We have a 22" telescope on a site near Delta Utah and will use it to remotely monitor active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and also variable stars. AGNs include quasars, Seyfert nuclei and Low Ionization Nuclear Emission Regions, or LINERS. The standard model of AGNs is that they are a supermassive black hole surrounded by an accretion disk and a more extensive lower-density region that feeds material to the disk. The disk brightens and dims as gas falls upon it and as dusty clouds orbiting around it obscure it from our view. Optical variability then becomes a measure of these effects and can provide data that can be used to model the specific nature of different AGNs.

Skills and Experience Required

None listed.

Contact Details

If you have questions or are interested in pursuing this research project, contact J. Ward Moody for more information.