Timothy Barker
Professor of Astronomy
Office: Science Center B 205
Phone: (508) 286-3975
Fax: (508) 286-8278
Email: tbarker@wheatoncollege.edu
Degrees
Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz
B.A., Swarthmore College
Main Interests
Astronomy (I own a 32-inch telescope on Cape Cod and enjoy doing "amateur" astronomy with it and inviting Wheaton students to look through it. I'm also do snorkeling, radio control glider and helicopter flying, paragliding, and enjoy tennis and movies.
Research Interests
I have observed extensively with the large telescopes at Kitt Peak National Observatory and with NASA's International Explorer Satellite, studying planetary nebulae (the material left behind by stars when they die), but my main research interests have shifted to projects that can be done using the equipment on the Observing Deck on the roof of the Science Center. We have a total of nine computerized telescopes, seven of which are equipped with superb CCD cameras; this is one of the best facilities for undergraduate astronomy education in the country. Although the primary purpose of these telescopes is to give all introductory students the chance to use modern astronomical equipment, I am planning to also use them for research projects such as searching for near-earth asteroids, main-belt asteroids, Kuiper-Belt Objects, and supernovae in nearby and distant galaxies.
Teaching Interests
I'd like to see every Wheaton student take at least one astronomy course, and I'm delighted that so many do take astronomy. Many beginning students believe that they are weak in science, and I enjoy helping them to discover that they can be very good at astronomy and can find the subject exciting. All astronomy courses taught at Wheaton are now at least partially Web-based, and one, The Universe, is an entire self-contained text. (Please see the Astronomy home page for more information.) The goal of this Web-based approach is to help students learn better and faster outside class, so that more class time can be spent discussing and "uncovering" the material, rather than just covering it.
Student Projects
Please see the Astronomy home page for information on our supernova search program, which more than 10 students have contributed to.
Artificial satellite imaging (Scott Hesser 2001)
Computer/CCD camera software/hardware integration (Scott Hesser 2001, David Cavossa 2001, Kate Perry 2000)
Student contributions to "The Universe" Web-based text (many)
Selected Publications, Creative Work or Performances
Spectrophotometry of Planetary Nebulae I. Physical Conditions
(Astrophysical Journal, 219, 914, 1978)
Spectrophotometry of Planetary Nebulae II. Chemical Abundances
(Astrophysical Journal, 220, 193, 1978)
Spectrophotometry of Planetary Nebulae III. Sulfur Abundances
(Astrophysical Journal, 221, 145, 1978)
A Comparison of Continuum and Forbidden-Line Electron Temperatures in Gaseous Nebulae
(Astrophysical Journal, 227, 863, 1979)
Low Argon Abundances in Three Halo Planetary Nebulae
(Astrophysical Journal, 237, 482, 1980)
The Ionization Structure of the Ring Nebula I. Sulfur and Argon
(Astrophysical Journal, 240, 99, 1980)
The Ionization Structure of the Ring Nebula II. Ultraviolet Observations
(Astrophysical Journal, 253, 167, 1982)
The Ionization Structure of Planetary Nebulae III. NGC 7009
(Astrophysical Journal, 267, 630, l983)
Low Sulfur Abundances in Three Halo Planetary Nebulae
(Astrophysical Journal, 270, 641, 1983)
Chemical Abundances in a New Halo Planetary Nebula
(with K. Cudworth)
Astrophysical Journal, 278, 610, 1984)
The Ionization Structure of Planetary Nebulae IV. NGC 6853
(Astrophysical Journal, 284, 589, 1984)
The Ionization Structure of Planetary Nebulae V. NGC 3242
(Astrophysical Journal, 294, 193, 1985)
The Ionization Structure of Planetary Nebulae VI. NGC 7662
(Astrophysical Journal, 308, 314, 1986)
The Ionization Structure of Planetary Nebulae VII. New Observations of the Ring Nebula
(Astrophysical Journal, 322, 922, 1987)
The Ionization Structure of Planetary Nebulae VIII. NGC 6826
(Astrophysical Journal, 326, 164, 1988)
The Ionization Structure of Planetary Nebulae IX. NGC 1535
(Astrophysical Journal, 340, 921, 1989)
The Ionization Structure of Planetary Nebulae X. NGC 2392 (Astrophysical Journal, 371, 217, 1991)
Discovery of Supernova 1994U in NGC 4948
(International Astronomical Union Circular #6011, June, 1994)
Wheaton's Quest for Supernovae
(Fall, 1994 issue of CCD Astronomy cover story)