WHAT'S NEW
"We have your satellite. If you want it back, send 20 billion in Martian money. No funny business or you will never see it again."
--Seen on a hall wall at NASA's Jet Propulsion Labs
Prof John Martin Earns Grant From National Science Foundation
On July 1 the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced that a collaboration including UIS Assistant Professor John Martin earned a three-year grant for their proposal entitiled "On the Road to the Supernova: LBVs, Hypergiants, and SN Impostors." The project will continue and expand on Martin's collarboration with Kris Davison and Roberta Humphreys (both at the University of Minnesota) to study the end stages and instabilities in the most massive stars in the universe.
The $62,000 grant includes money to upgrade the capabilities of the 16-inch telescope at Henry Barber Research Observatory to observe "supernova imposter." A supernova imposter is an an eruption equal in magnitude to the visual brightness of a supernova that many of the most massiv stars have atleast once on their way to becoming a supernova. The great eruption of Eta Carinae in the 1850's is the prototype for these types of events. More recently supernova searchs have been discovering similar events in other galaxies. The physics and exact nature of these violent events are not well understood.
http://news.uis.edu/2011/08/uis-professor-awarded-national-grant-to.html
Prof John Martin's Article in June 2011 issue of Gemini Focus magazine
The June 2011 issue of Gemini Focus magazine contains an article written by UIS Assistant Professor John Martin about his use of an infrared camera on the Gemini-South telescope to image the interior of the nebula cocooning the star Eta Carinae. Read about it online at the Gemini Focus web page:
http://www.gemini.edu/images/pio/e_newsletters/201106_gf/index.html
Prof John Martin Talks About His Research
Dr John Martin explains his interest in astronomical spectroscopy and stellar astrophysics including his reasearch studying the characteristics and evolution of the most massive stars in our galaxy.
Astronomy and UIS's 40th Anniversary
Professor Emeritus Charlie Schweighauser talks about the history of astronomy at UIS.
2010 August 12: Summer Skies At Therkildsen (Emiquon) Field Station
This year we will once again have a Star Party to celebrate the Perseid Meteor Shower in August. There will be a star party to observe the Perseid's meteor shower the evening of Thursday August 12, 2010. (Friday August 13 will be held in reserve as a rain-date). The star party will be held from 8:30 pm to 2 am on the shore of Thompson Lake , located directly off Illinois Rts. 97/78, approximately one-half mile north of the Dickson Mounds turnoff. A sign will be posted at the entrance. See the Therkildsen (Emiquon) web site for more information:
Link:http://events.uis.edu/2010/07/walk-and-talk-at-therkildsen-field_29.html
2010 July 16: Summer Star Party at the Therkildsen (Emiquon) Field Station
On Friday July 16th we will have a star party from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm on the shore of Thompson Lake, located directly off Illinois Rts. 97/78, approximately one-half mile north of the Dickson Mounds turnoff. A sign will be posted at the entrance. In the event of rain or clouds on Friday the backup rain date for this Star Party will be Saturday, July 17th. See the Therkildsen (Emiquon) web site for more information:
Link: http://www.uis.edu/emiquon/index.html
News Article: http://events.uis.edu/2010/07/walk-and-talk-at-therkildsen-field.html
Friday Night Star Parties for 2010
The dates for Friday Night Star Parties in Fall and Spring 2010 have been announced. Those dates are:
Spring 2010: March 22, April 2, April 16, April 23, and April 30
Fall 2010: September 10, September 17, September 24, October 1, October 8, October 15, and October 22
More information about Friday Night Star Parties can be found on the Star Party website:
http://www.uis.edu/astronomy/about/starparties.html
2009 August 11: Summer Skies At Therkildsen (Emiquon) Field Station
As part of our continuing International Year of Astronomy celebration there will be a star party to observe the Perseid's meteor shower the evening of August 11, 2009. The star party will be held from 8:30 pm to 1 am on the shore of Thompson Lake , located directly off Illinois Rts. 97/78, approximately one-half mile north of the Dickson Mounds turnoff. A sign will be posted at the entrance. See the Therkildsen (Emiquon) web site for more information:
Link: http://www.uis.edu/emiquon/index.html
Public Shapley Astronomy Lecture at UIS April 10th
On Friday, April 10 at 7 pm the UIS Barber Observatory will host a public lecture by Dr Mercedes Richards entitled: "Pluto and the New Dwarf Planets." Dr Richards participated in the 2006 International Astronomical Union meeting in Prauge that reformulated the definition of planets and reclassified Pluto as a Dwarf Planet. In this lecture, we will examine the structure of our Solar System to understand the different classes of objects that orbit the Sun. Dr Richards will share her first-hand look at the Pluto decision as an astronomer who participated in the voting process.
100 Hours of Astronomy at UIS
The first week in April (3rd, 4th, and 5th) the world is having a Star Party and the UIS Barber Observatory and the Sangamon Astronomical Society are teaming up to bring this celebration to the people of Central Illinois. Visit our IYA 2009 web page (link below) for more information on what we've got planned
Link: http://www.uis.edu/astronomy/about/IYA2009.html
UIS Friday Night Star Parties In Spring 2009
This Spring (2009) Friday Night Star Parties hosted by Dr John Martin will be held Friday nights from 8pm to 10 pm (weather permitting) March 27th, April 3rd, April 10th, April 17th, April 24th and May 1st. These star parties are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.
Link: http://www.uis.edu/astronomy/about/starparties.html
UIS Star Parties For People With Disabilities In Spring 2009
This Spring (2009) Star Parties For People with Disabilities hosted by Prof. Charlie Schweighauser will be held Sunday nights March 8, April 5th, and May 3rd. These star parties are by reservation only. Please call Prof Schweighauser at 217-206-6721 for reservations or more information.
Link: http://www.uis.edu/astronomy/about/DisabilitySupport.html
UIS Star Parties In Fall 2008
This Fall (2008) Friday Night Star Parties hosted by Dr John Martin will be held Friday nights from 8pm to 10 pm (weather permitting) September 5th through October 24th. These star parties are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.
Perseid Meteors at Thompson Lake
About two dozen people showed up at Thompson Lake (part of the Emiquon Preserve north of Havana, IL) on August 13th to watch the Perseid meteor shower with UIS Astronomy-Physics professor John Martin. Below is a link to an article in the Peoria Journal-Star covering the event.
Astronomer Featured on Inside UIS
UIS Astronomy-Physics professor John Martin shares his teaching philosophy on the Inside UIS website.
UIS Star Parties In Spring 2008
This Spring (2008) Friday Night Star Parties hosted by Dr John Martin will be held Friday nights from 8pm to 10 pm (weather permitting) March 21th through April 25th. These star parties are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.
Astronomer Featured on UIS Stories Web Site
This week UIS Astronomy-Physics professor John Martin shares how science continues to fascinate him on the UIS Stories web site.
Special Lunar Eclipse Star Party February 20th, 2008
UIS Astronomy will be holding Star Party to coincide with the lunar eclipse on Wednesday, February 20th, 2008. The observatory on the roof of Brookens Libary will be open weather permitting to view the eclipse through telescopes.
For more detailed information see the UIS press release.
UIS Star Parties In Fall 2007
This Fall (2007) UIS Astronomy will be hosting both their popular Friday Night Star Parties and their Sunday Star Parties for people with physical disabilities.
The Friday Night Star Parties hosted by Dr John Martin will be held Friday nights from 8pm to 10 pm (weather permitting) September 7th through October 26th. These star parties are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.
The Sunday Night Star Parties use our unique 8-inch disability-friendly fixed-focal point telescope. The 8-inch distel makes it possible for people in wheel chairs or with limited control of their muscles to experience a view of the night sky through a telescope. These star parties are by reservation only. They will be held in Fall 2007 on September 23rd, October 21st, and November 18th. Contact Professor Schweighauser at 206-6721 to make reservations.
UIS Astronomy Professor is Lead Author of Article Suggesting Change in Massive Star
John Martin, Assistant Professor of Astronomy-Physics, is the lead author of a paper to be published in the December 2006 issue of Astronomical Journal. The article suggests that the most massive star in our galaxy is about to undergo dramatic change. Martin is part of a team that has spent the past eight years monitoring the star Eta Carinae using the Hubble Space Telescope. They believe that the star's accelerating brightness heralds an impending change of great significance. Read More >>
UIS Honors Dr. Hei-Chi Chan
Dr. Hei-chi Chan was recognized for his research at the UIS Faculty Recognition Luncheon on October 6, 2005. The Lunceon specifically recognized Dr. Chan for his contributions to the scholarly community in the form of articles and presentations.
