Gerard van Belle
Encyclopedia
Gerard Theodore van Belle (born 1968, in Tallahassee, FL) is an American
astronomer
. He received a bachelor's degree in physics from Whitman College
in 1990, a master's in physics from The Johns Hopkins University
in 1993, and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Wyoming
in 1996.
Dr. van Belle is an expert in near-infrared interferometry, and has utilized this technique to measure the sizes of hundreds of nearby stars
. The first direct measurement of stellar shape was carried out by a team led by him using the Palomar Testbed Interferometer
to make observations of the rapidly rotating star Altair. Dr. van Belle has also contributed to practical considerations of operating astronomical interferometer
s, particularly regarding considerations of calibration of these complicated instruments
.
After schooling, Dr. van Belle took a position at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
as an instrument architect for NASA
's Keck Interferometer, and later joined the Michelson Science Center (now NASA Exoplanet Science Institute) at Caltech in 2003. He has participated in the commissioning of the Palomar Testbed Interferometer, and the CHARA Array
. In 2007, he became a member of the astronomy faculty at the European Southern Observatory
(ESO), and instrument scientist for the PRIMA instrument of ESO's VLTI
facility; later in early 2011 he was also appointed instrument scientist for the MATISSE instrument of the VLTI. Since August of 2011 he has been a member of the astronomer faculty at Lowell Observatory
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
. He received a bachelor's degree in physics from Whitman College
Whitman College
Whitman College is a private, co-educational, non-sectarian, residential undergraduate liberal arts college located in Walla Walla, Washington. Initially founded as a seminary by a territorial legislative charter in 1859, the school became a four year degree granting institution in 1883...
in 1990, a master's in physics from The Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1993, and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
in 1996.
Dr. van Belle is an expert in near-infrared interferometry, and has utilized this technique to measure the sizes of hundreds of nearby stars
. The first direct measurement of stellar shape was carried out by a team led by him using the Palomar Testbed Interferometer
Palomar Testbed Interferometer
The Palomar Testbed Interferometer was a near-IR, long-baseline stellar interferometer located at Palomar Observatory in north San Diego County. It was built by Caltech/JPL and was intended to serve as a testbed for developing interferometric techniques to be used at the Keck Interferometer...
to make observations of the rapidly rotating star Altair. Dr. van Belle has also contributed to practical considerations of operating astronomical interferometer
Astronomical interferometer
An astronomical interferometer is an array of telescopes or mirror segments acting together to probe structures with higher resolution by means of interferometry....
s, particularly regarding considerations of calibration of these complicated instruments
.
After schooling, Dr. van Belle took a position at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The facility is headquartered in the city of Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena...
as an instrument architect for NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's Keck Interferometer, and later joined the Michelson Science Center (now NASA Exoplanet Science Institute) at Caltech in 2003. He has participated in the commissioning of the Palomar Testbed Interferometer, and the CHARA Array
CHARA array
The CHARA Array is an optical astronomical interferometer operated by The Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy of the Georgia State University . CHARA is the World's highest angular resolution telescope at near-infrared wavelengths...
. In 2007, he became a member of the astronomy faculty at the European Southern Observatory
European Southern Observatory
The European Southern Observatory is an intergovernmental research organisation for astronomy, supported by fifteen countries...
(ESO), and instrument scientist for the PRIMA instrument of ESO's VLTI
Very Large Telescope
The Very Large Telescope is a telescope operated by the European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT consists of four individual telescopes, each with a primary mirror 8.2m across, which are generally used separately but can be used together to...
facility; later in early 2011 he was also appointed instrument scientist for the MATISSE instrument of the VLTI. Since August of 2011 he has been a member of the astronomer faculty at Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Lowell Observatory was established in 1894, placing it among the oldest observatories in the United States, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965....
.