Amy Mainzer (born January 2, 1974) is an American astronomer, specializing in astrophysical instrumentation and infrared astronomy. She was the deputy project scientist for the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer and is the principal investigator for its NEOWISE extension to study minor planets[1] and for the future Near Earth Object Surveyor space telescope mission.
Amy Mainzer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | January 2, 1974 Mansfield, Ohio |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Stanford University California Institute of Technology University of California, Los Angeles |
| Known for | Astrophysical instrumentation and infrared astronomy |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astrophysics |
| Institutions | University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory |
She also hosted segments for and served as science curriculum consultant and executive producer for the PBS Kids series Ready Jet Go!.[2]
Life
editMainzer received a B.Sc. in physics from Stanford University with honors (1996), an M.Sc. in astronomy from California Institute of Technology (2000), and a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of California, Los Angeles (2003).
Her research interests include asteroids, brown dwarfs, planetary atmospheres, debris disks, star formation, and the design and construction of new ground- and space-based instrumentation.[3]
She appears in several episodes of the History Channel series The Universe.[4] She also appears in the documentary featurette "Stellar Cartography: On Earth" included on the Star Trek Generations home video release (March 2010). Mainzer is also in the 2016 documentary about the life of Leonard Nimoy and the effect of Spock on popular culture called "For the Love of Spock", which was directed by Leonard Nimoy's son Adam Nimoy. She serves as the science consultant and host for the live-action interstitials on the PBS Kids series Ready Jet Go!.[5] She was the science advisor for the 2021 Netflix film Don't Look Up.[6]
Awards and honors
edit
- NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal (2012)
- NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal (2011)
- Numerous group achievement awards for Spitzer, WISE, NEOWISE
- Lew Allen Award for Excellence (2010)
- NASA Graduate Student Research Program Fellowship (2001–2003)
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (1996–1999)[7]
Asteroid
editAsteroid 234750 Amymainzer, discovered by astronomers of the NEAT program at Palomar Observatory in 2002, was named after her.[8] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 26 July 2010 (M.P.C. 71353).[9]
Asteroid 251627 Joyceearl was named after her grandparents. JPL · 251627
Select publications
edit- Edward L. Wright; Peter R. M. Eisenhardt; Amy K. Mainzer; et al. (November 9, 2010). "The wide-field infrared survey explorer (WISE): mission description and initial on-orbit performance". The Astronomical Journal. 140 (6): 1868–1881. arXiv:1008.0031. Bibcode:2010AJ....140.1868W. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/140/6/1868. ISSN 0004-6256. Wikidata Q59759296.
- T. H. Jarrett; M. Cohen; F. Masci; et al. (June 23, 2011). "The Spitzer-WISE survey of the ecliptic poles". The Astrophysical Journal. 735 (2): 112. Bibcode:2011ApJ...735..112J. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/735/2/112. ISSN 0004-637X. Wikidata Q59246117.
- Michael C. Cushing; J. Davy Kirkpatrick; Christopher R. Gelino; et al. (November 22, 2011). "The discovery of Y dwarfs using data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)". The Astrophysical Journal. 743 (1): 50. arXiv:1108.4678. Bibcode:2011ApJ...743...50C. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/743/1/50. ISSN 0004-637X. Wikidata Q56423853.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "NASA's NEOWISE Completes Scan for Asteroids and Comets – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory". jpl.nasa.gov. February 1, 2011. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
- ^ https://www.lpl.arizona.edu/faculty/amy-mainzer [bare URL]
- ^ "Science – Evolution of Galaxies: People: Amy Mainzer". science.jpl.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
- ^ "Amy Mainzer". CBS Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 14, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
- ^ "PBS KIDS Announces Premiere Date for New Animated Series READY JET GO! - PBS About". PBS KIDS Announces Premiere Date for New Animated Series READY JET GO! - PBS About..
- ^ "Hollywood Can Take on Science Denial: Don't Look up is a Great Example". Scientific American.
- ^ Mainzer, Amy. "Science - Structure of the Universe (3266): People: Amy Mainzer". science.jpl.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ "234750 Amymainzer (2002 NX69)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
- ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
External links
edit
- Amy Mainzer at IMDb
- Amy Mainzer at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
- Jasmin Ionescu. "A Voyage of Discovery with Amy Mainzer". JPL Education Office. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
