Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics
| Type | Research institute |
|---|---|
| Established | 2008 |
| Affiliation | University of Toronto |
| Director | Bryan Gaensler |
| Location | , , 43°39′38″N 79°23′50″W / 43.6606°N 79.3973°W |
| Website | www |
The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto is an astronomical research centre.[1][2][3]
The institute was founded in 2008 with the help of endowed gifts to the University of Toronto from David M. Dunlap and J. Moffat Dunlap,[4] using the proceeds from the sale of the David Dunlap Observatory.[5][6][7] The Dunlap Institute is allied with and co-located with the University of Toronto's Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics and with the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics,[1][8] and no longer has any association or connection to the David Dunlap Observatory.
Research
Astronomers at the Dunlap Institute investigate a variety of topics including:
- the structure of the Milky Way Galaxy[9]
- cosmic magnetic fields[10]
- cosmic explosions[11][12][13][14]
- the large scale structure in the universe[15]
- Dark Energy[15]
- the Cosmic Microwave Background[15]
Technology & Instrumentation
Telescope, instrumentation and software projects with leadership from Dunlap scientists include:
- The Dragonfly Telephoto Array, which comprises many telephoto lens and is designed to detect dim astronomical objects. Dragonfly was co-designed by the U of T's Roberto Abraham and Yale's Pieter van Dokkum.[16]
- The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME)[15]
- The South Pole Telescope, designed to study the Cosmic Microwave Background from its location at the South Pole[15]
- The Gemini InfraRed Multi-Object Spectrograph (GIRMOS),[17][18] to be deployed on the Gemini South telescope in Chile in 2024
- The Canadian Initiative for Radio Astronomy Data Analysis (CIRADA),[2][18] which is producing advanced data products for the CHIME, ASKAP and VLA radio telescopes, and which is a pilot project for a Canadian Square Kilometre Array data centre.
Training
At the Dunlap's annual Introduction to Astronomical Instrumentation Summer School, undergraduate and graduate students from around the world attend lectures and labs.[19] Undergraduate students also pursue summer research projects at the Dunlap Institute's Summer Undergraduate Research Program.[20][21]
Public outreach
The Dunlap Institute runs many public outreach events including:
- Astronomy on Tap TO[22]
- SpaceTime[23]
- Cool Cosmos (part of the International Year of Astronomy in 2009)[24][25]
- Transit of Venus viewing (2012)[26]
- Toronto Science Festival (in partnership with U of T Science Engagement) (2013)[27][28]
- Dunlap Prize Lecture featuring Neil deGrasse Tyson (2014)[29]
- Supermoon Lunar Eclipse viewing (2015)[30][31]
- Partial Solar Eclipse viewing (2017)[32]
- Planet gazing parties,[33][34] in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
Directors
- 2010 - 2012: James R. Graham[35]
- 2012 – 2015: Peter Martin (Acting/Interim)[36]
- 2015 – present: Bryan Gaensler[37]
References
- ^ a b "Looking Skyward". University of Toronto Magazine. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ a b "The U of T astrophysicist toolbox". The Varsity. 2019-01-14. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ "First Discovery for a New Planet Finder". The ArtSci Effect. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ "U OF T WILL BESTOW 15 HONORARY DEGREES" (PDF). UofT Bulletin. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 24 Oct 2019.
- ^ "Lights out for historic Dunlap Observatory". YorkRegion.com. 2007-09-12. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
- ^ "Canadian observatory sold to property developer". Nature. 454 (7205): 679. 2008-08-01. doi:10.1038/454679c. ISSN 1476-4687.
- ^ "David Dunlap's 150th Birthday | RASC". rasc.ca. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
- ^ Friedland, Martin L. (2013). The University of Toronto : a history (2nd ed.). Toronto [Ont.]: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9781442669154. OCLC 852803621.
- ^ "X MARKS THE SPOT AT THE CENTRE OF THE MILKY WAY GALAXY". The ArtSci Effect. Retrieved 24 Oct 2019.
- ^ "Mapping the magnetic bridge between our nearest galactic neighbours". phys.org. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ "Astronomers see source of gravitational waves for 1st time". CBC News. 16 Oct 2017. Retrieved 24 Oct 2019.
- ^ "When these neutron stars crashed, the celestial explosion was a gold mine for astronomers". Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ "The behind the scenes hunt for the neutron star collision". CBC Quirks & Quarks. 30 Nov 2018. Retrieved 24 Oct 2019.
- ^ "Source of gravitational waves seen by astronomers for the first time". CBC The National. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 24 Oct 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Shedding Light on Dark Energy". Research2Reality. 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ "A New Kind of Telescope". University of Toronto Magazine. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ "Major CFI funding announced to build Gemini a new spectrograph - University of Victoria". www.uvic.ca. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ a b "$23 million in new funding for Dunlap Institute astronomers". Eureka Alert. 12 Oct 2017. Retrieved 25 Oct 2019.
- ^ "Bringing the Universe Down to Earth". University of Toronto Magazine. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ Callahan, Melanie (2016-05-10). "Uncharted territory". Gazette - Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
- ^ "AAVSO -- An Undergraduate Research Experience on Studying Variable Stars". www.aavso.org. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
- ^ "Celebrate the first weekend of spring in Toronto". toronto.citynews.ca. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ "Dunlap Institute celebrates 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 Moon landing". The Varsity. 2019-08-11. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ "About CoolCosmos". www.dunlap.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
- ^ Plait, Phil (2009-01-06). "Busing in astronomy". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
- ^ "Transit of Venus: 5,000 astronomy buffs watch solar event at U of T | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ "U of T launches Toronto Science Festival". University of Toronto News. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ "U of T plays host to first-ever Toronto Science Festival". The Varsity. 2013-09-23. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
- ^ "Neil deGrasse Tyson and the cosmic perspective at U of T". The Varsity. 2014-03-24. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ "Eyes on the skies: GTA awaits supermoon, total lunar eclipse combo". CBC. 26 Sep 2015. Retrieved 24 Oct 2019.
- ^ Davidson, Terry (2015-09-26). "GTA buffs preparing for blood moon eclipse | Toronto Sun". Retrieved 2019-11-03.
- ^ "Toronto still buzzing after long-awaited solar eclipse". CBC News. 21 Aug 2017. Retrieved 24 Oct 2019.
- ^ "You Can See Jupiter And Saturn At Toronto's Out-Of-This-World Planet Party Next Month". www.narcity.com. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
- ^ "A moonwalk through the Dunlap Institute's second annual Planet Gazing Party". The Varsity. 2019-10-06. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
- ^ "U of T Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics | Past Faculty Appointments". Retrieved 2019-10-24.
- ^ "A New Cosmos Picks Up Where Carl Sagan Left Off". Toronto Star. 14 Mar 2014. Retrieved 24 Oct 2019.
- ^ "Statement from CAASTRO Director Bryan Gaensler | CAASTRO | Legacy". Retrieved 2019-10-24.