The title of his presentation is Protoplanetary Disks in Multiple Star Systems.

Most stars are born in multiple systems.  Because of this ubiquity, planets in these systems could comprise a large fraction of all planets.  Theory indicates that stellar companions reduce the likelihood of planet formation by stripping away mass from young protoplanetary disks and by inhibiting grain growth to large sizes.  Significant evidence of this reduction, however, has been elusive.

... Read more about Robert Harris Thesis Presentation: Protoplanetary Disks in Multiple Star Systems.

Next Tuesday (8-13-13), 10 AM, please join the Department of Astronomy in
Phillips for a presentation by graduate student, Diego Munoz, entitled:

"Modeling and Simulation of Circumstellar Disks with the Next Generation of Hydrodynamic Solvers"

Abstract

Although the theory of planet formation is still incomplete,  there is
unanimous consensus that planets form in circumstellar disks of gas and
dust. However, even...

Read more about Diego Munoz Thesis Presentation: Modeling and Simulation of Circumstellar Disks with the Next Generation of Hydrodynamic Solvers

Gregory Snyder

Wednesday, May 1, 10:00 AM

Phillips Auditorium

Title:  Diagnosing the Formation of Elliptical Galaxies

A challenge in extragalactic astronomy is that we cannot watch what happens to galaxies before and after they are observed.  In particular, it remains debated whether galaxy mergers or internal processes drive supermassive black hole growth, trigger luminous starbursts, and shape the population of elliptical galaxies we see today.  However, given increasingly available computer...

Read more about Diagnosing the Formation of Elliptical Galaxies: Gregory Snyder

Nicholas Stone

Tuesday, April 30, 2:30 PM

Phillips Auditorium

 Title: The Tidal Disruption of Stars by Supermassive Black Holes

Although quiescent supermassive black holes are ubiquitous in the universe, measuring their properties is quite challenging.  The tidal disruption of an unlucky star offers a rare window into the demographics of these slumbering giants.  I will present my theoretical research on the rates, dynamics, and accretion disks of tidal disruption events (TDEs), with a focus on the...

Read more about The Tidal Disruption of Stars by Supermassive Black Holes: Nick Stone

You are invited to attend a thesis presentation by Astronomy PhD Candidate, Rebekah Dawson, entitled On the Migratory Behavior of Planetary Systems.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

2:30 PM

Phillips Auditorium

Abstract: For centuries, an orderly view of planetary system architectures, inspired by the nearly circular and co-planar orbits of our solar system's planets, dominated the discourse on planetary systems. However, there is growing evidence that many planetary systems, including our own solar system, underwent a period of...

Read more about On the Migratory Behavior of Planetary Systems: Rebekah Dawson

The Ph.D. colloquium by Sumin Tang

Talk Title: Exploring the Long-term and Extreme Variability of Stars
...

Read more about The Ph.D. colloquium by Sumin Tang: Exploring the Long-term and Extreme Variability of Stars

The Ph.D. colloquium by Sarah Ballard will be held on Friday, April 13, at 11 AM in Phillips Auditorium.  

At 2 PM, Sarah will defend her thesis in the Classroom (A-101).

Talk Title: In Pursuit of New Worlds: Searches for and Studies of Transiting Exoplanets from Three Space-Based Observatories

Abstract: The first part of this thesis describes searches for additional transiting planets in known exoplanet systems, using time series photometry gathered as part of the NASA EPOXI Mission. Using the high-cadence, high-precision EPOXI light curves spanning weeks for each... Read more about In Pursuit of New Worlds: Searches for and Studies of Transiting Exoplanets from Three Space-Based Observatories, S. Ballard PhD Colloq.

The Ph.D. colloquium by Ben Maruca will be held on Friday, April 13, at
9:00 AM in Phillips Auditorium.

At 10:30 AM, Ben will defend his thesis in Room M-240, 160 Concord Ave.

Talk Title: Instability-Driven Limits on Ion Temperature Anisotropy in
the Solar Wind: Observations and Linear Vlasov Theory

Abstract: Kinetic microinstabilities in the solar wind arise when its
non-thermal properties become too extreme.  This thesis project focused
specifically on the four instabilities associated with ion temperature
anisotropy: the cyclotron, mirror, and... Read more about Instability-Driven Limits on Ion Temperature Anisotropy in the Solar Wind: Observations and Linear Vlasov Theory, Ben Maruca, PhD Colloq.

Phillips