MSU Variable Star Group
- Welcome to the home of the Variable Star Research Group at the Michigan State University Department of Physics and Astronomy. This page gives some information about our group and our research. You will also find copies of recently presented posters and a list of recent publications. Note that much of this work has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation.
Group Members
- Here is a list of the members of our group, clicking on the name of the group member will take you to their personal webpage if they have one.
- Faculty:
- Horace Smith
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- Current Grad Students:
- Charles Kuehn
- Current Undergrads:
- Kristina Looper
- Former Grad Students:
- Nathan De Lee - Currently at University of Florida (Post-doc)
- Former Undergrads:
- Katie Rabidoux - Currently at West Virginia University (Grad student)
Current Projects
- We currently have several ongoing projects within the group. Clicking on the name of the project will take you to the project page where you can learn more about the work that is being done.
- Period Change in Type II Cepheids
- The Blazhko Effect in RR Lyrae Stars
- Photometric Metallicity Determinations of RR Lyrae in the SDSS Filter System
- RR Lyrae in LMC Globular Clusters
Recent Posters and Talks
- Here is a list of recent posters and talks given by group members. Clicking on the name of the poster/talk will allow you to view it as a pdf.
- Clouds, Lights, and Variable Stars: Student Research at the Michigan State Campus Observatory, AAS 2009
- Variable Stars in the LMC Globular Cluster NGC 2210, AAS 2009
- Type II Cepheids in the Globular Clusters M3 and M5, MSU Senior Thesis Presentation 2008
- The Type II Cepheid Project: Connecting Undergraduate Research and Stellar Evolution, MSU Undergrad Research Forum 2008
- Period Changes and Light Curves of Type II Cepheids in Globular Clusters, AAS 2008
- Variable Stars in the Milky Way Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy Satellite Canes Venatici I, Vancouver Variable Stars Conference 2007
- Variable Stars in the LMC Globular Cluster NGC 1754, AAS 2007
- RR Lyrae in Globular Clusters: Seven Decades After Oosterhoff, The Hoffleit Centennial: A Year of Celebration 2006