Dr. Brian Espey
Associate Professor, Physics
Biography
Name:
Brian Russell Espey Qualifications: B.A. (Mod) Experimental Physics,
University of Dublin, 1983 (class II1)
Ph.D. in Astronomy, University of Cambridge, 1990 Employment
Nov 2001 - present
Permanent Lecturer, Physics Department, University of Dublin
Also: Research Associate, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
May 1998 - Oct 2001 Assistant Astronomer, European Space Agency,
stationed at Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
Also:
adjunct Associate Research Scientist, Department of Physics & Astronomy, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
Also:
Academic Visitor, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland
Jan 1994 - Apr 1998
Associate Research Scientist, Department of Physics & Astronomy, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA Also: adjunct Research Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Oct 1990 - Dec 1993
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Oct 1989 - Sep 1990
Royal Society European Science Exchange Fellow, Leiden Observatory,
The Netherlands
Oct 1983 - Dec 1985
Scientific Officer, Laser Division, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, UK
Fellowships Oct 1989 - Sept 1990 Royal Society European Science Exchange (Leverhulme) Fellow - position held at Leiden Observatory, The Netherlands
Research experience I am primarily an observer experienced with multiwavelength datasets, though also have experience with the tools required to analyse and model the data.
I have worked with instruments covering the infrared through to the X-ray regions of the spectrum, and have an intimate knowledge of spectroscopy and diagnostics and tools (e.g., XSTAR, CLOUDY) as well as data reduction software (STARLINIK, IRAF, STSDAS etc.). In particular, I have worked on the instrument teams for the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope [HUT], and Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph [STIS]) and have recently specialised in data from STIS and the Far-Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE).
Although UV and far-UV astronomy may be reduced in scope in the next few years, the tools and techniques have application to the spectra reaching us from the high-redshift Universe, since they originate in the rest-frame UV and far-UV portions of the Universe. The relevance of this is due to the ionising nature of the photons from these portions of the spectrum - not only for the immediate neighbourhood of hot stars and active galactic nuclei, but also for the ionisation of the interstellar and intergalactic material, controlling star formation as well as what we can observe in the distant Universe.
My current research centres on three main themes. Studies of mass loss from evolved stars in symbiotic star binaries, and the physical properties and abundance of gas in active galactic nuclei use emission and absorption line spectroscopic diagnostics as well as statistical methods. More recently, I have begun the application of machine intelligence to the interrogation of large databases (in particular the spectroscopic data of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey) in order to identify new samples for statistical, as well as more detailed, study.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Kyba, C.C.M. and Aubé, M. and Bará, S. and Bertolo, A. and Bouroussis, C.A. and Cavazzani, S. and Espey, B.R. and Falchi, F. and Gyuk, G. and Jechow, A. and Kocifaj, M. and Kolláth, Z. and Lamphar, H. and Levin, N. and Liu, S. and Miller, S.D. and Ortolani, S. and Jason Pun, C.S. and Ribas, S.J. and Ruhtz, T. and Sánchez de Miguel, A. and Schneider, M. and Shrestha, R.M. and Simoneau, A. and So, C.W. and Storch, T. and Tong, K.P. and Tuñón, M. and Turnshek, D. and Walczak, K. and Wang, J. and Wang, Z. and Zhang, J., Multiple Angle Observations Would Benefit Visible Band Remote Sensing Using Night Lights, Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 127, (12), 2022
Cleary-Gaffney, M. and Espey, B. and Coogan, A.N., Association of perceptions of artificial light-at-night, light-emitting device usage and environmental noise appraisal with psychological distress, sleep quality and chronotype: A cross sectional study, Heliyon, 8, (11), 2022
Cleary-Gaffney, M.; Espey,B.,; Coogan, A., Association of perceptions of artificial light-at-night, light-emitting device usage and environmental noise, Heliyon, 8, (11), 2022, p11
Kyba, C.C.M. and Ruby, A. and Kuechly, H.U. and Kinzey, B. and Miller, N. and Sanders, J. and Barentine, J. and Kleinodt, R. and Espey, B., Direct measurement of the contribution of street lighting to satellite observations of nighttime light emissions from urban areas, Lighting Research and Technology, 53, (3), 2021, p189-211
Espey, B.R., Empirical modelling of public lighting emission functions, Remote Sensing, 13, (19), 2021
Coogan, A., Cleary-Gaffney, M., Finnegan, M., McMillan, G, Gonzalez, A., and Espey, B., Perceptions of light pollution and its impacts: Results of an Irish citizen science survey, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, (15), 2020, p5628 - 5634
Power, M., Del Campo, A.G., and Espey, B., Light pollution: spatial analysis and potential ecological effects in rural Ireland, Irish Geography, 50, (1), 2017, p19 - 36
Espey, B, McCauley, J, Initial Irish light pollution measurements and a new Sky Quality Meter-based data logger, LIGHTING RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY, 46, (1), 2014, p67-77
Crowley, C., Espey, B.R., and McCandliss, S.R., EG And: Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer and Hubble Space Telescope STIS Monitoring of an Eclipsing Symbiotic Binary, Astrophysical Journal, 675, (1), 2008, p711 - 722
Young, P.R., Dupree, A.K., Espey, B.R. , and Kenyon, S.J., High-Ionization Forbidden Lines in the UV Spectrum of AG Draconis, Astrophysical Journal, 650, (2), 2006, p1091 - 1095
Sokoloski, J.L. and Kenyon, S.J. and Espey, B.R. and Keyes, C.D. and McCandliss, S.R. and Kong, A.K.H. and Aufdenberg, J.P. and Filippenko, A.V. and Li, W. and Brocksopp, C. and Kaiser, C.R. and Charles, P.A. and Rupen, M.P. and Stone, R.P.S., A "combination nova" outburst in Z Andromedae: Nuclear shell burning triggered by a disk instability, Astrophysical Journal, 636, (2 I), 2006, p1002-1019
Sokoloski, J.L., Kenyon, S.J., Espey, B.R., Keyes, C.D., McCandliss, S.R., Kong, A.K.H., Aufdenberg, J.P., Filippenko, A.V., Li, W., Brocksopp, C., Kaiser, C.R., Charles, P.A., Rupen, M.P. and Stone, R.P.S., A 'Combination Nova' Outburst in Z Andromedae: Nuclear Shell Burning Triggered by a Disk Instability, Astrophysical Journal, 636, (2), 2006, p1002 - 1019
Young, P.R., Dupree, A.K., Espey, B.R., Kenyon, S.J. and Ake, T.B., Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer Observations of the Symbiotic Star AG Draconis, Astrophysical Journal, 618, (2), 2005, p891 - 907
Crowley, C. and Espey, B.R. and McCandliss, S.R., A wind analysis of an evolved giant - Fuse and HST/STIS observations of an eclipsing symbiotic binary, (560 I), 2005, pp343-350
Keenan, F.P. and Ahmed, S. and Brage, T. and Doyle, J.G. and Espey, B.R. and Exter, K.M. and Hibbert, A. and Keenan, M.T.C. and Madjarska, M.S. and Mathioudakis, M. and Pollacco, D.L., The O IV and S IV intercombination lines in the ultraviolet spectra of astrophysical sources, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 337, (3), 2002, p901-909
Keenan FP, Aller LH, Espey BR, Exter KM, Hyung S, Keenan MT, Pollacco DL, Ryans RS., Emission lines of [K V] in the optical spectra of gaseous nebulae., Publications of the National Academy of Sciences, 99, (7), 2002, p4152 - 4155
Keenan, F.P., Ahmed, S., Brage, T., Doyle, J.G., Espey, B.R., Exter, K.M., Hibbert, A., Keenan, M.T.C., Madjarska, M.S., Mathioudakis, M. and Pollacco, D.L. 2002, The OIV and SIV intercombination lines in the ultraviolet, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astropnomical Society, 337, 2002, p901 - 909
Gardner, J.P. and Baum, S.A. and Brown, T.M. and Carollo, C.M. and Christensen, J. and Dashevsky, I. and Dickinson, M.E. and Espey, B.R. and Ferguson, H.C. and Fruchter, A.S. and Gonnella, A.M. and Gonzalez-Lopezlira, R.A. and Hook, R.N. and Kaiser, M.E. and Martin, C.L. and Sahu, K.C. and Savaglio, S. and Ed Smith, T. and Teplitz, H.I. and Williams, R.E. and Wilson, J., The hubble deep field south: STIS imaging, Astronomical Journal, 119, (2), 2000, p486-508
Birriel, J.J., Espey, B.R., and Schulte-Ladbeck, R.E., Contemporaneous Ultraviolet and Optical Observations of Direct and Raman-scattered O VI Lines in Symbiotic Stars, Astrophysical Journal, 545, 2000, p1020 - 1033
Gardner, J.P., et al., The Hubble Deep Field South: STIS Imaging, Astronomical Journal, 119, (2), 2000, p486 - 508
Robert E. Williams, Stefi Baum, Louis E. Bergeron, Nicholas Bernstein, Brett S. Blacker, Brian J. Boyle, Thomas M. Brown, C. Marcella Carollo, Stefano Casertano, Riccardo Covarrubias, Duília F. de Mello, Mark E. Dickinson, Brian R. Espey, Henry C. Ferguson, Andrew Fruchter, Jonathan P. Gardner, Anne Gonnella, Jeffrey Hayes, Paul C. Hewett, Inger Heyer, Richard Hook, Mike Irwin, Daniel Jones, Mary Elizabeth Kaiser, Zolt Levay, Andy Lubenow, Ray A. Lucas, Jennifer Mack, John W. MacKenty, Piero Madau, Russell B. Makidon, Crystal L. Martin, Lisa Mazzuca, Max Mutchler, Ray P. Norris, Beth Perriello, M. M. Phillips, Marc Postman, Patricia Royle, Kailash Sahu, Sandra Savaglio, Alison Sherwin, T. Ed Smith, Massimo Stiavelli, Nicholas B. Suntzeff, Harry I. Teplitz, Roeland P. van der Marel, Alistair R. Walker, Ray J. Weymann, Michael S. Wiggs, Gerard M. Williger, Jennifer Wilson, Norbert Zacharias and David R. Zurek, The Hubble Deep Field South: Formulation of the Observing Campaign, Astronomical Journal, 120, (6), 2000, p2735 - 2746
Keenan, F.P. and Espey, B.R. and Mathioudakis, M. and Aggarwal, K.M. and Crawford, F.L. and Feibelman, W.A. and McKenna, F.C., [Al II] in the ultraviolet spectrum of the symbiotic star RR Telescopii, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 309, (1), 1999, p195-198
F. P. Keenan, B. R. Espey, M. Mathioudakis, K. M. Aggarwal, F. L. Crawford, [Alii] in the ultraviolet spectrum of the symbiotic star RR Telescopii, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc., 309, 1999, p195-198
Savaglio, Sandra, Ferguson, Henry Brown, Thomas, Espey, Brian, Sahu, Kailash, Baum, Stefi, Carollo, C. Marcella, Kaiser, Mary Elizabeth, Stiavelli, Massimo, Williams, Robert, Wilson, Jennifer, The Lyman-alpha forest of the QSO in the Hubble Deep Field South , Astrophysical Journal Letters, 515, (1), 1999
Savaglio, S. and Ferguson, H.C. and Brown, T.M. and Espey, B.R. and Sahu, K.C. and Baum, S.A. and Carollo, C.M. and Kaiser, M.E. and Stiavelli, M. and Williams, R.E. and Wilson, J., The Lyα forest of the quasar in the Hubble Deep Field South, Astrophysical Journal, 515, (1 PART 2), 1999, pL5-L8
John P. Grimes, Gerard A. Kriss and Brian R. Espey, Spatially Resolved Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope Spectra of NGC 1068, The Astrophysical Journal, 526, 1999, p130-140
Kruk, Jeffrey W. and Brown, Thomas M. and Davidsen, Arthur F. and Espey, Brian R. , Final Astro-2 Calibration of the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope, Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series , 122, 1999, p299 - 329
Jennifer J. Birriel, Brian R. Espey and Regina E. Schulte-Ladbeck, Near-simultaneous observations of direct and Raman-scattered Lines in the Symbiotic Star Z Andromedae , Astrophysical Journal, 507, 1998, pL75 - L78
Keenan, F.P. and Aller, L.H. and Bell, K.L. and Espey, B.R. and Feibelman, W.A. and Hyung, S. and McKenna, F.C. and Ramsbottom, C.A., Emission lines of [Ne IV] in the optical and ultraviolet spectra of gaseous nebulae, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 295, (3), 1998, p683-690
Espey, B. R.; Kriss, G. A.; Krolik, J. H.; Zheng, W.; Tsvetanov, Z.; Davidsen, A. F., Far-ultraviolet observations of NGC 4151 during the ORFEUS-SPAS II mission, Astrophysical Journal , 500, 1998, pL13 - L16
Keenan, F. P.; Aller, L. H.; Bell, K. L.; Espey, B. R.; Feibelman, W. A.; Hyung, S.; McKenna, F. C.; Ramsbottom, C. A., Forbidden emission lines of NE IV in the optical and ultraviolet spectra of gaseous nebulae, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 295, 1998, p683 - 690
Turnshek, David A.; Monier, Eric M.; Sirola, Christopher J.; Espey, Brian R., A Hubble Space Telescope Faint Object Spectrograph Survey for Broad Absorption Lines in a Sample of Low-Redshift Weak [O iii] Quasi-stellar Objects, Astrophysical Journal, 476, 1997, p40-48
Cooke, A. J.; Espey, B.; Carswell, R. F., Evolution of the ionizing background at high redshifts, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 284, (3), 1997, p552-568
Wanders, I.; Peterson, B. M.; Alloin, D.; Ayres, T. R.; Clavel, J.; Crenshaw, D. M.; Horne, K.; Kriss, G. A.; Krolik, J. H.; Malkan, M. A.; Netzer, H.; O'Brien, P. T.; Reichert, G. A.; Rodriguez-Pascual, P. M.; Wamsteker, W.; Alexander, T.; Anderson, K. S. J.; Benitez, E.; Bochkarev, N. G.; Burenkov, A. N.; Cheng, F.-Z.; Collier, S. J.; Comastri, A.; Dietrich, M.; Dultzin-Hacyan, D.; Espey, B. R.; Filippenko, A. V.; Gaskell, C. M.; George, I. M.; Goad, M. R.; Ho, L. C.; Kaspi, S.; Kollatschny, W.; Korista, K. T.; Laor, A.; MacAlpine, G. M.; Mignoli, M.; Morris, S. L.; Nandra, K.; Penton, S.; Pogge, R. W.; Ptak, R. L.; Rodriguez-Espinoza, J. M.; Santos-Lleo, M.; Shapovalova, A. I.; Shull, J. M.; Snedden, S. A.; Sparke, L. S.; Stirpe, G. M.; Sun, W.-H.; Turner, T. J.; Ulrich, M.-H.; Wang, T.-G.; Wei, C.; Welsh, W. F.; Xue, S.-J.; Zou, Z.-L., Steps toward Determination of the Size and Structure of the Broad-Line Region in Active Galactic Nuclei. XI. Intensive Monitoring of the Ultraviolet Spectrum of NGC 7469, Astrophysical Journal , 113, 1997, p69-88
Turnshek, David A.; Lupie, Olivia L.; Rao, Sandhya M.; Espey, Brian R.; Sirola, Christopher J., Hubble Space Telescope Observations of the Gravitationally Lensed Cloverleaf Broad Absorption Line QSO H1413+1143: Imaging, Astrophysical Journal , 485, 1996, p100-111
Kriss, G. A.; Espey, B. R.; Krolik, J. H.; Tsvetanov, Z.; Zheng, W.; Davidsen, A. F., Far-Ultraviolet Observations of NGC 3516 Using the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope, Astrophysical Journal, 467, 1996, p622-628
Turnshek, David A.; Kopko, Michael, Jr.; Monier, Eric; Noll, Donette; Espey, Brian R.; Weymann, Ray J., Far-Ultraviolet Spectra of Broad Absorption Line QSOs and Constraints on Models for the Ionization Structure and Metallicity of the BAL-Region Gas, Astrophysical Journal, 463, 1996, p110
Espey, B. and Keenan, F.P. and McKenna, F.C. and Feibelman, W.A. and Aggarwal, K.M., Ne v and Ne vi lines in the ultraviolet spectrum of the symbiotic star RR telescopii, Astrophysical Journal, 465, (2 PART I), 1996, p965-971
Kriss, G. A.; Krolik, J. H.; Otani, C.; Espey, B. R.; Turner, T. J.; Kii, T.; Tsvetanov, Z.; Takahashi, T.; Davidsen, A. F.; Tashiro, M.; Zheng, W.; Murakami, S.; Petre, R.; Mihara, T., ASCA Observations of the Composite Warm Absorber in NGC 3516, Astrophysical Journal , 467, 1996, p629-635
Espey, B.; Keenan, F. P.; McKenna, F. C.; Feibelman, W. A.; Aggarwal, K. M., NE V and NE VI Lines in the Ultraviolet Spectrum of the Symbiotic Star RR Telescopii, Astrophysical Journal , 465, 1996, p965-971
Kriss, G.A. and Davidsen, A.F. and Zheng, W. and Kruk, J.W. and Espey, B.R., The far-ultraviolet spectrum of ngc 4151 as observed with the hopkins ultraviolet telescope on astro-2, Astrophysical Journal, 454, (1), 1995, pL7-L10
Kriss, Gerard A.; Davidsen, Arthur F.; Zheng, Wei; Kruk, Jeffrey W.; Espey, Brian R., The Far-Ultraviolet Spectrum of NGC 4151 as Observed with the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope on Astro-2, Astrophysical Journal Letters, 454, 1995, pL7-L10
Espey, Brian R.; Schulte-Ladbeck, Regina E.; Kriss, Gerard A.; Hamann, Fred; Schmid, Hans M.; Johnson, Joni J., Simultaneous Observation of Direct and Raman-scattered O VI Lines in the Symbiotic Nova RR Telescopii, Astrophysical Journal Letters , 454, 1995, pL61-L64
Kruk, Jeffrey W.; Durrance, Samuel T.; Kriss, Gerard A.; Davidsen, Arthur F.; Blair, William P.; Espey, Brian R.; Finley, David S., Performance and Preliminary Calibration of the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope on the Astro-2 Mission, Astrophysical Journal Letters, 454, 1995, pL1-L6
Filippenko, Alexei V.; Barth, Aaron J.; Matheson, Thomas; Armus, Lee; Brown, Michael; Espey, Brian R.; Fan, Xiao-Ming; Goodrich, Robert W.; Ho, Luis C.; Junkkarinen, Vesa T.; Koo, David C.; Lehnert, Matthew D.; Martel, Andre R.; Mazzarella, Joseph M.; Miller, Joseph S.; Smith, Graeme H.; Tytler, David; Wirth, Gregory D., The Type IC Supernova 1994I in M51: Detection of Helium and Spectral Evolution, Astrophysical Journal Letters, 450, 1995, pL11-L15
Filippenko, A.V. and Barth, A.J. and Matheson, T. and Armus, L. and Brown, M. and Espey, B.R. and Fan, X.-M. and Goodrich, R.W. and Ho, L.C. and Junkkarinen, V.T. and Koo, D.C. and Lehnert, M.D. and Martel, A.R. and Mazzarella, J.M. and Miller, J.S. and Smith, G.H. and Tytler, D. and Wirth, G.D., The type ic supernova 1994i in m51: Detection of helium and spectral evolution, Astrophysical Journal, 450, (1), 1995, pL11-L15
Kriss, G.A. and Davidsen, A.F. and Zheng, W. and Kruk, J.W. and Espey, B.R., The far-ultraviolet spectrum of NGC 4151 as observed with the hopkins ultraviolet telescope on astro-2, Astrophysical Journal Letters, 454, (1), 1995, pL7-L10
Korista, K. T.; Alloin, D.; Barr, P.; Clavel, J.; Cohen, R. D.; Crenshaw, D. M.; Evans, I. N.; Horne, K.; Koratkar, A. P.; Kriss, G. A.; et. al., Steps toward determination of the size and structure of the broad-line region in active galatic nuclei. 8: an intensive HST, IUE, and ground-based study of NGC 5548, Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series , 97, (2), 1995, p285-330
Turnshek, David A.; Espey, Brian R.; Kopko, Michael, Jr.; Rauch, Michael; Weymann, Ray J.; Jannuzi, Buell T.; Boksenberg, Alec; Bergeron, Jacqueline; Hartig, George F.; Sargent, W. L. W.; Savage, Blair D.; Schneider, Donald P.; Wolfe, Arthur M., The HST quasar absorption line key project. 4: HST faint-object spectrograph and ground-based observations of the unusual low-redshift broad absorption-line quasi-stellar object PG 0043+039, Astrophysical Journal, Part 1, 428, (1), 1994, p93-112
Baker, A. C.; Carswell, R. F.; Bailey, J. A.; Espey, B. R.; Smith, M. G.; Ward, M. J., Infrared Spectroscopy of High-Redshift Quasars, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 270, (3), 1994, p575 - 579
Espey, B.R., Turnshek, D.A., Lee, L., Weymann, R.J., Bahcall, J.N., Bergeron, J., Boksenberg, A., Hartig, G.F., Januzzi, B.T., Sargent, W.L.W., Savage, B.D., Schneider, D.P., and Wolfe, A.M., The HST Absorption Line Key Project. IX. Emission Line Studies of PG 2251+113, Astrophysical Journal, 434, 1994, p484 - 492
Espey, B.R. and Turnshek, D.A. and Lee, L. and Bergeron, J. and Boksenberg, A. and Hartig, G.F. and Jannuzi, B.T. and Sargent, W.L.W. and Savage, B.D. and Schneider, D.P. and Weymann, R.J. and Wolfe, A.M., The HST quasar absorption line key project. IX. An emission-line study of PG 2251+113, Astrophysical Journal, 434, (2), 1994, p484-492
Espey, B, The Influence of QSO Emission Line Velocity Shifts on Estimates of the Intergalactic Ionizing Background, Astrophysical Journal, 411, 1993, pL59 - L62
Espey, Brian R., The influence of QSO emission-line velocity shifts on estimates of the intergalactic background intensity, Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters, 411, (2), 1993, pL59-L62
Carswell, R. F.; Mountain, C. M.; Robertson, D. J.; Beard, S. M.; Glendinning, A. R.; Laird, D. C.; Lawrence, L. C.; Montgomery, D.; Pentland, G.; Pickup, D. A et al., The systemic redshift of the quasar 1331 + 170, Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters, 381, (1), 1991, pL5-L8
Espey, B. R. and Carswell, R. F. and Bailey, J. A. and Smith, M. G. and Ward, M. J., H-alpha emission lines in high-redshift quasars, Astrophysical Journal , 342, 1989, p666 - 676
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
Brian Espey, 'Public Lighting Recommendations', Dublin, Dark Sky Ireland, 2019, 1 - 36
Brian Espey, Night: The Other Side of the Enivronmental Coin, Heritage Ireland, Spring, (9), 2019, p5 - 7
Brian Espey, 'Public Lighting Recommendations', Dublin, Dark Sky Ireland, 2019, 1 - 36
Brian Espey, 'Light Pollution and AstroTourism', Newstalk Drive, 8th September 2017, (Drive), Dublin, Newstalk 106-108fm, 2017, -
Brian Espey, Light Pollution - WATTS it all about? , Launch of Cork Sky Friendly Campaign, Blackrock Castle Observatory, Cork, 14 July 2017, 2017, Blackrock Castle Observatory
Ribas, S. J., Aubé, M., Bará, S., Bouroussis, C., Canal-Domingo, R., Espey, B., Hänel, A., Jechow, A., Kolláth, Z., Marti, G., Massana, P., Schmidt, W., Spoelstra, H., Wuchterl, G., Zamorano, J., Kyba, C., Report of the 2016 STARS4ALL/LoNNe Intercomparison Campaign, Potsdam, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ, 2017, p1 - 69
Brian Espey, Intelligent Lighting: How Not to be Seen in a Bad Light , Mayo Dark Skies Festival, Mulranny, Co. Mayo, 27-29 October 2017, 2017, Mayo Dark Skies Festival
Brian Espey, 'Light Pollution in Ireland', Drive, Newstalk Drive 29th March 2017, Dublin, Newstalk 106-108fm, 2017, -
Brian Espey, Dark Skies, Tourism & Sustainability, National Tourism Conference, Listowel, Co. Kerry, 5-6 September 2017, 2017, Kerry County Council
Hänel, A., Jechow, A., Kolláth, Z., Mart, G., Massana, P. , Schmidt, W., Spoelstra, H., Wuchterl, G., Zamorano, J., and Kyba, C.M., "Report of the 2016 STARS4ALL/LoNNe Intercomparison Campaign ", 2016, p1--
Brian Espey, Light@Night: Environment, Ecology and Health, 20th April 2016, In:Light@Night: Environment, Ecology and Health, 2016, School of Physics, Trinity College Dublin
Claire Daly, The Ecological Effects of Light Pollution: A Three Site (Bull Island, Trinity College Dublin & Killiney Hill) Comparative Study, Trinity College Dublin, 2016
Espey, B., and Crowley, C., Mass-loss from Red Giants, RS Ophiuchi (2006), Keele, UK, 12-14 June, 2007, Nye Evans (Chair), 11pp
Crowley, C., and Espey, B., Eclipse Mapping of Symbiotic Binaries, Baltic Astronomy, 16, 2007, p10 - 13
Sokoloski, J.L., Kenyon, S.J., Kong, A.K.H., Espey, B.R., McCandliss, S.R., Keyes, C.D., Li, W., Filippenko, A. V., Aufdenberg, J., Brocksopp, C., Kaiser, C.R., Charles, P. A., and Stone, R.P.S., A new kind of nova , The Astrophysics of Cataclysmic Variables and Related Objects, edited by J.-M. Hameury and J.-P. Lasota , 330, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, San Francisco, 2005, pp293 - 299
Crowley, C., Espey, B.R., McCandliss, S.R., A Wind analysis of an evolved Giant - FUSE and HST/STIS observations of an eclipsing Symbiotic Binary, 13th Cool Stars, Stellar Systems and the Sun, Hamburg, Germany, 2004, ESA SP-560, European Space Agency, 2005, pp343 - 350
Young, P.R., Espey, B., Kenyon, S.J. and Dupree, A.K., AG Draconis - a High Density Plasma Laboratory, Frontiers of High Resolution Spectroscopy, 25th meeting of the IAU, Joint Discussion, Sydney, Australia, 23-24th July 2003, 2003, pp22-
Espey, B.R. and McCandliss, S.R., Far-ultraviolet Observations of the Symbiotic EG And, Symbiotic Stars: Probing Stellar Evolution, Symbiotic Stars, La Palma, Canary Islands, edited by R.L.M. Corradi, J. Mikolajewska & T.J. Mahoney , 303, Astronomical Society of the Pacific: San Francisco, 2003, pp72 - 76
Sokoloski, J.L., Kenyon, S.J., Kong, A.K.H., Charles, P.A., Kaiser, C.R., Seymour, N., Espey, B.R., Keyes, C.D., McCandliss, S.R., Filippenko, A.V., Li, W., Pooley, G.G., Brocksopp, C. and Stone, R.P.S., Outbursts of classical symbiotics: Multi-wavelength observations of the 2000-2001 outburst of Z Andromedae, Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series, The Physics of Cataclysmic Variables and Related Objects, edited by B.T. Gänsicke, K. Beuermann, & K. Reinsch , 261, Astronomical Society of the Pacific: San Francisco, 2002, pp667 - 668
McCandliss, S.R., Espey, B. and Frey, B., FUSE Observations of the Symbiotic System EG And, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 34, American Astronomical Society, 2001, pp1327-
Turnshek, D.A., Chae, K.-H., Rao, S.M., Espey, B.R., Lupie, O.L., Monier, E.M., Schulte-Ladbeck, R.E. and Sirola, C.J. , Science with the Cloverleaf QSO H1413+1143: Some Observational Studies and Models, Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series, Gravitational Lensing: Recent Progress and Future Goals, .G. Brainerd & C.S. Kochanek, 237, Astronomical Society of the Pacific: San Francisco, 2001, pp105-
Research Expertise
Description
Emission and absorption line spectroscopy of symbiotic stars and active galactic nuclei. Modelling of symbiotic binaries and AGN. Development of emission line diagnostics. Intelligent software analysis of large astrophysical databases.Projects
- Title
- Mapping Light Pollution across Ireland
- Summary
- Since 2009 I have been undertaking measurements of night-time sky light at numerous sites across Ireland. More recently, I have included satellite-based observations to provide quantitative measurements of the emission of light to space, which can then be compared at the sky conditions as seen from the ground. My work has supported the development of an internationally-recognised Gold Standard Dark Sky Park in Mayo, and I have provided assistance to Kerry and Mayo County Councils on the choice of light abatement techniques and appropriate lighting. I am currently undertaking studies with colleagues on the impact of light on ecology and also human health as well as providing support for the development of Dark Skies Tourism.
- Date From
- 01/09/2009
- Title
- Understanding the Origins of the Common Elements: Mass-Loss from Red Giant Stars
- Summary
- The majority of elements required for life and planet formation are released from the interior of highly evolved stars through dense stellar winds. An understanding of this mass-loss process is important in order to understand planetary formation and also the future fate of our sun. Despite this, the formation process of these winds remains the major outstanding problem in stellar astrophysics. We propose a study using grid-based computational modelling of these winds. These models will be constrained using results from an innovative analysis of our space telescope data, resulting in the identification of the wind-driving mechanism.
- Funding Agency
- Science Foundation Ireland
- Date From
- 15 July 2006
- Date To
- 14th July 2009
- Title
- STUDYING THE OUTER ATMOSPHERE AND WIND OF A RED GIANT STAR WITH DOPPLER TOMOGRAPHY
- Summary
- Our knowledge of cool giant stars is primarily drawn from isolated stars that, because of their temperature, emit in the wavelength regions longwards of the optical. Traditionally, the winds of these stars have been studied in the infrared through radio regions of the spectrum and most studies have obtained data from cool outflow material ~5 or more stellar radii from the star. In the ultraviolet (UV) region of the spectrum and, particularly in the far-ultraviolet (FUV) region - where a large number of useful molecular lines and resonance absorptions can be found - there is negligible continuum emission, thus restricting the diagnostics available for the cool wind material. In addition, most spectroscopic observations are based upon whole-disk data since the stars are far enough away to be telescopically unresolved. One of the most important goals of giant star studies is to test stellar atmospheric models and, at the same time, determine how a stellar wind is initially generated on the red giant. Red giant winds are ubiquitous, and the stars plentiful, so understanding how a wind develops and transports chemically enriched material back into the interstellar medium is a fundamentally important research aim.
- Funding Agency
- Enterprise Ireland
- Date From
- 1st August 2002
- Date To
- 31st July 2006
Recognition
Representations
Committee member, Royal Irish Academy Astronomy and Space Sciences Committee Chair, RIA Subcommittee on Light Pollution
Awards and Honours
Royal Society Leverhulme Fellowship
Memberships
Fellow, Royal Astronomical Society
Member, Astronomical Science Group of Ireland (ASGI)
Member, American Astronomical Society