Alyssa A. Goodman
Encyclopedia
Alyssa Ann Goodman is Professor of Astronomy
at Harvard University
, a Research Associate of the Smithsonian Institution
, and the Founding Director of the Harvard Initiative in Innovative Computing
. Goodman and her research group at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
study the dense gas between the stars. They are particularly interested in how this interstellar gas arranges itself into new stars. Their investigations use a variety of observational techniques covering the spectrum
from X-ray
to radio
.
Goodman is principal investigator of the COMPLETE Survey of Star-Forming Regions, which is mapping out three very large star-forming regions in our galaxy
in their entirety. These three regions were also observed by the Spitzer Space Telescope
, under the c2d "Legacy" Program. The COMPLETE
and c2d Surveys combined represent a database more than one thousand times larger than the largest similar work before. The database is allowing astrophysicists to address questions such as, "how many stars like the Sun
can form from a given mass of gas in the Milky Way
?".
In 2008-9, Goodman is "Scholar-in-Residence" at WGBH
, on a sabbatical. She is also working closely with Curtis Wong and Jonathan Fay
on the Microsoft WorldWide Telescope
project.
Goodman received her undergraduate degree
in Physics
from MIT in 1984 and a Ph.D.
in Physics from Harvard in 1989. She held a President's Fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley
from 1989 to 1992, after which she took up a post as Assistant Professor of Astronomy
at Harvard. Goodman received the 1997 Newton Lacy Pierce Prize
from the American Astronomical Society
for her work on interstellar matter, and she became full professor at Harvard in 1999.
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, a Research Associate of the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, and the Founding Director of the Harvard Initiative in Innovative Computing
Harvard Initiative in Innovative Computing
The Harvard Initiative in Innovative Computing was an interdisciplinary research and development center at Harvard, which ended in 2009....
. Goodman and her research group at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
The Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics is one of the largest and most diverse astrophysical institutions in the world, where scientists carry out a broad program of research in astronomy, astrophysics, earth and space sciences, and science education...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
study the dense gas between the stars. They are particularly interested in how this interstellar gas arranges itself into new stars. Their investigations use a variety of observational techniques covering the spectrum
Spectrum
A spectrum is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary infinitely within a continuum. The word saw its first scientific use within the field of optics to describe the rainbow of colors in visible light when separated using a prism; it has since been applied by...
from X-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
to radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
.
Goodman is principal investigator of the COMPLETE Survey of Star-Forming Regions, which is mapping out three very large star-forming regions in our galaxy
Galaxy
A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system that consists of stars and stellar remnants, an interstellar medium of gas and dust, and an important but poorly understood component tentatively dubbed dark matter. The word galaxy is derived from the Greek galaxias , literally "milky", a...
in their entirety. These three regions were also observed by the Spitzer Space Telescope
Spitzer Space Telescope
The Spitzer Space Telescope , formerly the Space Infrared Telescope Facility is an infrared space observatory launched in 2003...
, under the c2d "Legacy" Program. The COMPLETE
and c2d Surveys combined represent a database more than one thousand times larger than the largest similar work before. The database is allowing astrophysicists to address questions such as, "how many stars like the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
can form from a given mass of gas in the Milky Way
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
?".
In 2008-9, Goodman is "Scholar-in-Residence" at WGBH
WGBH-TV
WGBH-TV, channel 2, is a non-commercial educational public television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WGBH-TV is a member station of the Public Broadcasting Service , and produces more than two-thirds of PBS's national prime time television programming...
, on a sabbatical. She is also working closely with Curtis Wong and Jonathan Fay
Jonathan Fay
Jonathan Fay is an Argentina-born, American software developer who writes software for Astronomy, imaging and visualization. He is the Principal Software Developer for WorldWide Telescope in the Microsoft Research Next Media Group. He was Lead Developer for Microsoft Image Composer and other...
on the Microsoft WorldWide Telescope
WorldWide Telescope
The WorldWide Telescope is a computer program created by Microsoft that displays the astronomical sky as maps, the 3D Universe, visualised data sets and animations. It was announced at the TED Conference in Monterey, California in February 2008. Users are able to pan around outer space and zoom as...
project.
Goodman received her undergraduate degree
Undergraduate degree
An undergraduate degree is a colloquial term for an academic degree taken by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. It is usually offered at an institution of higher education, such as a university...
in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from MIT in 1984 and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Physics from Harvard in 1989. She held a President's Fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
from 1989 to 1992, after which she took up a post as Assistant Professor of Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
at Harvard. Goodman received the 1997 Newton Lacy Pierce Prize
Newton Lacy Pierce Prize in Astronomy
The Newton Lacy Pierce Prize in Astronomy is awarded annually by the American Astronomical Society to a young astronomer for outstanding achievement in observational astronomical research.Pierce Prize winners:* 1974 Edwin M. Kellogg...
from the American Astronomical Society
American Astronomical Society
The American Astronomical Society is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC...
for her work on interstellar matter, and she became full professor at Harvard in 1999.