Joel Kastner
Professor
Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science
College of Science
585-475-7179
Office Location
Joel Kastner
Professor
Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science
College of Science
Education
BS, University of Maryland; MS, Ph.D., University of California
585-475-7179
Areas of Expertise
Star and Planet Formation
Late Stages of Stellar Evolution
Multi-wavelength Astronomical Imaging and Spectroscopy
Image Processing Algorithms and Systems
Imaging Science
Astronomy
Astrophysics
Currently Teaching
IMGS-890
Research & Thesis
1 - 6 Credits
Doctoral-level research by the candidate on an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.
IMGS-891
Continuation of Thesis
0 Credits
Continuation of Thesis
ASTP-891
Continuation of Thesis
0 Credits
Continuation of Thesis
ASTP-790
Research & Thesis
1 - 3 Credits
Masters-level research by the candidate on an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.
ASTP-890
Research & Thesis
1 - 6 Credits
Dissertation research by the candidate for an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.
ASTP-791
Continuation of Thesis
0 Credits
Continuation of Thesis
ASTP-799
ASTP Independent Study
1 - 4 Credits
An independent study in an area of astrophysical sciences and technology not covered in the available courses. This study may be reading study of an appropriate textbook, literature review, or other appropriate work. The course requires a formal proposal, faculty sponsor, and program approval.
ASTP-608
Fundamental Astrophysics I
3 Credits
This course will provide a basic introduction to modern astrophysics, including the topics of radiation fields and matter, star formation and evolution, and stellar structure. This course will provide the physical background needed to interpret both observations and theoretical models in stellar astrophysics and prepare students for more advanced topics and research in astrophysics.
IMGS-112
Astronomical Imaging Fundamentals
3 Credits
This course provides an understanding and appreciation of the fundamental science goals driving the development of contemporary astronomical imaging systems and the basic principles and concepts underlying those systems. Students will investigate the world's most powerful telescopes and cameras presently operating in the realm of human vision, as well as systems that image the “invisible”, by tapping the infrared, X-ray, and radio regimes of the electromagnetic spectrum. Laboratory exercises familiarize students with basic visualization, manipulation, and measurement of real astronomical images (drawn from major-facility archives) that span these regimes. Students will also get a glimpse of the future of astronomical imaging. This course satisfies a General Education elective requirement in the areas of natural science inquiry, scientific principles, or science/math literacy. Math proficiency at college algebra level is required.
In the News
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January 27, 2021
![Butterfly Nebula in deep space.]()
Say Goodbye To 2020 With The Year’s Top 10 Hubble Photos
Forbes features work by Joel Kastner, professor in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science and program faculty in the astrophysical sciences and technology graduate program, in its 10 most important Hubble photos from 2020.
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January 15, 2021
![side-by-side images of the Jewel Bug Nebula using different colors to highlight different areas.]()
Astronomers dissect the anatomy of planetary nebulae using Hubble Space Telescope images
Images of two iconic planetary nebulae taken by the Hubble Space Telescope are revealing new information about how they develop their dramatic features. Researchers from RIT and Green Bank Observatory presented new findings about the Butterfly Nebula and the Jewel Bug Nebula at the 237th meeting of the American Astronomical Society on Friday, Jan. 15.
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June 30, 2020
![planetary nebula NGC 7027.]()
Astronomy Picture of the Day
NASA features an image of planetary nebula NGC 7027, captured by RIT professor Joel Kastner and his team, as its Astronomy Picture of the Day.
Featured Work
RZ Piscium
Kristina Punzi ’18 (astrophysical sciences and technology)
Kristina Punzi ’18 (astrophysical sciences and technology) led an X-ray and optical study of the young star RZ Piscium, which suggests that its unusual brightness variations may be due to the orbiting...
Select Scholarship
Journal Paper
Kastner, Joel, et al. "A Subarcsecond ALMA Molecular Line Imaging Survey of the Circumbinary, Protoplanetary Disk Orbiting V4046 Sgr." The Astrophysical Journal 863. (2018): 106. Web.
Jr., R. Montez and Joel H. Kastner. "Dissecting the X-Ray Emission in the Young Planetary Nebula NGC 7027." The Astrophysical Journal 861. (2018): 45. Web.
Punzi, Kristina, et al. "Is the Young Star RZ Piscium Consuming Its Own (Planetary) Offspring?" The Astronomical Journal 155. (2018): 33. Web.
Kastner, Joel H., et al. "Peering into the Giant-planet-forming Region of the TW Hydrae Disk with the Gemini Planet Imager." The Astrophysical Journal 815. 2 (2015): L26-- . Print.
Kastner, Joel H., et al. "An ALMA survey for disks orbiting low-mass stars in the TW Hya Association." Astronomy and Astrophysics 582. (2015): L5-- . Print.
Kastner, Joel H., et al. "A Combined Spitzer and Herschel Infrared Study of Gas and Dust in the Circumbinary Disk Orbiting V4046 Sgr." The Astrophysical Journal 810. 1 (2015): 62-- . Print.
Kastner, Joel H., et al. "HNC in Protoplanetary Disks." The Astrophysical Journal 807. 1 (2015): L15-- . Print.
Kastner, Joel H., et al. "A Ring of C2H in the Molecular Disk Orbiting TW Hya." The Astrophysical Journal 806. 1 (2015): 75-- . Print.
Kastner, Joel H., et al. "Unbiased 1.3 mm Emission Line Survey of the Protoplanetary Disk Orbiting LkCa 15." The Astrophysical Journal 805. 2 (2015): 147-- . Print.
Kastner, Joel H., et al. "Scattered Light from Dust in the Cavity of the V4046 Sgr Transition Disk." The Astrophysical Journal 803. 1 (2015): L10-- . Print.
Kastner, Joel H., et al. "Constraints on the Surface Magnetic Fields and Age of a Cool Hypergiant: XMM Newton X-Ray Observations of VY CMa." The Astrophysical Journal 800. 4 (2015): -- . Print.
Kastner, Joel H., et al. "THE CHANDRA PLANETARY NEBULA SURVEY (ChanPlaNS). III. X-RAY EMISSION FROM THE CENTRAL STARS OF PLANETARY NEBULAE." The Astrophysical Journal 800. 1 (2015): --. Print.
Kastner, Joel H., et al. "The GALEX Nearby Young-Star Survey." Astrophysical Journal 774. 2 (2014): 22. Print.
Kastner, Joel H., et al. "The Structure of the Evolved Circumbinary Disk around V4046 Sgr." Astrophysical Journal 775. 2 (2014): 14-28. Print.
Freeman, M., et al. "The Chandra Planetary Nebula Survey (CHANPLANS). II. X-Ray Emission from Compact Planetary Nebulae." The Astrophysical Journal 794. 2 (2014): 13. Web.
Kastner, Joel H., et al. "Unbiased Millimeter-wave Line Surveys of TW Hya and V4046 Sgr: The Enhanced C2H and CN Abundances of Evolved Protoplanetary Disks." The Astrophysical Journal 793. 1 (2014): 12. Web.
Principe, David A, et al. "ar Formation in Orion's L1630 Cloud: An Infrared and Multi-epoch X-Ray Study." The Astrophysical Journal Supplement 213. 1 (2014): 31. Web.
Aleman, I.,, et al. "Herschel Planetary Nebula Survey (HerPlaNS). First detection of OH+ in Planetary Nebulae." Astronomy & Astrophysics 566. 1 (2014): 9. Web.
Sacco, G.G., et al. "Molecules in the transition disk orbiting T Chamaeleontis." Astronomy & Astrophysics 561. (2014): 8. Web.
Teets, William K., et al. "Detection of a Cool, Accretion-shock-generated X-Ray Plasma in EX Lupi during the 2008 Optical Eruption." The Astrophysical Journal 760. (2012) Print.
Espinosa, Martin Huarte, et al. "From Bipolar to Elliptical: Simulating the Morphological Evolution of Planetary Nebulae." Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 424. 3 (2012): 2055-2068. Print.
Öberg, Karin I., et al. "Disk Imaging Survey of Chemistry with SMA. II. Southern Sky Protoplanetary Disk Data and Full Sample Statistics." The Astrophysical Journal 734. 2 (2011): 98. Print.
Rodriguez, David R., et al. "A New Method to Identify Nearby, Young, Low-mass Stars." The Astrophysical Journal 727. 2 (2011): 1-27. Print.
Donati, J.-F., et al. "The close classical T Tauri binary V4046 Sgr: complex magnetic fields and distributed mass accretion." Monthly Notice of the Royal Astronomical Society 417. 3 (2011): 1747-1759. Print.
Teets, William K., et al. "X-Ray Production by V1647 Ori during Optical Outbursts." Astrophysical Journal 741. 2 (2011): 83-. Print.
Kastner, Joel H., et al. "GSC 07396-00759 = V4046 Sgr C[D]: A Wide-separation Companion to the Close T Tauri Binary System V4046 Sgr AB." Astrophysical Journal Letters 740. 1 (2011): L17-. Print.
Published Conference Proceedings
Kastner, Joel H. "Magnetic Activity of Pre-main Sequence Stars near the Stellar-Substellar Boundary." Proceedings of the 314. Atlanta, Georgia: International Astronomical Union, 2015. Print.
Kastner, Joel H. "Constraining X-ray-Induced Photoevaporation of Protoplanetary Disks Orbiting Low-Mass Stars." Proceedings of the 314. Atlanta, Georgia: International Astronomical Union, 2015. Print.
Kastner, Joel H. "A Brief History of the Study of Nearby Young Moving Groups and Their Members." Proceedings of the 314. Atlanta, Georgia: International Astronomical Union, 2015. Print.
Kastner, Joel H. "Rings of C2H in the Molecular Disks Orbiting TW Hya and V4046 Sgr." Proceedings of the 314. Atlanta, Georgia: International Astronomical Union, 2015. Print.
Kastner, Joel H. "A Ring of C2H in the Protoplanetary Disk Orbiting TW Hya." Proceedings of the AAS Meeting #225. Seattle, Washington: AAS, 2015. Print.
Kastner, Joel H. "ChanPlaNS: Investigating the Diffuse X-ray Emission within Compact Planetary Nebulae." Proceedings of the AAS Meeting #225. Seattle, Washington: American Astronomical Society, 2015. Print.
Kastner, Joel H. "Emerging Trends Gleaned from Central Star and Hot Bubble X-ray Emission of ChanPlaNS Planetary Nebulae." Proceedings of the American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts 225. Seattle, Washington: American Astronomical Society, 2015. Print.
Kastner, Joel H. "Herschel Planetary Nebula Survey (HerPlaNS) - First Detection of OH+ in Planetary Nebulae." Proceedings of the AAS Meeting #225. Seattle, Washington: American Astronomical Society Meeting, 2015. Print.
Kastner, Joel H. "Multiwavelength Spatial and Spectral Study of Shock Conditions in the Young Planetary Nebula NGC 7027." Proceedings of the AAS Meeting #225. Seattle, Washington: American Astronomical Society, 2015. Print.
Kastner, Joel H. "Near-infrared Scattered Light Imaging of the Protoplanetary Disk Around V4046 Sgr with the Gemini Planet Imager." Proceedings of the AAS Meeting #225. Seattle, Washington: AAS, 2015. Print.
Kastner, Joel H. "New Results from the GALEX Nearby Young-Star Survey." Proceedings of the 18th Cambridge Workshop on Cool Stars, Stellar Systems, and the Sun. Flagstaff, Arizona: Cool Stars, 2015. Print.
Kastner, Joel H. "The Chandra Planetary Nebula Survey." Proceedings of the American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts 225. Seattle, Washington: American Astronomical Society, 2015. Print.
Book Chapter
Audard, M., et al. "Episodic Accretion in Young Stars." Protostars and Planets VI. Ed. Henrik Beuther, et al. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press, 2014. 387-410. Print.
Invited Paper
Montez, Rodolfo and Joel H. Kastner. "The Secret X-ray Lives of Planetary Nebulae." Newsletter of NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. (2013). Web.
Published Article
Perlman, E.S. C.A. Padgett, Georganopoulos, D.M. Worrall,J.H. Kastner, Franz, Birkinshaw, Dulwich, C.P. O’Dea, S.A. Baum, W.B. Sparks, J.A. Biretta, L. Lara, Jester, Martel. “AMulti-wavelength Spectral and Polarimetric Study of the Jet of 3C264.” Astrophysical Journal, 708 (2010): 171. Print. " £
Kastner, J.H., C.L.Buchanan, R. Sahai, W.J. Forrest, B.A. Sargent. “The Dusty Circumstellar Disks of B[e] Supergiants in the Magellanic Clouds.” Astronomical Journal,139 (2010): 1993-2002. Print. " £
Hamaguchi, K.,N. Grosso, J.H. Kastner, D.A. Weintraub, M. Richmond, Suzaku. “Observationof Strong Fluorescent Iron Line Emission from the Young Stellar Object V1647 ORI During its New X-ray Outburst.” Astrophysical Journal Letter, 714 (2010): L16-L20. Print. £
Antonini, F., R. Montez, J.H. Kastner, H.E. Bond, N. Soker, R.Tylenda, S. Starrfield, E, Behar. “XMM-Newton Detection of a Transient X-ray Source in the Vicinity of V838 Monocerotis.” Astrophysical Journal, 717 (2010): 795-802. Print. " £
J.H., R. Montez, D. Rodriguez, N. Grosso, Zuckerman,M.D. Perrin, T. Forveille, J.R. Graham. “Chandra X-ray Detection of the EnigmaticField Star BP Psc.” Astrophysical Journal Letters, 719 (2010): L65-L68. Print. " £
Rodriguez, D., J.H. Kastner, D.J. Wilner, Qi. “Imaging the Molecular Disk Orbiting the Twin Young Suns of V4046 Sgr.” Astrophysical Journal, 720 (2010): 1684-1690. Print. £
Montez, R., O. De Marco, J.H. Kastner, Y. Chu. “X-ray Emission from the Binary Central Stars of the Planetary Nebulae HFG 1, DS 1, and LoTr 5.” Astrophysical Journal, 721 (2010): 1820-1828. Print. " £
Grosso, N., K. Hamaguchi, J.H. Kastner, M. Richmond, D.A. Weintraub. “A few days before the end of the 2008 extreme outburst of EX Lupi: accretion shocks and a smothered stellar corona unveiled by XMM-Newton.” Astronomy & Astrophysics, 522 (2010): n.p. Print. £
Kastner, J.H.,Hily-Blant, G.G. Sacco, T. Forveille, Zuckerman. “Detection of a Molecular Disk Orbiting the Nearby, ‘old,’ Classical T Tauri Star MP Muscae.” Astrophysical Journal Letters, 723 (2010): L248-L251. Print. " £