Laird Close

Professor, Astronomy

Astronomer, Steward Observatory

Member of the Graduate Faculty

Steward Observatory, 00N420

Laird specializes in novel astronomical observations utilizing new adaptive optics instrumentation. He is utilizing adaptive optics (which removes the blurring effects of the Earth's atmosphere) to study at very high resolution: exoplanets, low-mass stars, and brown dwarfs. As well he is interested in massive old AGB stars, young planets in the process of forming, & solar system objects like Titan and binary asteroids.

He has been involved in the development of several adaptive optics systems and special high-contrast high resolution infrared cameras. He is the head scientist (PI) of the Magellan Adaptive Secondary AO system in Chile.

He is the lead Optical and Mechanical scientist for the extreme AO system MagAO-X (used at the 6.5m Magellan Telescope) and GMagAO-X instrument (designed for the future 25m Giant Magellan Telescope).

He is the PI of the MaxProtoPlanetS survey for the direct detection of the youngest exoplanets with adaptive optics at H-alpha. This a key MagAO-X survey.

He has been the chair of the Adaptive Optics SPIE conference in 2018 and co-Chair in 2014 and 2016. These are the largest AO conferences in the world.

A rare binary asteroid (a double minor planet #25015) is named "(25015) Lairdclose" after him.

Research Interest

Prof. Close is an expert in Adaptive Optics system design and development (a technique that makes ground based telescopes as powerful as space based telescopes) which allows his research group to image new exoplanets (using unique optical devices for increasing star to planet contrast). The ultimate goal is to find another habitable world.

Offering Research Opportunities

Yes

Prerequisite Courses

some knowledge of basic optics desirable.

Majors Considered

Optical Engineering, Astronomy, Physics

Types of Opportunities

Paid

Volunteer

For credit

Description of Opportunity

No description given