Alfred University Assistant Astronomy Professor Connor Robinson recently lectured at the European Southern Observatory Headquarters outside of Munich, Ger., on a proposal to be submitted to NASA for development of a new space telescope that would monitor the brightness of young stars.
The telescope, currently named EVE (Early eVolution Explorer), would collect data connected to the early evolution of planetary atmospheres, the impact of stellar flares on young planets, and the initial conditions under which planets form.
Robinson's own research focuses on the latter of these three objectives, using simulations to make predictions that would be tested by the EVE telescope.
Astronomy students at Alfred University have been involved in related research activities, Robinson says. “One of the things we’re working on is monitoring how bright stars appear over time.” Data collected through instruments such as the recently acquired Toot Telescope, a 20-inch reflector telescope named for Astronomy Professor Emeritus David Toot, may be used in presenting the case for development of the space-based EVE instrument.
Toot recently retired from Alfred University, where he had taught astronomy in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Robinson explains that planets are formed from dust contained in disks surrounding young stars. “The disk is a leftover from the formation of the star out of a molecular cloud, and the planets are formed from the materials in the disk,” he says. Materials falling from the disk onto the central star generate a glowing hot spot on the star, and the light emitted from that hot spot can be analyzed to learn more about the innermost regions of the disk where planets like our own are forming.”
In monitoring the brightness of young stars, the EVE telescope would supply data relating to the early formation of planets.
Robinson joined Alfred University’s College of Liberal Arts and Science in 2022. He teaches courses introductory astronomy, introductory physics, stars, galaxies and cosmology, and space physics.
