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Lecture Details
| When: |
June 17, 2009 at 7:30pm |
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| Subject: |
Spitzer Observations of Epsilon Eridani's Debris Disk: Signs of a Planetary Sys |
| Speaker: |
Dr. Dana Backman |
| Abstract: |
Some stars are surrounded by rings and disks of material that are probably remnants of the planet formation processes. These so-called "debris disks" resemble the Kuiper Belt of icy objects orbiting beyond Neptune in our solar system. Observations of the debris disk around the nearby solar-type star epsilon Eridani will be described, especially including results from the Spitzer infrared space observatory. These observations show signs of the gravitational influence of large planets on the disk. |
| Speaker Bio: |
Dr. Dana Backman, Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) / SETI Institute is a Native of Hartford, Connecticut and obtained a Bachelor's degree in physics from MIT, Ph.D. in astrophysics from the University of Hawai'i. Dr. Backman also spent time performing as an infrared astronomy post-doctoral researcher at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson, Arizona, and at NASA-Ames in Mountain View, California, eventually becoming the Professor of physics and astronomy for 12 years at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Since 2003, Dr. Backman has been employed by the SETI Institute as director of education and public outreach for NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) and teaches introductory astronomy courses at Santa Clara University and in Stanford University's Continuing Studies Program. Co-author with Michael Seeds of three college introductory astronomy textbooks, "Perspectives", "Horizons" and "Foundations". |
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