Letter from the Editor

We welcome and appreciate feedback, so please email comments and announcement submissions to newsletter@as.arizona.edu.  We would be delighted to hear from you! 

Laura Forsyth

In Memoriam

We celebrate the life and mourn the passing of Dr. Arthur Code, a visiting professor emeritus at the Steward Observatory since 1998.  Dr. Code passed away on March 11, 2009 in Madison, Wisconsin at the age of 85.  He made countless contributions to astronomy, including a path-forging leadership in the planning of early space-based telescopes.

Awards and Achievements

Grisela Koeppen, administrative associate for the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory, has been awarded a University Staff Award for Excellence, an award given to only 10 out of over 8,000 university staff employees.  Koeppen will be recognized formally by President Shelton and Provost Hay at the 21st Annual Staff Awards for Excellence Event on April 13th.  See more.

Christopher Limbach, undergraduate, was awarded the astronomy department Outstanding Senior award.

Kelly Merrill, administrative assistant for Engineering and Technical Services, was awarded the 2009 Steward Observatory Outstanding Staff Award.  Merrill will represent Steward as nominee for the College of Science Staff Excellence Award which will be announced during the 14th Annual College of Science Staff Excellence Awards Luncheon. 

Ivelina Momcheva passed her Ph.D. thesis defense, entitled "Environments of Strong Gravitational Lenses," on March 25, 2009. Dr. Momcheva will be heading to Pasadena as a postdoc at the Carnegie Observatories.

Melissa Revelle, undergraduate, was selected as the astronomy department’s Excellence in Undergraduate Research award recipient.

College of Science Galileo Circle scholarship winners:

Scott Adams
Kaylan Burleigh
Tim Carleton
Alisha Chromey
Jason Dittmann
Christopher Douglas
Michael Eskew
Kara Farnsworth
Chris Limbach
Eriko Moriyama
Kelsey Norton
Melissa Revelle
Shane Rightley
David Schenck
Jennifer Sierchio
Shauna Story
Allison Strom

In Transition

Erick Young, astronomer, has accepted a position as the director of Science and Mission Operations for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA).  He will be leaving us in September but plans to maintain close contact with the Steward Observa­tory and the University of Arizona.

April Calendar of Events
This month at the Steward Observatory

In the News
Links to recent news articles featuring the department

Video Collection
Links to news videos featuring the department

International Astronomy Meetings
Courtesy of the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre

Announcements

• Around the World in 80 telescopes, a live 24-hour webcast from astronomical observatories, features some of the most advanced observatories in the world including these Arizona Observatories:
  

  Apr 3  22:40 MST - Large Binocular Telescope Observatory

  Apr 3  23:20 MST - Arizona Radio Observatory Submillimeter Telescope, Mt Graham

  Apr 3  23:35 MST - Vatican Telescope, Mt Graham

  Apr 3  23:50 MST - MMT Observatory

  Apr 4  00:40 MST - Kitt Peak National Observatory

• The Raymond E. White, Jr. Scholarship, established in memory of the University Distinguished Professor in Astronomy at the University of Arizona, was recently featured in the Winter/Spring 2009 edition of the UA Foundation magazine Advancing Arizona.  Click here to see the article or contact Dr. Thomas Fleming at (520) 621-5049 or tfleming@as.arizona.edu with questions regarding this scholarship.

• The Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory Self Study Report for the Academic Program Review is now available online and may be found here.

• The Graduate Council assesses and monitors graduate programs based upon their performance in comparison with national trends. Details on the 2009 Graduate Program Assessment are found here.

• The Large Binocular Telescope Board meeting will take place on April 19-20 in Columbus, Ohio.

• Steward Observatory Staff and Appointed Personnel are invited to attend the 14th Annual College of Science Staff Excellence Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM in the Student Union South Ballroom.  RSVP to Cathi Duncan at (520) 626-8792 or cduncan@as.arizona.edu by Friday, April 3rd to reserve a place.