Faculty Accomplishments

Was awarded seven nights on the McDonald Observatory's Harlen J. Smith telescope to observe the diffuse spiral galaxy SDSS J010223.55+203334.6. This galaxy is suspected to have interacted with another galaxy which Jason published on several years ago, and these measurements will allow Jason to confirm/refute this hypothesis.

Was awarded 4 hours on the AstroSat UV space telescope to observe five diffuse spiral galaxies. UV emission is typically associated with young groups of stars, and these measurements will help Jason and his collaboration constrain the formation histories of these galaxies.

Was awarded 40 hours on the IRAM 30m radio telescope to look for signs of carbon monoxide in the diffuse spiral UGC731. Carbon monoxide is typically associated with the earliest stages of star formation, and these measurements will provide clues as to why this galaxy is so diffuse. 

Was awarded six nights of observing time in April and May on the Harlen J. Smith telescope to observe the dark matter rich galaxy UGC8839. These measurements will allow Jason to determine the origins and evolution of this galaxy, and help shape our understand of the interplay between dark matter and normal matter.

Was awarded six nights of observing time in December on the Harlen J. Smith telescope to make observations of four gas-rich, star-poor galaxies. These measurements will allow Jason to determine the formation histories of these galaxies, and why they have turned so little of their gas into stars.

Was awarded time on two telescopes, the VLA (very large array) radio telescope in New Mexico and the Harlen J. Smith telescope at the McDonald Observatory. The time on the VLA was to search for signs of past galaxy/galaxy interaction involving a galaxy named UGC 628. The time at the McDonald Observatory was aimed at mapping out the life history of a gas-rich galaxy called UGC 11820.

Jason Young (Astronomy) was granted four nights of observing time on the Harlen J. Smith telescope at the McDonald Observatory to study a very faint galaxy named UGC5675 in February of 2020, the ideal time to observe this particular galaxy.