Michael J. Person
Senior Lecturer & Research Scientist,
Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Director, George R. Wallace, Jr. Astrophysical Observatory
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
I am an observational astronomer studying the atmospheres, compositions, and shapes of distant bodies in our solar system. My work centers on stellar occultations, eclipses, and transits — using high-precision astrometry and high-time-resolution photometry to measure objects that are otherwise too small or too far away to resolve from Earth.
Current research
- Atmospheric analysis of Pluto and Triton from stellar occultation data.
- Solar eclipse observations for coronal energy measurements.
- Spectrograph development at the Wallace Astrophysical Observatory.
- Characterization of near-Earth objects.
Teaching
- 12.409 Observing Stars and Planets / Hands-on Astronomy Spring
- 12.410 Observational Techniques of Optical Astronomy Fall
- 12.411 Astronomy Field Camp IAP
Education
- Ph.D., Planetary Sciences, MIT (2006)
- S.M., Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, MIT (2001)
- S.B., Physics, MIT (1994)
Selected publications
A few first-author papers are below; see selected publications for more, or ORCID for the complete record.
- M. J. Person et al., “The 2011 June 23 stellar occultation by Pluto: airborne and ground observations,” Astronomical Journal 146 (2013).
- M. J. Person et al., “Waves in Pluto's upper atmosphere,” Astronomical Journal 136, 1510–1518 (2008).
- M. J. Person, J. L. Elliot et al., “Charon's radius and density from the combined data sets of the 2005 July 11 occultation,” Astronomical Journal 132, 1575–1580 (2006).
Contact
MIT Building 54-526 · 77 Massachusetts Avenue · Cambridge, MA 02139