The transient sky: an integrated programme of study 2011 - 2016
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: Sch of Mathematics and Physics
Abstract
To the naked eye, the night sky appears constant, apart from the motion of the Moon and brighter planets, and the passing of the occasional comet or meteor. However, detailed observations reveal that this is far from the truth. Many stars vary in brightness, either due to intrinsic variability or because an orbiting planet (called a transiting exoplanet) passes in front of it, blocking out a portion of the starlight. Faint, small Solar System bodies, orbiting the Sun and hence changing their position in the night sky, are revealed on exposures taken with large telescopes. Such exposures also reveal stars exploding as supernova in distant galaxies. Even the Sun - the brightest object in the sky - is continually changing. Giant explosions on its surface, known as flares, take place over timescales of minutes to hours. Recently, observations of the Sun with high-speed cameras reveal that changes in the solar atmosphere can occur over timescales of much less than a second. All these phenomena lead to what is termed the transient sky, i.e. a sky whose appearance varies with time. We plan a coordinated programme of observational and theoretical astrophysics to study such phenomena. This will make use of instruments and facilities developed specifically for the investigation of the transient sky, on timescales ranging from less than a second to months. Major themes which will be covered by our Rolling Grant programmes include: the study of activity and variability in the solar atmosphere at high time resolution with the ROSA imager; the discovery and characterisation of transiting exoplanets by the SuperWASP and RISE facilities; the detection of Solar System bodies and supernovae using data obtained from the Pan-STARRS sky survey. Our Rolling Grant programmes will also make extensive use of other major STFC facilities for followup and complementary observations of the Sun, exoplanets, Solar System bodies and supernovae, as well as the stars which explode as supernovae. These facilities include satellites, such as the Hinode solar mission and the Hubble Space Telescope, and large ground-based telescopes including the 8-metre diameter Very Large Telescope at the European Southern Observatory in Chile, and the 4-metre diameter William Herschel Telescope at the Isaac Newton Observatory on La Palma in the Canary Islands.
Organisations
Publications
Botticella M
(2012)
A comparison between star formation rate diagnostics and rate of core collapse supernovae within 11 Mpc
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Littlefair S
(2013)
A J-band detection of the sub-stellar mass donor in SDSS J1433+1011
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Barros S
(2011)
A lower mass for the exoplanet WASP-21b A lower mass for the exoplanet WASP-21b
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kankare E
(2017)
A population of highly energetic transient events in the centres of active galaxies
in Nature Astronomy
Keenan F
(2011)
A search for line intensity enhancements in the far-UV spectra of active late-type stars arising from opacity
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Young P
(2018)
A Si iv/O iv Electron Density Diagnostic for the Analysis of IRIS Solar Spectra
in The Astrophysical Journal
Valenti S
(2012)
A SPECTROSCOPICALLY NORMAL TYPE Ic SUPERNOVA FROM A VERY MASSIVE PROGENITOR
in The Astrophysical Journal
Maguire K
(2013)
A statistical analysis of circumstellar material in Type Ia supernovae
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Armstrong D
(2012)
A transiting companion to the eclipsing binary KIC002856960
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Brothwell R
(2014)
A window on exoplanet dynamical histories: Rossiter-McLaughlin observations of WASP-13b and WASP-32b
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pepe F
(2013)
An Earth-sized planet with an Earth-like density.
in Nature
Gezari S
(2012)
An ultraviolet-optical flare from the tidal disruption of a helium-rich stellar core.
in Nature
Smartt SJ
(2012)
Astrophysics: Cosmic explosions in the young Universe.
in Nature
Kuridze D
(2013)
CHARACTERISTICS OF TRANSVERSE WAVES IN CHROMOSPHERIC MOTTLES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Keys P
(2011)
Chromospheric velocities of a C-class flare
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Sahman D
(2013)
CI Aql: a Type Ia supernova progenitor?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tomasella L
(2013)
Comparison of progenitor mass estimates for the Type IIP SN 2012A
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Inserra C
(2017)
Complexity in the light curves and spectra of slow-evolving superluminous supernovae
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Maguire K
(2012)
Constraining the physical properties of Type II-Plateau supernovae using nebular phase spectra Nebular spectral analysis of IIP SNe
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jerkstrand A
(2015)
CONSTRAINTS ON EXPLOSIVE SILICON BURNING IN CORE-COLLAPSE SUPERNOVAE FROM MEASURED Ni/Fe RATIOS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Smartt C
(2011)
Constructing a general framework for systems engineering strategy
in Systems Engineering
Fraser M
(2013)
DETECTION OF AN OUTBURST ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE EXPLOSION OF SN 2011ht
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gómez Maqueo Chew Y
(2013)
Discovery of WASP-65b and WASP-75b: Two hot Jupiters without highly inflated radii
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Narayan G
(2011)
DISPLAYING THE HETEROGENEITY OF THE SN 2002cx-LIKE SUBCLASS OF TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE WITH OBSERVATIONS OF THE Pan-STARRS-1 DISCOVERED SN 2009ku
in The Astrophysical Journal
Smoker J
(2011)
Distance limits to intermediate- and high-velocity clouds? Distance limits to IHVCs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McCormac J
(2013)
DONUTS: A Science Frame Autoguiding Algorithm with Sub-Pixel Precision, Capable of Guiding on Defocused Stars
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Keys P
(2014)
Dynamic properties of bright points in an active region
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Cartier R
(2017)
Early observations of the nearby Type Ia supernova SN 2015F
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Smoker J
(2011)
Early-type stars observed in the ESO UVES Paranal Observatory Project - III. Sub-parsec and au-scale structure in the interstellar medium? Sub-parsec and au-scale structure in the ISM
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Smoker J
(2013)
Early-type stars observed in the ESO UVES Paranal Observatory Project - IV. Studies of CN, CH+ and CH in the interstellar medium
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grieve M
(2013)
Electron impact excitation of Mg VIII Collision strengths, transition probabilities and theoretical EUV and soft X-ray line intensities for Mg VIII?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Grieve M
(2013)
ELECTRON-IMPACT EXCITATION COLLISION STRENGTHS AND THEORETICAL LINE INTENSITIES FOR TRANSITIONS IN S III
in The Astrophysical Journal
Reid A
(2015)
ELLERMAN BOMBS WITH JETS: CAUSE AND EFFECT
in The Astrophysical Journal
Aggarwal K
(2013)
Energy levels, radiative rates and electron impact excitation rates for transitions in He-like Fe XXV, Co XXVI, Ni XXVII, Cu XXVIII and Zn XXIX
in Physica Scripta
Aggarwal K
(2013)
Energy levels, radiative rates and electron impact excitation rates for transitions in He-like Ga XXX, Ge XXXI, As XXXII, Se XXXIII and Br XXXIV
in Physica Scripta
Aggarwal K
(2012)
Energy levels, radiative rates and electron impact excitation rates for transitions in He-like Kr XXXV
in Physica Scripta
Aggarwal K
(2012)
Energy levels, radiative rates and electron impact excitation rates for transitions in He-like Mg XI, Al XII, P XIV and S XV
in Physica Scripta
Cegla H
(2013)
ESTIMATING STELLAR RADIAL VELOCITY VARIABILITY FROM KEPLER AND GALEX : IMPLICATIONS FOR THE RADIAL VELOCITY CONFIRMATION OF EXOPLANETS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Ferland G
(2013)
EXPANDED IRON UTA SPECTRA-PROBING THE THERMAL STABILITY LIMITS IN AGN CLOUDS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kuridze D
(2013)
Failed filament eruption inside a coronal mass ejection in active region 11121
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Moulds V
(2013)
Finding exoplanets orbiting young active stars - I. Technique
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Shetye J
(2016)
High-cadence observations of spicular-type events on the Sun
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Barros S
(2012)
High-precision transit observations of the exoplanet WASP-13b with the RISE instrument Transit observations of WASP-13b
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mueller Bernhard
(2017)
How to blow up a massive star
in ASTRONOMY & GEOPHYSICS
Lunnan R
(2018)
Hydrogen-poor Superluminous Supernovae from the Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey
in The Astrophysical Journal
Terreran G
(2017)
Hydrogen-rich supernovae beyond the neutrino-driven core-collapse paradigm
in Nature Astronomy
Simpson E
(2011)
INDEPENDENT DISCOVERY OF THE TRANSITING EXOPLANET HAT-P-14b
in The Astronomical Journal
Keenan F
(2014)
INTENSITY ENHANCEMENT OF O VI ULTRAVIOLET EMISSION LINES IN SOLAR SPECTRA DUE TO OPACITY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pastorello A
(2013)
INTERACTING SUPERNOVAE AND SUPERNOVA IMPOSTORS: SN 2009ip, IS THIS THE END?
in The Astrophysical Journal
Title | The science in science-fiction films and television programmes |
Description | This is a collection of presentations which use clips of science-fiction films and television shows (e.g. Star Wars, Star Trek) to show how science is portrayed in these media, and discusses how accurate (or otherwise) these portrayals are. Presentation includes discussion of our research on exoplanets. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2008 |
Impact | The presentations were first produced back in 2007 - supported by an STFC Public Understanding of Science (PUS) Small Award - and since then have been regularly updated. They have been delivered to audiences totalling many thousands - probably over 3000 over the last 3 years alone, These include the general public, schools, higher educational institutes, research establishments. |
Description | Advances in our knowledge of how energy is transported through the solar atmosphere from the photosphere out to the corona; discovery and characterisation of exoplanets; discovery and characterisation of solar system bodies including comets and asteroids; discovery of supernovae and identification and study of their progenitor stars. |
Exploitation Route | Astrophysics is a constantly evolving research area, with each publication providing further information on a particular research topic, which is then followed up by subsequent work by individuals and teams (both the authors of the original publication and others in the research field). |
Sectors | Education |
Description | Used by the astrophysics academic community as a basis for further study - e.g. discovery of an exoplanet will then subsequently be followed by studies of the exoplanet to determine e.g. its density. |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Sector | Education |
Impact Types | Cultural |
Description | Leverhulme Research Project Grant |
Amount | £169,201 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RPG-249 |
Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2012 |
End | 05/2016 |
Description | Research Fellowship |
Amount | £82,660 (GBP) |
Funding ID | VP1-2012-025 |
Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2014 |
End | 03/2015 |
Description | STFC Astronomy Grants |
Amount | £98,989 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/M003515/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2014 |
End | 03/2015 |
Description | STFC Astronomy Grants |
Amount | £1,674,429 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/L000709/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2014 |
End | 03/2017 |
Description | STFC Astronomy Grants |
Amount | £37,969 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/M003493/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2014 |
End | 03/2015 |
Description | UK-India Education and Research Initiative |
Amount | £48,900 (GBP) |
Funding ID | UGC -UKIERI -2017/18-014 |
Organisation | British Council |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2018 |
End | 03/2020 |
Description | Annual in-house activities |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Astronomy lectures and presentations are given at the following annual events: (i) QUB Horizons in Physics} (which attracts around 400 4th- and 5th-form students per year), (ii) Physics Open Days (around 200 6th-form students), (iii) Physics Teachers Conference (about 50 Physics teachers from schools in Ireland). Increased take-up of Physics and Astronomy degree programme over last 3 years. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | Pre-2006,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017 |
Description | Jupiter Watch |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Attended by over 500 annually. Increased awareness and appreciation of astronomy. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014,2016 |
Description | Links with W5 Discovery Centre |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | An ongoing partnership with the W5 Discovery Centre in Belfast (Ireland's award-winning science and discovery centre). We developed the Planet Quest exhibition, based on explaining the multi-wavelength nature of modern astronomy. This includes spectacular infrared images from telescopes and satellites, information stands on the nature of infrared radiation, and hands on activities for children. It showcases high-profile Queen's astrophysics research to illustrate to the public that world-leading, technology-driven research is happening in Belfast. The exhibition initially ran March - September 2012, attracting 10,000 visitors, and we hope to run it again during the period 2014 - 2017. Astrophysics staff also host talks, Q&A sessions and hands-on building games in W5 (aimed at Key Stage 3 pupils), and further support W5 through the creation of astronomy CPD materials and a centralised web resource for secondary school physics teachers. Increased interest in astronomy and science from schoolchildren. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013 |
Description | Michael West lectures |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We have initiated a series of high-profile public lectures, The Michael West Lecture Series in Astronomy, following a philanthropic donation from Dr West which funds a Fellowship with a major outreach and education component. These lectures, which are scheduled typically twice per year, each attract 200 people, and are now the most widely attended public lecture series at Queen's University and indeed in Ireland as a whole. Increased requests for e.g. school talks. Media interviews. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018 |
URL | https://star.pst.qub.ac.uk/wiki/public/outreach/start |
Description | School visits |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | All members of the Astrophysics Research Centre (ARC) at Queen's University are involved in schools talks, covering their research topics as well as more general interests in astronomy. Most are at secondary level but also at primary (we actively take part in STEPS), either in the classroom or at Queen's. ARC staff deliver a total of about 40 talks/year to pupils, with typical class sizes of 25. Hard to assess, but in Northern Ireland uptake of Physics at university level has increased steadily in recent years, in contrast to the UK trend. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | Pre-2006,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018 |