Amanda Bosh

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Amanda Bosh is an American planetary scientist and observational astronomer best known for her work on small solar system objects. She is the chief operating officer at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. [1] and is involved which the Lowell Observatory Native American Outreach program, which she co-founded.

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Education

In 1987, Bosh earned a bachelor degree from MIT where she double majored in Earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences (EAPS) and materials science and engineering. She continued her education at MIT where she was advised by James L. Elliot, earning a PhD in EAPS in 1994. [2] Bosh's PhD thesis was titled "Stellar Occultation Studies of Saturn's Rings with the Hubble Space Telescope" and she used stellar occultations to investigate the structure and dynamics of Saturn's rings. She constructed a geometric model for the ring-pole position and feature parameters (semi-major axis, eccentricity, longitude of periapse, precession rate or pattern speed, and azimuthal symmetry number). [3] After earning a PhD, she became a postdoctoral fellow at Lowell Observatory.

Career

Bosh is an observational astronomer who primarily studies small, icy objects in the outer solar system. She has held positions in the Department of Physics at Hofstra University, Boston University, MIT, and Lowell Observatory. Bosh became a lecturer in EAPS at MIT in 2009 and was promoted in a senior lecturer in 2015. [2] Since 2020, Bosh has been the chief operating officer at Lowell Observatory. [1]

Research

Bosh has been heavily involved in observing stellar occultations of outer solar system objects. Stellar occultations are an astronomical phenomena where a solar system objects passes in front of a background star, causing a dip in its brightness. Careful analysis of this change in brightness can reveal many features of the solar system object, such as its atmospheric profile, ring structure, and diameter. Stellar occultations are often the most accurate way of measuring these features and can provide spatial resolutions of a few kilometers, which is several orders of magnitude better than other ground-based approaches. [4] Thus, they were used to make several important discoveries, such as the discovery of Uranus's rings [5] and the discovery of Pluto's atmosphere. [6] Despite their utility, stellar occultations can be challenging to observe and require careful planning. Both the position of the star and planetary object must be known to high accuracy to determine whether or not an occultation will occur. Further, occultations can only be observed from specific locations on Earth, depending on where the shadow path is. Finally, occultations usually only last a few minutes, so observers must be in exactly the right place at the right time to see them. [7]

Bosh was on the team of scientists that made the first direct measurement of Pluto's atmosphere and flew on the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO). [1] She was also part of the team that observed a stellar occultation of Pluto on the SOFIA aircraft in 2014, [8] which occurred about two weeks before the New Horizons spacecraft's closest approach to Pluto. SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy is a Boeing 747SP aircraft which carries a 2.7 meter telescope. [9] Astronomical observations are made when the aircraft is in flight, allowing astronomers a mobile observatory which can be brought anywhere in the world. Bosh and her colleagues were able to observe the occultation's central flash, which Bosh described as the "Holy Grail for occultation observers" because it probes the lowest levels of Pluto's atmosphere that are not otherwise observable. In order to observe the central flash, astronomers must be at the exact geometric center of the shadow path. Bosh played a critical role in determining where on Earth the geometric center would be, finding that it would be 227 kilometers north of the previous prediction. [10] This allowed for changes to SOFIA's planned flight plan and put it in the center of the shadow path. Observations from SOFIA were in visible and infrared wavelengths and could be combined with nearly contemporary UV and radio wavelength observations from New Horizons. Combining these results allowed for very nearly complete temperature and pressure profiles of Pluto's atmosphere that spanned closer to Pluto's surface and farther up in the atmosphere than previously measured. [10] Since Pluto's atmosphere was first discovered in 1988, it has been theorized that it would shrink and collapse as Pluto moved further away from the Sun. [10] When the atmosphere was discovered, Pluto was near the perihelion of its highly eccentric, 250 year orbit. [11] The measurements made by Bosh and her colleagues showed that Pluto's atmosphere had not collapsed and demonstrated that further investigation into its dynamics is required. [10]

Bosh was also involved in the discovery of rings around the centaur Chiron in 2011, again using stellar occultations. No centaurs were not thought to possess rings, but Chiron is the second centaur with detected rings. [12] Further observations in 2022, which Bosh contributed to, have revealed that the properties of the ring materiel have evolved between 2011 and 2022. [13]

Teaching and outreach

Bosh taught three astronomy courses at MIT. [2] She won MIT's Teaching with Digital Technology Award in 2020 for digital teaching excellence in extraordinary circumstances. [14]

She co-founded the Lowell Observatory Native American Outreach Program in 1996. [15] The goals of this program are to "use astronomy to help teachers get Native American children excited about astronomy and science in general, encouraging an interest in STEM careers". [15] The program pairs astronomers with teachers to create an engaging STEM focused curriculum with hands-on activities.

Personal life

Bosh is married to Stephen Levine, who is also an astronomer at Lowell Observatory. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ring system</span> Ring of cosmic dust orbiting an astronomical object

A ring system is a disc or ring, orbiting an astronomical object, that is composed of solid material such as dust and moonlets, and is a common component of satellite systems around giant planets like Saturn. A ring system around a planet is also known as a planetary ring system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pluto</span> Dwarf planet

Pluto is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, a ring of bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune. It is the ninth-largest and tenth-most-massive known object to directly orbit the Sun. It is the largest known trans-Neptunian object by volume, by a small margin, but is slightly less massive than Eris. Like other Kuiper belt objects, Pluto is made primarily of ice and rock and is much smaller than the inner planets. Pluto has only one sixth the mass of Earth's moon, and one third its volume. Pluto was recognized as a planet until 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charon (moon)</span> Largest natural satellite of Pluto

Charon, known as (134340) Pluto I, is the largest of the five known natural satellites of the dwarf planet Pluto. It has a mean radius of 606 km (377 mi). Charon is the sixth-largest known trans-Neptunian object after Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake and Gonggong. It was discovered in 1978 at the United States Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., using photographic plates taken at the United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station (NOFS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2060 Chiron</span> Large 200km centaur/comet with 50-year orbit

2060 Chiron is a small Solar System body in the outer Solar System, orbiting the Sun between Saturn and Uranus. Discovered in 1977 by Charles Kowal, it was the first-identified member of a new class of objects now known as centaurs—bodies orbiting between the asteroid belt and the Kuiper belt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centaur (small Solar System body)</span> Type of solar system object

In planetary astronomy, a centaur is a small Solar System body that orbits the Sun between Jupiter and Neptune and crosses the orbits of one or more of the giant planets. Centaurs generally have unstable orbits because they cross or have crossed the orbits of the giant planets; almost all their orbits have dynamic lifetimes of only a few million years, but there is one known centaur, 514107 Kaʻepaokaʻawela, which may be in a stable orbit. Centaurs typically exhibit the characteristics of both asteroids and comets. They are named after the mythological centaurs that were a mixture of horse and human. Observational bias toward large objects makes determination of the total centaur population difficult. Estimates for the number of centaurs in the Solar System more than 1 km in diameter range from as low as 44,000 to more than 10,000,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occultation</span> Occlusion of an object by another object that passes between it and the observer

An occultation is an event that occurs when one object is hidden from the observer by another object that passes between them. The term is often used in astronomy, but can also refer to any situation in which an object in the foreground blocks from view (occults) an object in the background. In this general sense, occultation applies to the visual scene observed from low-flying aircraft when foreground objects obscure distant objects dynamically, as the scene changes over time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">28978 Ixion</span> Plutino

28978 Ixion (, provisional designation 2001 KX76) is a large trans-Neptunian object and a possible dwarf planet. It is located in the Kuiper belt, a region of icy objects orbiting beyond Neptune in the outer Solar System. Ixion is classified as a plutino, a dynamical class of objects in a 2:3 orbital resonance with Neptune. It was discovered in May 2001 by astronomers of the Deep Ecliptic Survey at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, and was announced in July 2001. The object is named after the Greek mythological figure Ixion, who was a king of the Lapiths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">20000 Varuna</span> Kuiper belt object

20000 Varuna, provisional designation 2000 WR106, is a large trans-Neptunian object in the Kuiper belt. It was discovered in November 2000 by American astronomer Robert McMillan during a Spacewatch survey at the Kitt Peak National Observatory. It is named after the Hindu deity Varuna, one of the oldest deities mentioned in the Vedic texts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc Buie</span> American astronomer

Marc William Buie is an American astronomer and prolific discoverer of minor planets who works at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado in the Space Science Department. Formerly he worked at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, and was the Sentinel Space Telescope Mission Scientist for the B612 Foundation, which is dedicated to protecting Earth from asteroid impact events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">38628 Huya</span> Trans-Neptunian object

38628 Huya ( hoo-YAH), provisional designation 2000 EB173, is a binary trans-Neptunian object located in the Kuiper belt, a region of icy objects orbiting beyond Neptune in the outer Solar System. Huya is classified as a plutino, a dynamical class of trans-Neptunian objects with orbits in a 3:2 orbital resonance with Neptune. It was discovered by the Quasar Equatorial Survey Team and was identified by Venezuelan astronomer Ignacio Ferrín in March 2000. It is named after Juyá, the mythological rain god of the Wayuu people native to South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10199 Chariklo</span> Small body of the outer Solar System

10199 Chariklo is the largest confirmed centaur. It orbits the Sun between Saturn and Uranus, grazing the orbit of Uranus. On 26 March 2014, astronomers announced the discovery of two rings around Chariklo by observing a stellar occultation, making it the first minor planet known to have rings.

<span class="nowrap">(307261) 2002 MS<sub>4</sub></span> Classical Kuiper belt object

(307261) 2002 MS4 (provisional designation 2002 MS4) is a large trans-Neptunian object in the Kuiper belt, a region of icy planetesimals beyond Neptune. It was discovered on 18 June 2002 by Chad Trujillo and Michael Brown during their search for bright, Pluto-sized Kuiper belt objects at Palomar Observatory. 2002 MS4 has a diameter close to 800 km (500 mi), which approximately ties it with 2002 AW197 and 2013 FY27 (to within measurement uncertainties) as the largest unnamed object in the Solar System. 2002 MS4 is large enough that astronomers consider it a possible dwarf planet.

James Ludlow Elliot was an American astronomer and scientist who, as part of a team, discovered the rings around the planet Uranus. Elliot was also part of a team that observed global warming on Triton, the largest moon of Neptune.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Discovery and exploration of the Solar System</span>

Discovery and exploration of the Solar System is observation, visitation, and increase in knowledge and understanding of Earth's "cosmic neighborhood". This includes the Sun, Earth and the Moon, the major planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, their satellites, as well as smaller bodies including comets, asteroids, and dust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">50000 Quaoar</span> Cold classical Kuiper belt object

Quaoar is a ringed dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, a region of icy planetesimals beyond Neptune. A non-resonant object (cubewano), it measures approximately 1,086 km (675 mi) in diameter, about the size of Saturn's moon Dione or half the size of Pluto. The object was discovered by American astronomers Chad Trujillo and Michael Brown at the Palomar Observatory on 4 June 2002. Signs of water ice on the surface of Quaoar have been found, which suggests that cryovolcanism may be occurring on Quaoar. A small amount of methane is present on its surface, which can only be retained by the largest Kuiper belt objects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of the Solar System</span> Overview of and topical guide to the Solar System

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Solar System:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rings of Chariklo</span> Ring system around 10199 Chariklo

The minor planet and centaur 10199 Chariklo, with a diameter of about 250 kilometres (160 mi), is the smallest celestial object with confirmed rings and the fifth ringed celestial object discovered in the Solar System, after the gas giants and ice giants. Orbiting Chariklo is a bright ring system consisting of two narrow and dense bands, 6–7 km (4 mi) and 2–4 km (2 mi) wide, separated by a gap of 9 kilometres (6 mi). The rings orbit at distances of about 400 kilometres (250 mi) from the centre of Chariklo, a thousandth the distance between Earth and the Moon. The discovery was made by a team of astronomers using ten telescopes at various locations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay in South America during observation of a stellar occultation on 3 June 2013, and was announced on 26 March 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Langdon Williams</span> American human computer and astronomer

Elizabeth Langdon Williams was an American human computer and astronomer whose work helped lead to the discovery of Pluto, or Planet X.

Centaurus is a mission concept to flyby the centaurs 2060 Chiron and Schwassmann-Wachmann 1. It was submitted in response to the NASA Discovery program call for proposals in 2019 but ultimately was not among the four missions selected for further development by NASA in February 2020. If it had been selected, Centaurus would have been the first mission to attempt a flyby of a centaur.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Dr. Amanda Bosh". Lowell Observatory. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  2. 1 2 3 "Amanda Bosh promoted to senior lecturer". MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  3. ↑ Bosh, Amanda Sachie. Stellar Occultation Studies of Saturn’s Rings with the Hubble Space Telescope. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 1994.
  4. ↑ "Stellar Occultations". occult.mit.edu. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  5. ↑ Elliot, J. L.; Dunham, E.; Mink, D. (May 1977). "The rings of Uranus". Nature. 267 (5609): 328–330. Bibcode:1977Natur.267..328E. doi:10.1038/267328a0. ISSN   1476-4687. S2CID   4194104.
  6. ↑ Observatory, Kevin Schindler, Lowell (2015-06-03). "How a flying telescope proved Pluto has an atmosphere | Astronomy.com". Astronomy Magazine. Retrieved 2023-12-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ "What is an occultation? « IOTA". occultations.org. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  8. ↑ Chu, Jennifer; Technology, Massachusetts Institute of. "NASA mission chases Pluto's shadow to catch details of its atmosphere". phys.org. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  9. ↑ "SOFIA Overview - NASA Science". science.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Q&A: Catching Pluto's shadow". MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2015-07-08. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  11. ↑ "Small-Body Database Lookup". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  12. ↑ "A second minor planet may possess Saturn-like rings". MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  13. ↑ Sickafoose, Amanda A.; Levine, Stephen E.; Bosh, Amanda S.; Person, Michael J.; Zuluaga, Carlos A.; Knieling, Bastian; Lewis, Mark C.; Schindler, Karsten (2023-11-28). "Material around the Centaur (2060) Chiron from the 2018 November 28 UT Stellar Occultation". The Planetary Science Journal. 4 (11): 221. arXiv: 2310.16205 . Bibcode:2023PSJ.....4..221S. doi: 10.3847/PSJ/ad0632 . ISSN   2632-3338.
  14. ↑ "Winners of 2020 Teaching With Digital Technology Award recognized for their innovations". MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2020-09-09. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  15. 1 2 "Native American Astronomy Outreach Program". Lowell Observatory. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  16. ↑ Reporter, EMERY COWAN Sun Staff (2015-07-09). "Lowell scientists peer into Pluto's atmosphere". Arizona Daily Sun. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
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