Summer 2000 -- Vol. 17, No. 1

FACES OF PENN STATE

Peter Mészáros
Distinguished Professor and Head of Department of
Astronomy and Astrophysics

An astronomer with good vision might seem a little redundant, even unnecessary.

After all, with the wide range and quality of computers, detectors, and telescopes, technology makes it possible for even someone with the worst eyesight to see all they need for educational or research purposes.

In the case of Peter Mészáros, though, good vision has nothing to do with eyesight.

In his own research and as head of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Mészáros' vision has helped increase our understanding of the universe, improve Penn State as a place for the education of its students, and strengthen the University as a research institution for the advancement of scientific understanding.

Working with Martin Rees of Cambridge University, Mészáros was the first to theorize about the existence of an afterglow following gamma-ray bursts.

That theory was proven correct, and the ability to study those afterglows provides the basis for NASA's planned Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer satellite.

Penn State will be NASA's Lead University Partner, the site of the Mission Operations Center, and the source for a large portion of the manpower and materials for the ambitious project designed to study gamma-ray bursts--mysterious, tremendously powerful explosions that occur often and in unpredictable locations all over the sky.

Without Mészáros and his theory, though, Penn State's $24.3 million contract--a portion of the $163 million
observatory project--would not have been possible.

No portion of the project would have been possible without the vision to theorize, and eventually prove, the existence of afterglows, which will be measured at X-ray, ultraviolet, and optical wavelengths just seconds after they occur.

"It's going to be a dream tool," Mészáros said. "It's hand-designed to do research on afterglows."

Still, Mészáros' impact goes farther.  Since becoming the head of the department in 1994, Penn State's reputation as a leader in astronomy and astrophysics has grown because of his guidance.

"Peter and his work are internationally known and respected among research astrophysicists," said Alexander Wolszczan, Evan Pugh Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Penn State.  "His leadership has helped attract top-quality faculty and graduate students to the department.  The careers of his own former students and postdoctoral associates clearly reflect the patterns of excellence in his teaching."

Among the most recent to arrive at Penn State, at least in part because of Mészáros, are Mike Eracleous and
Steinn Sigurdsonn. Both are assistant professors, with their initial research focus on astrophysical accretion
-powered systems (Eracleous) and the dynamics of compact objects (Sigurdsonn).

-- By Steve Sampsell

Back to Science Journal Summer 2000 Index

Penn State Home Page | Eberly College of Science | Find a Person | Locate a Building | Search | Site Index

Students | Alumni | Visitors | Researchers | Faculty and Staff | Postdoctoral Fellows | Corporate Interests
Academic Programs | Research | Dean's Office | Development and Alumni Relations | News and Events | Directory

This page was last updated on 13 November 2000

If you would like to communicate with the keepers of the Eberly College of Science Web server, send electronic mail to: science-web@thunder.science.psu.edu
Technology Webmaster: Joseph K. Carlson < jkc3@psu.edu >
Content Webmaster: Barbara Kennedy < science@psu.edu >