Thomas G. Barnes III

Senior Research Scientist, McDonald Observatory

astronomy


Thomas G. Barnes

Address:

Senior Research Scientist, McDonald Observatory

RLM 16.228

University of Texas

Austin, TX 78712

512-471-1301

E-Mail: tgb@astro.as.utexas.edu

Research Interests:

observational aspects of variable stars;

photometry and radial velocity studies of
Cepheid and RR Lyrae variables

Education:

B.S., University of Rochester, 1966

M.A., University of Toronto, 1968

Ph.D., University of Toronto, 1970

Astronomy Courses Taught:

AST 309L: Extraterrestrial Life

AST 301: Introduction to Astronomy


I came to the University of Texas in 1970 as the W.J. McDonald Postgraduate Fellow and have served in many capacities since then. My research interests are focused on the use of pulsating variable stars, particularly Cepheids and RR Lyrae variables, to refine Galactic and extragalactic distance scales. Currently I am working on improvements to the Galactic distance scale for Cepheid variables, on distances to M31 and M33 using Cepheids, and on improvement to Magellanic Cloud distances. In all of these I am fascinated by the use of an extension of the Baade-Wesslink method (called the surface brightness technique) to determine quasi-geometric distances to Cepheids.

While most of my time is devoted to research, whenever I can, I teach astronomy courses as well.

LINKS

Family photo

Curriculum vitae

Publications

INSTRUCTION

AST 301: Introduction to Astronomy

AST 309L: Extraterrestrial Life

Ast 1623: Solar System Astronomy


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Last modified: 05 January 2005