Observations and Modelling of Comet and Asteroids
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Kent
Department Name: Sch of Physical Sciences
Abstract
The student will be working on data from telescope observations of asteroid and cometary bodies, and will be involved in modelling to study their physical and compositional properties and behaviour. The PhD project will be conducted under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Lowry.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Stephen Lowry (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Tarik Zegmott (Student) |
Publications
Sicilia-Aguilar A
(2017)
The 2014-2017 outburst of the young star ASASSN-13db A time-resolved picture of a very-low-mass star between EXors and FUors?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Snodgrass C
(2017)
The 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko observation campaign in support of the Rosetta mission
in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Froebrich D
(2018)
Variability in IC5070: Two Young Stars with Deep Recurring Eclipses
in Research Notes of the AAS
Froebrich D
(2018)
A survey for variable young stars with small telescopes: First results from HOYS-CAPS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rozek A
(2019)
Shape model and spin-state analysis of PHA contact binary (85990) 1999 JV6 from combined radar and optical observations
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST/N50435X/1 | 01/10/2015 | 30/09/2020 | |||
| 1642218 | Studentship | ST/N50435X/1 | 01/10/2015 | 15/09/2019 | Tarik Zegmott |
| Description | Contributions to the field of asteroidal evolution have been made. This award enabled us to make the seventh direct detection of the YORP effect, a rotational torque due to re-emitted solar radiation, for which the theory is still developing. It is important to have these physical detections in order to calibrate the predictions from theory. Additionally, the exciting observation of a deceleration in an asteroid's spin-rate was detected, analytical techniques indicate that this is due to negative YORP. However, there was difficultly in extracting a single value when measuring the strength of the YORP deceleration. If this indication of negative YORP is confirmed, this would be the first detection of this unseen mode of YORP. A direct detection of negative YORP would constitute a major-breakthrough in the study of this non-gravitational effect. |
| Exploitation Route | This work has provided important direct detections of the YORP effect, which provides valuable `ground-truth' for developing YORP theory. In addition to this, robust physical models of several asteroids were also produced. A continuation of the work undertaken during this award is still important for the development of the field. |
| Sectors | Other |
| Description | ING support and research studentship programme |
| Amount | £5,280 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes (ING) |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | Spain |
| Start | 09/2017 |
| End | 09/2018 |
| Description | RAS Small Grants Scheme |
| Amount | £610 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Royal Astronomical Society |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2016 |
| End | 11/2016 |
| Description | Virtual Observatory School |
| Amount | £620 (GBP) |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 12/2015 |
| End | 12/2015 |
| Description | Beacon Observatory, University of Kent |
| Organisation | University of Kent |
| Department | School of Physical Sciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Together we run the university's telescope, for teaching and science purposes. I teach the students and also contribute as an observer. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners also help by observing as well as by running the telescope administratively. |
| Impact | Science papers: one published, one in progress. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Royal Society Exhibition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We ran a stall for the Royal Society Exhibition, showcasing groundbreaking results from the Rosetta space mission. The aim was to increase public awareness about the space mission and highlight key findings. Activities included virtual reality showing the comet, a scale model of 67P's nucleus, and 'smelling' the comet. The event was huge and ran over several days, attendance must've been in the thousands. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2016/summer-science-exhibition/exhibits/rosetta... |
| Description | School Visits (Multiple Schools) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Designed and lead asteroid outreach session. The aim was to give pupils an understanding of asteroidal lightcurves and what we can learn from them, in addition to how shape models are obtained from radar observations. These talks led to enthusiastic questions from the pupils covering all aspects of asteroids. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017 |
| Description | University of Kent Space School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Participants will have the chance to take part in all the usual fantastic activities such as observation evenings with the department's telescopes (including the new state of the art Beacon Observatory), rocket design, building and launch, as well as spending time working on space science and astronomy projects with academics and postgraduate students. For the science project, I designed and taught a workshop teaching secondary school pupils about data reduction and photometry as part of the three-day residential school. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| URL | https://www.kent.ac.uk/physical-sciences/spaceschool/ |