Cat Wu
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| Research/Teaching Assistant |
| Entered: | 2005 |
| Office: | 121 Astronomy |
| Phone: | (575)646-2613 |
| Fax: | (575)646-1602 |
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| E-mail: | catwu |
| (append "@nmsu.edu") |
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| B.S. | Wesleyan University, | 2005 |
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Research
Ongoing Projects
Martian Wind Speeds: Analyzed temperature data from the Mars Pathfinder mission. Calibrated temperature measurements to determine surficial wind speeds from lack of heating in temperature sensor wires (stronger winds cause less heating). Calculated preliminary wind speeds. This is an ongoing project; the next step is to determine the accuracy of the derived wind speeds. (Advisor: J. Murphy, New Mexico State University, New Mexico, 2005-present)
Opposition Effect on Saturn's Moons: Wrote an IRAF script to reduce (subtract the overscan, dark subtract, and flatfield) images obtained from the Apache Point Observatory 1.0-meter telescope, display each image and prompt the user to identify an alignment star (if the image is good) or discard the image (if the image is bad), and shift and add all good images from the same night and same field. This is an ongoing project; the next step is to perform photometry on the reduced images. The final goal is to construct a light curve for several of Saturn's moons. (Advisor: J. Holtzman, New Mexico State University, New Mexico, 2006)
Previous Projects
Simulation of a Protoplanetary Disk: Using Fortran, simulated the evolution of a planet-containing dust disk around a solar-like T Tauri Star. Wrote IDL programs to create morphological models of and extract light curves from the computer-generated system. Experimented with various initial conditions and tested realistic constraints on the models in a fairly successful attempt to match the data with actual observations of KH 15D, a (then) recently discovered star system that exhibited unprecedented flat-bottomed eclipses hypothesized to arise from the presence of a circumstellar disk. Presented the research process and results in an honors senior thesis project. (Advisor: K. Johnston, Wesleyan University, Connecticut, 2002-2003)
T Tauri Star Rotation Rates: Analyzed data from the most current observing season using Fortran, IDL, and IRAF. Produced light curves and determined plausible rotation periods for variable T Tauri stars, most of which had never been studied or had not yet been found to be periodic. Organized the results in a short paper and compared the findings to data from the previous (and first) observing season. (Advisor: W. Herbst, Wesleyan University, Connecticut, 2002)
ZeroG Test of the Space Station Fire Extinguisher: Designed and built an experiment, as part of Wesleyan University's Zero Gravity team, that tested the safety of fire extinguishers on the International Space Station. The experiment was performed by the team in micro gravity aboard NASA's astronaut-training aircraft at Johnson Space Center as part of NASA's Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program. Flew as an alternate with Arizona State University. Spoke about the program and Wesleyan's experiment at three grade schools, two Wesleyan University colloquiums, and a science seminar for high school students. Organized an exhibit and talked to visitors at the Science Center of Connecticut museum. Edited a video with footage provided by NASA for the talks and exhibit. (Advisor: F. Ellis, Wesleyan University, Connecticut, 1999-2001)
I am pleased to acknowledge support from a Consortium for Higher Education (HED) grant for women
in the sciences.
