My career in astronomy: From watching sci-fi to studying the stars James Wurster North Bay Astronomy Club September 20, 2017
How did I get interested in Astronomy 2
Education: What is required for a PhD? Ø Undergraduate Ø Math, physics and astronomy Ø Mostly course-work Ø (Paid) summer research options Ø 4 years Ø Graduate school Ø Masters Ø Course-work + original thesis Ø 2 years Ø PhD Ø Course-work + original thesis Ø 4 years 3
Education: What is after a PhD? Ø Research Fellow/Post-Doc Ø 1 3 positions of 2 5 years Ø Research intensive Ø Teaching/supervising optional/recommended Ø Lecturer, Professor Ø Permanent(ish) position Ø Research intensive Ø Teaching intensive Ø Administration intensive 4
Link to amateur clubs Ø University astronomy departments often collaborate with the local amateur astronomy clubs Ø Academics speak at amateur meetings Ø Amateurs bring telescopes to university events and staff them 5
Ø Form an idea Presenting our work 6
Ø Form an idea Presenting our work Ø Perform the research 7
Ø Form an idea Presenting our work Ø Perform the research Ø Write the results 8
Ø Form an idea Presenting our work Ø Perform the research Ø Write the results Ø Submit the paper to a peer-reviewed journal 9
Ø Form an idea Presenting our work Ø Perform the research Ø Write the results Ø Submit the paper to a peer-reviewed journal Ø Paper is reviewed by an anonymous referee 10
Ø Form an idea Presenting our work Ø Perform the research Ø Write the results Ø Submit the paper to a peer-reviewed journal Ø Paper is reviewed by an anonymous referee Ø Revise paper based upon referee s recommendations/requests 11
Ø Form an idea Presenting our work Ø Perform the research Ø Write the results Ø Submit the paper to a peer-reviewed journal Ø Paper is reviewed by an anonymous referee Ø Revise paper based upon referee s recommendations/requests Ø Paper is published! 12
Observational vs Theoretical Astronomy 13
Observational vs Theoretical Astronomy Ø HL Tau Ø 450 ly (120pc) from Earth in Taurus Molecular Cloud Ø Young ( < 100 000 yr) system HL Tauri and surroundings (credit: NASA/HST) HL Tau: Dust disc (credit: ALMA) 14
Observational vs Theoretical Astronomy ALMA observations Numerical simulation Credit: Giovanni Dipierro, Daniel Price, Guillaume Laibe, Kieran Hirsh, Alice Cerioli and Giuseppe Lodato. On planet formation in HL Tau. MNRAS 453, L73 L77 (2015) 15
Observational vs Theoretical Astronomy Visualization by Frank Summers (Space Telescope Science Institute). Simulation by Chris Mihos (Case Western Reserve University) Pillars of Creation and Lars in Hernquist Eagle Nebula (Harvard University). Posted (source: on APOD, YouTube Jan. and 7, 2015) Astronomy Picture of the Day (apod.nasa.gov) 16
Observational Astronomy 17
Observational Astronomy 18
Observational Astronomy: Exo-planets Credit: Pillars of Wang Creation et al. in PLANET Eagle Nebula HUNTERS. V. A CONFIRMED JUPITER-SIZE PLANET IN THE HABITABLE ZONE AND 42 PLANET 19 CANDIDATES (source: APOD, FROM Jan. 7, 2015) THE KEPLER ARCHIVE DATA. The Astrophysical Journal, 776:10 (18pp), 2013 October 10.
Theoretical Astronomy M star+disc (M sun ) 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 Ideal MHD Hydro µ 0 =10.0 µ 0 =7.5 µ 0 =5.0 Non-ideal MHD M disc (M sun ) 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 80 R disc (AU) 60 40 20 L /M disc (cm 2 s -1 ) 10 20 10 19 10 0 B (G) 10-1 β 10-2 10 4 10 3 10 2 10 1 10 0 10-1 10-2 1 1.05 1.1 1.15 1.2 Time (t ff ) 1 1.05 1.1 1.15 1.2 Time (t ff ) Credit: Wurster, Price & Bate. Can non-ideal magnetohydrodynamics solve the magnetic braking catastrophe? MNRAS 457, 1037 1061 (2016). 20
Theoretical Astronomy: AGN Feedback Credit: Pillars of Wurster Creation & Thacker. in Eagle A Nebula comparative study of AGN feedback algorithms. MNRAS 431, 2513 2534 (2013). Credit: (source: Wurster APOD, & Jan. Thacker. 7, 2015) Accretion disc particle accretion in major merger simulations. MNRAS 431, 539 553 (2013). 21
Theoretical Astronomy: Star cluster formation 22
James Wurster http://www.astro.ex.ac.uk/people/wurster/ Thank you!