Assoc. Professor Bill Zealey, Mr Glen Moore
and Mr Peter Ihnat
The Department undertakes teaching and
research in infrared studies of star formation, photometry
and spectrometry of variable stars in the Magellanic
Clouds and studies of planetary surfaces. A major part
of our research involves the development and use of digitising
systems in the analysis of UK Schmidt Telescope plates.
We regularly observe on major Australian radio and optical
telescopes accompanied
by our postgraduate.
A computer-controlled 40cm telescope on the roof of the Science Building, which
is equipped for photometry and electronic imaging, supports undergraduate and
postgraduate research projects.
We also work closely with the Illawarra Science Centre and make use of the Centre's
planetarium in our teaching program.
Star Formation:
Stars are born in dense molecular clouds. The youngest
stars blast out material in supersonic winds. We are
studying the interaction between these winds and the
surrounding molecular cloud at radio, millimetre and
infrared wavelengths in an attempt to better understand
the early stages
of star formation.
Long Period Stars in the Magellanic Clouds: The Magellanic Clouds present a unique
opportunity to study complete samples of stars which are believed to be the precursors
to planetary nebulae and supernovae. Measurements of these Long Period Variables
(LPVs) provide information on the evolutionary behaviour of stars in their late
stages. The Department has completed a survey of LPVs in the Small Magellanic
Cloud.
Planetary Physics:
The Department holds a complete set of
CDROMs containing planetary images from the Magellan
radar imaging survey of Venus, Mariner/Viking images
of Mars and the Voyager images of the outer planets.
These provide the basis for undergraduate studies of
volcanic and impact structures.
Theoretical Astrophysics:
Dr Paul
Nulsen
All visible
matter, including galaxies, stars, gas and dust, started
out as a uniform gas filling
the Universe. Gravity has pulled matter together to
form all that we see now. A continuing major study,
concentrating
on the role of gas in this process, promises to account
for major features of galaxies, groups and clusters
of galaxies in the Universe, including the recently
discovered
MACHOs around our Galaxy. Related work deals with the
state, interactions, origin and fate of the hot, X-ray
emitting gas in elliptical galaxies, clusters and groups,
and the distribution of mass in these objects. Other
interests include the origin
and interactions of
the "jets" emitted by objects ranging from young stars to quasars.
