Research » Stellar, Helioseismology, and Exoplanetary Group
The stellar group at NMSU is active in research on interacting binaries (particularly cataclysmic variables and binary black holes), stellar dynamics such as those in globular clusters, variable stars, and helioseismology. Researchers make use of the facilities at Apache Point Observatory and have obtained time on the Keck telescopes, Gemini, and NOAO telescopes in both Arizona and Chile. Continuing research projects also include using the Hubble Space Telescope to obtain parallaxes of both cataclysmic variables and galactic Cepheid variables in order to obtain accurate distances to these objects. You can find more details about our various research projects here.
Killer Stars |
Associations |
New Stars |
Star Clusters |
Sun |
Seismology |
Particular interests of members include the following.
| Thomas Harrison | Observatory Research Specialist |
| Cataclysmic variables; infrared spectroscopy | |
| Jason Jackiewicz | Assistant Professor |
| Helioseismology | |
| Joni Johnson | Research Fellow |
| Cataclysmic variables; PAGB stars | |
| Bernie McNamara | Professor |
| Stellar dynamics, X-ray variable stars; gamma-ray bursts | |
| Jillian Bornak | Graduate Student |
| Stellar remnants; accretion processes; X-ray binaries | |
| Mary Jo Clark | Graduate Student |
| Massive star evolution; gamma-ray bursters; high-energy astrophysics | |
| Jeff Coughlin | Graduate Student |
| Extrasolar planets; eclipsing binaries; stellar populations | |
| Ryan Hamilton | Graduate Student |
| Stellar populations | |
| Michael Kirk | Graduate Student |
| Solar astronomy |