University of Iowa, is responsible for auxiliary camera systems that are attached to the main VERITAS telescopes. These cameras, and the software used to collect their data, allow VERITAS scientists to pinpoint locations of gamma-ray- emitting objects with greater accuracy. The Adler group is also part of the VERITAS team that studies Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), objects that emit a tremendous amount of energy and spew vast jets of material out into intergalactic space. These jets are thought to be powered by a supermassive black hole at the center of the AGN. By using VERITAS data in conjunction with data in other wavelengths, we hope to gain an understanding of how gamma rays are produced in extreme environments such as AGN and probe the physics of black holes, supernovae, starburst galaxies and possibly dark matter.

The Adler is also the lead institution for the VERITAS Education and Outreach program. The Adler VERITAS group currently consists of five team members and is funded in part by awards from the Brinson Foundation and the National Science Foundation.

Learn more on the Veritas website.

Prime Focus Newsletter

The prime focus of a telescope is the first possible focus of the primary mirror without the use of secondary optics. It is also where the brightest image would be formed. It is where you go to get the best "first-hand" information. The Astronomy Department newsletter, Prime Focus, is meant to be a direct source of information on the Astronomy Department.

No. 1, 2005.09
No. 2, 2005.12
No. 3, 2006.03
No. 4, 2006.06
No. 5, 2006.10
No. 6, 2007.10
No. 7, 2008.01
No. 8, 2008.05
No. 9, 2008.08
No. 10, 2009.05
No. 11, 2009.09
No. 12, 2011.12
No. 13, 2011.13
No. 14, 2011.08
No. 15, 2011.10
No. 16, 2012.02
No. 17, 2012.05