Our Research
The George Mason University observatory engages in exciting research ventures!
Many of our publications and research efforts are lead by undergraduate and graduate students. Below, you can find a selected list of our published papers, posters, talks, and more!
Our current research efforts are focused on transiting exoplanet follow-up observations from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and Landolt Mission.
Publications
Another Shipment of Six Short-Period Giant Planets from TESS
The TESS Grand Unified Hot Jupiter Survey. II. Twenty New Giant Planets
TESS Delivers Five New Hot Giant Planets Orbiting Bright Stars from the Full-frame Images
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202038016
The KELT Follow-Up Network and Transit False Positive Catalog: Pre-vetted False Positives for TESS
A dearth of small particles in the transiting material around the white dwarf WD 1145+017
A Flexible Python Observatory Automation Framework for the George Mason University Campus Telescope
Posters
Conference_Poster.pdfMethods of Data Analysis on TESS Observations
This poster outlines our methods of transit follow-up for detecting exoplanets at the observatory.
RyanPfeifle_MicroLense_GMU_2015.pdfMicrolensing at the GMU Observatory
This poster explores the feasibility of detecting microlensing events at our observatory. It turns out, we can indeed detect such events!
HabitableWorlds_Poster PDF.pdfOur First Exoplanet Detections
This poster presents our first two exoplanet discoveries! One planet was identified as a "Hot Jupiter," while the other was a brown dwarf.
Seminar Presentations and Talks
SpaceWeatherSeminar.pdfLight Curve Analysis of 3 Transiting Exoplanets
This seminar presentation discusses observations we made of two Hot Jupiters and a brown dwarf.
Mason Science Slam: Ryan's talk
Mason's Science Slam event challenges undergraduate researchers to present their work to a general audience in the most entertaining way possible. Ryan Pfeifle discusses his adventures with microlensing at the GMU observatory.
Contact Us
For questions regarding a public tour visit, please visit the Public Outreach page. Otherwise, please visit the Contact Us page for more information.