Planet Formation, Planet Dynamics, Protoplanetary Disks
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle (SSC)
Since the discovery of the first exoplanet just over twenty years ago, the study of exoplanets has grown explosively. By now, astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets, with an incredibly diverse array of properties. This growth will undoubtedly continue into the future, as new kinds of planets are being observed with increasingly advanced telescopes. Faculty in CIERA study exoplanets theoretically and build instruments to directly image them.
Research at CIERA
The groups of Professors Rasio and Lithwick carry out theoretical work and simulations to study the long-term dynamics of planetary systems. Both groups study the chaotic dynamics of multi-planet systems as they evolve. Professor Rasio’s group also studies planet-planet interactions, star-planet interactions and tidal disruptions, and planets in binary star systems.
Professor Ulmer’s group is developing new infrared camera technology to advance our understanding of planetary systems by directly imaging planets around other stars.
Opportunities
Deadline: 11:59pm, December 16, 2021
We invite applications for a postdoctoral scholar to join Northwestern’s Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) and the leadership of the LSSTC Data Science Fellowship Program (DSFP). The DSFP Postdoctoral Fellow will divide their time equally between conducting an independent research program in data science in astronomy/astrophysics, while continuing the development and growth of the DSFP.
Deadline: 11:59pm, December 31, 2021
The appointment will start in Fall 2022 (exact starting date negotiable). The first two years will be at the Department of Astronomy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (with Prof. Yue Shen), with the third year at the CIERA at Northwestern University (with Prof. Claude-Andre Faucher-Giguere). Please see https://jobregister.aas.org/ad/60414ae1 for more information. The postdoctoral
Deadline: 11:59pm, December 31, 2021
The Northwestern Astronomy PhD is designed to provide students with a broad training in astronomy while enabling them to get started quickly with their graduate research. The Astronomy PhD is a flexible program that allows students to complement their astronomy training with a selection of physics courses or courses from other quantitative disciplines such as
Deadline: 11:59pm, December 31, 2021
The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers two different PhD degrees designed to best train students in their chosen discipline. For most branches of physics, students should enroll in the Physics PhD. Students interested in astronomy or astrophysics may apply for the Astronomy PhD. GREs (general and physics) are not accepted. Visit the Physics and Astronomy Department website for
Deadline: 11:59pm, January 15, 2022
The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Northwestern University invites applications for a new full time faculty position in astrophysics, as part of an ongoing expansion in this area. We seek outstanding individuals in any area of astrophysics, including theory and computation, observational astronomy, and instrumentation. We are especially seeking researchers who will complement and expand
Deadline: 11:59pm, January 16, 2022
The Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) at Northwestern University and the Science Engagement Division at the Adler Planetarium (Adler) are seeking candidates for a postdoctoral fellowship position, jointly-appointed between our two institutions.
News
Gallery
CIERA’s 12th Annual Public Lecture, “Strange New Worlds: Is Earth Special?”
CIERA’s 12th Annual Public Lecture, “Strange New Worlds: Is Earth Special?”
This lecture was presented on October 14, 2021 by Dr. Phil Plait, astronomer and best-selling author. Plait discussed the explosion in exoplanet detections since the 1990s (over four thousand so far!). These planets orbit a wide variety of stars, and themselves are all wildly different; huge, small, hot, cold, airless, or with thick atmospheres. The
Great Conjunction 2020
Great Conjunction 2020
PhD student Newlin Weatherford, who holds the Riedel Family Graduate Fellowship at CIERA, captured the Great Conjunction (“Christmas Star”) of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21, 2020 at 6:20 pm PT from Novato, California. Using his Panasonic DZ1000, Newlin wasn’t able to resolve Saturn’s rings, but we can see Callisto and Io and many faint
Newlin Weatherford, Northwestern CIERA
BLAST-TNG
BLAST-TNG
Balloon-borne Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope – The Next Generation (BLAST-TNG) BLAST is a 5,000 pound balloon-borne telescope bound for the stratosphere over Antarctica, to search for the origins of stars and planets. This photo was taken by graduate student Paul Williams in the summer of 2018 in Palestine, Texas at the Columbia Scientific Ballooning Facility.
Gabriele Coppi / University of Pennsylvania
Balloons Above Antarctica: The Coolest Place to Put a Telescope
Balloons Above Antarctica: The Coolest Place to Put a Telescope
Northwestern Physics and Astronomy student Paul Williams presents a talk as part of the Northwestern Ready Set Go (RSG) program. The goals of the program are to increase awareness for the urgent need for excellent research communicators and to coach graduate and post doctoral researchers to improve their own presentation skills. The program focuses on three important
Northwestern's RSG Program
Highlights from Cosmos in Concert
Highlights from Cosmos in Concert
Developed by astronomer and musician Kyle Kremer, Cosmos in Concert brings together astronomy and live classical music to entertain and educate audiences. Through multimedia shows, in-school residencies, and public outreach events, Cosmos in Concert introduces a new platform for science education and outreach. Cosmos in Concert
Kyle Kremer / Northwestern
The Late Evolution of Our Solar System
The Late Evolution of Our Solar System
This movie, Life of the Pleiades, was generated from an interactive visualization that Aaron Geller developed with Mark SubbaRao using Uniview. The interactive version can be shown on a planetarium dome, or rendered into a movie (as shown here). A 3D version of this movie exists in the Space Visualization Lab at the Adler Planetarium.
Created by A. M. Geller and M. SubbaRao, using Uniview; music, narration and audio by A. M. Geller; dynamical calculation with stellar evolution performed using the NBODY6 code.
People
Core Astronomy Faculty
Faculty
Postdocs
Patrick Sheehan
NSF Astronomy & Astrophysics Fellow
Graduate Students
