Frederick M. Walter
Professor of Astronomy
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Z=3800
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook NY 11794-3800
631-632-8232
frederick.walter at stonybrook.edu
Images of the Sun taken about 11:45 AM 21 August 2017 MDT from near
the intersection of Rt 29 and Cut Across Rd, about 12 miles south of
Agate NE. These are handheld 1/1000 second integrations with a DSLR camera
(ISO 400, f/8, 135 mm focal length).
Brief Bio:
Frederick M Walter has been a professor of Astronomy at SBU since 1989.
Prior to that he spent 8 years navigating the alphabet soup
at the University of Colorado, Boulder as a post-doc at JILA, a research
scientist at LASP, and a fellow of CASA. His PhD is from the
University of California at Berkeley (Astronomy); he has an SB in course VIII
(Physics) from MIT.
Professor Walter is an observational astronomer who studies the birth and
death of stars, and stellar magnetic activity (stellar weather).
He uses telescopes in Arizona, Chile, Hawaii, and in Earth orbit.
Currently he spends most of his time studying the Galactic novae,
thermonuclear runaways (explosions!) on the surfaces of white dwarf stars, but
he worries about the next Carrington event, and the future inhabitability
of planet Earth.
Professor Walter is a past president of the Stony Brook
University Senate, and has been a statewide SUNY Senator.
He is a former Vice President for Academics for the UUP Stony Brook West
Chapter.
He represents Stony Brook in the Associated Universities for Research in
Astronomy (AURA), where he was formerly a member of the Board of Directors,
and is the Stony Brook representative to the Astronomical Society of New York
(ASNY).
He used to play collegiate ice hockey, fly airplanes, brew beer, and run
marathons. He roots for the Red Sox.
He has never scaled a 14er, nor hiked the length of the Appalachian Trail.
Contents
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Hard at work.
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Tycho and me on the island of Ven, September 2005 |
At Cerro Tololo, December 2006 |
R CrA cloud (ROSAT PSPC band 1), with an isolated
neutron star to the lower right. This is a mosaic of 6 images.
public talks, including Astronomy Open Night presentations.
AST 301: Collisions in the Solar System (Spring 2021)
HON 301: Surviving the Anthropocene (Fall 2021)
AST 443: Observational Techniques (Fall 2020)
AST 389: Science Fiction (Spring 2022)
AST 248: The Search for Life in the Universe (Fall 2021)
AST 105: Introduction to the Solar System (Fall 2018)
SSB 102: Welcome to the Anthropocene (Freshman Seminar) (Spring 2022)
PHY 688: Special Topics in Astrophysics: The Formation of Stars and
Planets (Fall 2017)
AST 101: Introduction to Astronomy (Spring 2013)
AST 341: Astrophysics I (Fall 2012)
HON 114: The Science in Science Fiction (Fall 2010)
Phy
445/515: The Astronomy Option (Fall 2006)
Phy 445/515: backup astronomy page - may be out of date
PHY 666 (AST 510): Cool Stars Seminar
(Spring 2006)
CEN 511: Recent Discoveries in Astronomy (Fall 1997)
SUNY-specific information about SMARTS
The SMARTS Consortium website
How to access and measure ANDICAM
images
How to access and measure 1.5m RC
spectra
The 1.5m RC spectrograph service
observing schedule
The Stony Brook / SMARTS 1.5m RC spectrograph
spectral atlas
The Stony Brook / SMARTS
Spectral Atlas of Southern Novae
eta Car
Nova LMC 2005
V1118 Ori
V1647 Ori
new nova in Oph
The massive Dwarf Nova
HD 109962. Poster presented at the October 2006 AAS/HEAD meeting
Time-resolved photometry and
spectroscopy of things that go bump in the night,
using the SMARTS facilities
Observations of the isolated
neutron star RXJ185635-3754.
ROSAT X-ray observations of low mass stars in the
R CrA and Orion
associations.
The outer atmosphere of V471 Tau,
as probed by absorption spectroscopy
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Optical and near-IR spectroscopic followup observations of
X-ray identified low mass stars in young associations.
HST and FUSE observations of molecular Hydrogen in the gaseous disks of low
mass pre-main sequence stars,
Doppler imaging of AB Dor at all levels of the atmosphere (HST/GHRS,
EUVE, ROSAT, and ground-based observations) -- happened on 14-17 November
1994. See also
Andrew Collier-Cameron's MUSICOS page .
Photometric observations of low mass PMS stars to determine rotational
modulation period
( S. Wolk ,
N. Adams, and undergraduate observers).
The Downside of EF Eridani: 6 years of SMARTS observations of a
Dormant Polar, a poster shown at the Tri-State Astronomy Conference,
at the CUNY Graduate center, 31 October 2008.
The Distance to σ Orionis and Implications for the Age of the
Orion OB1b Association
a poster shown at IAU Symposium 258, The Ages of Stars,
Baltimore MD, October 2008.
Musings on IAU 258,
in the style of Edgar Allan Poe.
Very low mass objects in Orion OB1a and b
to appear in the proceedings of the 15th Cool Stars
Workshop, July 2008, St Andrews, Scotland.
The poster on which this
paper is based.
The σ Orionis Cluster
in the Handbook of Star Formation regions, ed. B. Reipurth, in press
Probing Small Scale Structure in the Atmosphere of V471 Tauri,
2004, Astron. Nach, 325, in press
Resolving Atmospheric Structure in V471 Tauri,
2004, Proceedings of IAU Symposium 219, in press
Mapping the Circumstellar Environment of T Tauri with Fluorescent
H2 Emission,
F.M. Walter, G. Herczeg, A. Brown, D.R. Ardila,
G.F. Gahm, C.M. Johns-Krull, J.J. Lissauer, M. Simon, J.A. Valenti,
2003 Astronomical Journal, 126, 3076
Deconstructing HD 28867,
F.M. Walter, T. Beck, J.A. Morse, & S.J. Wolk,
2003, Astronomical Journal, 125, 2123
Very low mass stars and brown dwarf candidates in Orion OB1a and OB1b,
F.M. Walter, W.H. Sherry, & S.J. Wolk, 2002, in
Brown Dwarfs, (IAU Symposium 211), ed. E. Martin.
The Brown Dwarf Talking Blues
A Revised Parallax and its Implications for RX J185635-3754,
F.M. Walter & James M. Lattimer, 2002, ApJL, 576, L145
The Sun: The First 4.6 Gyr, F.M. Walter, 2002, review presented
at the Twelfth Cool Stars Workshop. Six GIF movies
accompany section 2.2 of this presentation:
- The orbit of V471 Tau.
- The time-resolved GHRS spectrum from 2 Oct 1995.
- The time-resolved GHRS spectrum from 26 Aug 1996 .
- The time-resolved GHRS spectrum from 4 Jan 1997.
- Part 1 of the time-resolved STIS N V spectrum on 23 March 1998.
- Part 2 of the time-resolved STIS N V spectrum on 23 March 1998.
Global Properties of Low Mass Stars in the Orion OB1 Association,
F.M. Walter, W.H. Sherry, & S.J. Wolk, 2002, presented
at the Galactic Star Formation Workshop, La Serena Chile, March 2002.
Kim, J.S., Walter, F.M., & Wolk, S.J. 2001, in the
proceedings of the 12th Cool Stars, Stellar Systems, and the Sun,
ed. Brown, A., Ayres, T.R., & Harper, G.M.,
http://origins.colorado.edu/cs12/proceedings/proceedings.html
Kim, J.S., Walter, F.M., & Wolk, S.J. 2002, in press, in
the proceedings of Galactic Star Formation Across the Stellar Mass
Spectrum held in La Serena, Chile, March 2002, ed. De Buizer, J.M.,
(the ASP Conference Series).
Towards a Mass and Radius Determination of the Nearby Isolated Neutron
Star RX J185635-3754, J.A. Pons, F.M. Walter, J.M. Lattimer,
M. Prakash, R. Neuhaeuser, & P. An. ApJ, 564, 981.
AB Dor in '94: I. HST/GHRS Observations of the Quiescent Chromosphere of
an Active Star, J.C. Brandt et al. 2001, AJ,121, 2173.
The Proper Motion, Parallax, and Origin of the Isolated Neutron Star RX
J185635-3754, F.M. Walter, 2001, ApJ, 549, 433.
The Chromosphere of V471 Tauri Resolved, F.M. Walter & J.S. Kim,
in ASP Conf. Ser #223, the Eleventh Cambridge Workshop on
Cool Stars, Stellar Systems, and
the Sun, p. CD-1073 (2000).
The Low Mass Stellar Population of the Orion OB1 Association and
Implications for the Formation of Low Mass Stars, F.M. Walter,
J.M. Alcala, R. Neuhaeuser, M. Sterzik, & S.J. Wolk, in
Protostars and Planets IV, ed V. Mannings, A.P. Boss, and S.S. Russell
(Tucson: University of Arizona), p 273 (2000). There are 5 figures:
Figure 1,
Figure 2,
Figure 3,
Figure 4, and
Figure 5.
Activity in pre-main sequence and very active
stars in Solar and Stellar Activity: Similarities and Differences,
eds.
C.J. Butler and J.G. Doyle, ASP Conf. Ser #158, (ASP: San Francisco),
p. 87 (1999).
The Large-Scale Distribution and Motions of Older Stars in Orion.
A.G.A. Brown, F.M. Walter, & A. Blaauw, to appear in the proceedings
of the 1997 Ringberg Conference on Orion,
eds. A. Burkert and M. McCaughrean.
A New Non-Solar Paradigm for Active Stars.
F.M. Walter & P.B. Byrne, in Cool Stars, Stellar Systems, and
the Sun 10, eds. R. Donahue and J. Bookbinder, (ASP: San Francisco),
CD-1458 (1998).
The Sigma Orionis Cluster.
F.M. Walter S.J. Wolk, & W. Sherry,
in Cool Stars, Stellar Systems, and
the Sun 10, eds. R. Donahue and J. Bookbinder,
(ASP: San Francisco), CD-1793 (1998).
Probing the Extended Atmosphere of V471 Tauri.
J.S. Kim & F.M. Walter, in Cool Stars, Stellar Systems, and
the Sun 10, eds. R. Donahue and J. Bookbinder,
(ASP: San Francisco), CD-1431 (1998).
The Optical Counterpart of the Isolated Neutron Star
RX J185635-3754. F.M. Walter & L.D. Matthews. Nature, Sept. 25, 1997.
You may download figure 1 as a GIF image,
and figure 2 as a postscript file.
X-Ray Sources in Regions of Star Formation. VI.
The R CrA Association as Viewed by EINSTEIN.
F.M. Walter, F.J. Vrba, S.J. Wolk, R.D. Mathieu, & R. Neuhauser. AJ,
114, 1544.
GHRS Observations of Molecular Hydrogen in
the Gas
Disks of Pre-Main Sequence Stars. F.M. Walter & Y. Liu, in
The Scientific Impact of the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph,
eds. J.C. Brandt, C.C. Petersen, & T.B. Ake,
ASP Conference Series # 143 (San Francisco: ASP) p. 360.
A Search for Protoplanetary Disks Around Naked T Tauri Stars.
S.J. Wolk & F.M. Walter. AJ 111, 2066 (1996).
Discovery of a Nearby Isolated Neutron Star.
F.M. Walter, S.J. Wolk, & R. Neuhaeuser. Nature, 379, 233 (1996)
with 2 figures:
1 ,
2 .
New Insights into Non-Radiative Heating in
Late-A Star Chromospheres.
F.M. Walter, L.D. Matthews, & J.L. Linsky. ApJ, 447, 353 (1995).
The Long Period AM Her-like
Cataclysmic Variable RXJ051541+0104.6.
Frederick M. Walter, Scott J. Wolk, & and Nancy R. Adams,
ApJ 440, 834 (1995).
X-ray Sources in Regions of Star Formation. V. The Low Mass Stars of
the Sco OB2 Association. F.M. Walter, F.J. Vrba, R.D. Mathieu,
A. Brown, & P.C. Myers. AJ, 107, 692 (1994).
Click here to see a complete list of publications in
postscript format.
Jacqueline Faherty. Brown Dwarfs. Astrometry. Neutron star parallaxes. PhD 2010. Now at AMNH.
Angeliki Field-Pollatou. Photometric Survey of Young Southern Clusters and
Associations.
Serena Kim. Star Formation in the Gum
Nebula. PhD 2002. Gone to Tucson to work on SIRTF.
Bill Sherry.
Spatial distribution of PMS stars in the belt of Orion.
PhD 2003. Gone to Tuscon to work at NSO.
Nancy R. Adams. (MA 1995. gone to AXAF.)
Scott
J. Wolk. (PhD 1996. gone to AXAF.)
SMARTS undergrads (2003-2004): Phil Grandin, Jesse Miner, Rustum Nyquist
SMARTS undergrads (2004-2005): Jesse Miner, Rustum Nyquist, Kevin Lyons, Frank Modica
SMARTS undergrads (2005-2006): Chris Arettines, Salman Ghani
SMARTS undergrads (2006-2007): Kevin Lyons
2008-2010: Andrew Battisti
2010-2012: Aleksandra Cerniha, Chana Tilevitz, Joseph Wysk
Initial results of the 1996/7 monitoring campaign were presented
at the spring 1997 ASNY meeting in the paper "Rotation Periods of the
Low Mass Pre-Main-Sequence Stars near Epsilon Orionis", by G. Leussis,
J. Faber, H. Altan, Z. Colon, A. Hervias, J. Janis, J. Mallozzi,
J. Thomas, C. Wilson, & F.M. Walter.
At-large member of the
College of Arts and Sciences
Senate, and of the
University Senate.
President, Arts and Sciences Senate, 2004-2006
President, University Senate, 2010-2014
Chair, Intercollegiate Athletics Board (IAB), 2006-2009
(Chair, Space Telescope Users Committee, 1997-1998)
The Space
Telescope Users Committee (STUC) charter.
STUC
membership .
old STUC
reports .
Report of the
May 1997 meeting
Minutes of the November 1997
meeting
November 1997 STUC Report
Minutes of the May 1998
meeting
May 1998 STUC Report
May 1998 STUC Report to
the Second Decade Committee
Minutes of the November 1998
meeting
November 1998 STUC Report
The ICUR Spectral Analysis Software Package
The ROSAT RX Analysis Package
A package for the photometric reduction of JHK
images taken with CIRIM or NSFCAM.
Pictures from CTIO, March 2002.
Pictures from CTIO, November 2003.
Pictures from CTIO, December 2006.
Aviation Pictures.
Arecibo Observatory, Nov 2007.
Montpelier VT, 3 March 2007.
Baltimore MD, 21-22 April 2007.
St Andrews Scotland, July 15-22 2007.
the Old Course, St Andrews Scotland, July 15-22 2007.
Munich Germany, July 23-29 2007.
Mauna Kea Hawaii, Nov 27-Dec 1 2007.
Joe and Tricia's Wedding.
A Day in Manhattan, July 5 2009
The key is to outlast your opponents. This is one place where getting old is
not necessarily a disadvantage.
Date |
Race |
Distance |
Time |
Pace |
Notes |
11/24/10 |
Feaster 5 |
5 mi |
37:49 |
7:37 |
|
10/17/10 |
Run for Children |
5 k |
22:44 |
7:20 |
won age group |
10/2/10 |
Hampton's Marathon |
26.2 mi |
3:40:24 |
8:26 |
won age group, Qualified for Boston |
8/7/10 |
Beach to Beacon |
10 k |
45:15 |
7:17 |
|
5/8/10 |
The Bench 5k |
5 k |
22:41 |
7:19 |
won age group |
4/25/10 |
James Joyce Ramble |
10 k |
48:59 |
7:53 |
|
11/26/09 |
Feaster 5 |
5 mi |
38:16 |
7:42 |
|
11/15/09 |
SBU Turkey Trot |
5 k |
23:32 |
7:36 |
|
10/18/09 |
Run for Children |
5 k |
22:54 |
7:23 |
won age group |
9/26/09 |
Hampton's Marathon |
26.2 mi |
4:01:47 |
9:14 |
won age group |
6/6/09 |
St. James 5K |
5 k |
24:02 |
7:45 |
|
4/6/09 |
Deb Whittemore 5K |
5 k |
23:30 |
7:32 |
won age group |
3/29/09 |
Suffolk County Half Marathon |
13.1 mi |
1:44:51 |
8:00 |
|
11/16/09 |
SBU Turkey Trot |
5 k |
23:51 |
7:42 |
first place, faculty/staff |
7/27/08 |
NYC Half Marathon |
13.1 mi |
1:46:17 |
8:07 |
|
6/7/08 |
St. James 5K |
5 k |
22:49 |
7:21 |
|
5/26/08 |
Boulder Boulder |
10 k |
48:52 |
7:53 |
|
4/27/08 |
James Joyce Ramble |
10 k |
45:07 |
7:17 |
|
4/13/08 |
Seawolves 10K |
10 k |
45:19 |
7:18 |
|
3/30/08 |
Suffolk County Half Marathon |
13.1 mi |
1:41:20 |
7:45 |
|
11/22/07 |
Feaster 5 |
5 mi |
37:57 |
7:39 |
|
10/14/07 |
Run for Children |
5 k |
22:48 |
7:21 |
|
10/7/07 |
BAA Half Marathon |
13.1 mi |
1:41:31 |
7:45 |
|
9/15/07 |
Cow Harbor |
10 k |
47:18 |
7:37 |
|
8/5/07 |
NYC Half Marathon |
13.1 mi |
1:51:20 |
8:29 |
|
7/31/07 |
LI Corporate Challenge |
3.5 mi |
26:39 |
7:37 |
|
6/2/07 |
St. James 5K |
5 k |
22:37 |
7:18 |
won age group |
4/29/07 |
James Joyce Ramble |
10 k |
48:12 |
7:46 |
|
3/28/07 |
Suffolk County Half Marathon |
13.1 mi |
1:50:52 |
8:28 |
|
12/31/06 |
Central VT Running Club |
5k |
23:55 |
7:43 |
|
11/23/06 |
Feaster 5 |
5 mi |
38:38 |
7:47 |
|
11/19/06 |
SBU Turkey Trot |
5k |
23:55 |
7:43 |
|
10/15/06 |
Run for Children |
5 k |
24:18 |
7:50 |
|
5/31/05 |
Boulder Boulder |
10 k |
58:05 |
9:22 |
|
5/30/88 |
Boulder Boulder |
10 k |
49:26 |
7:58 |
|
5/30/87 |
Boulder Boulder |
10 k |
47:28 |
7:39 |
|
The race we're running now is never ending
Since space and time are bending,
There's no finish line.
-Chris Smither
The Brown Dwarf Talking Blues
Thoughts on IAU 258
The Ballad of EF Eridani
All the Low Mass Objects - Where Do They All Come From?
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