Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1971

Professor of Physics, Emeritus, Gettysburg College

Webpage

I am Professor of Physics, Emeritus at Gettysburg College where I taught courses in astronomy and physics for 43 years, as well as occasional courses in the history and philosophy of science and science writing. My research includes observational studies of stellar evolution, including binary stars, exoplanet transits, and supernovae, studies of asteroids, and astronomy education. I've also traveled to many solar eclipses, since 1980, both for pleasure and for research. I'm the Principal Investigator of Project CLEA, which develops innovative laboratory exercises for astronomy classes. I'm also an active popular science writer, author of three books and many articles, as well as a regular columnist for Natural History magazine (and before that, for The Sciences), and a deputy press officer of the American Astronomical Society.