Darren Williams 

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy                                   
Program Chair,
Behrend Physics

Harlow Shapley Lecturer

Author, Halley orbital software

 

School of Science

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

4205 College Drive

Erie, PA 16563-0203

814-898-6008 (phone)

814-898-6213 (fax)
dmw145@psu.edu

 

Education

1990 A.S. Science; Jamestown Community College (Jamestown, NY)

1992 B.S. Physics; University of Pittsburgh

1998 Ph.D. Astronomy and Astrophysics; The Pennsylvania State University

 

Research Interests

Origin and dynamical evolution of planets and moons

Climate and habitability of Earth and Earth-like worlds (3D Climate Simulations)

Characterization of extrasolar planets

Comet and asteroid impacts on Earth

Honors and Awards
NASA Graduate Student Research Fellowship (Penn State), 1995-1998
Steven Dwornik poster award. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 1996
First place (Physical Science) Pennsylvania State University Graduate Research Exhibition, 1997
Behrend College Council of Fellows Excellence in Research Award, 2005

Recent Courses

ASTRO 001 Astronomical Universe (SP08:SP09)

ASTRO 010 Elementary Astronomy (FA07:FA08:FA09)

ASTRO 011 Elementary Astronomy Laboratory (FA07:FA08:FA09)

ASTRO 291 Astronomical Methods and the Solar System (FA07:FA09)

ASTRO 292 Astronomy of the Distant Universe (FA08)

PHYS 237 Introduction to Modern Physics (SP08:SP09)

PHYS 419 Theoretical Mechanics (FA07)

 

Recent Talks

July 2009 “Planets, Planets, Everywhere!” Open House Nights in Astronomy; Penn State Behrend

July 2009 WJET TV Interview on 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 lunar landing (Erie, PA)

March 2009 “Scoping out the Extrasolar Planet Zoo” Open House Nights in Astronomy; Penn State Behrend

December 2008 “Cosmic Cataclysm: Why Do Stars Explode?” Open House Nights in Astronomy; Penn State Behrend

November 2008 “Sifting the Sands of Mars: Recent Exploration of the Red Planet” Harlow Shapley Lecture at Keystone College in Wilkes Barre PA

June 2008 “Looking for Water on Extrasolar Planets” The Pennsylvania State University (University Park campus) Lunar Sandbox teacher workshop

April 2008 “Recent Discoveries of Planets around Nearby Stars” SUNY Fredonia (Fredonia NY)

March 2008 “Using Interplanetary Spacecraft to search for Water on the Blue Dot of the Earth” Paris Observatory (Paris, France) and at Venus Express workshop in La Thuile, Italy

February 2008 “Asteroid Apophis: Will It Hit the Earth? Open House Nights in Astronomy; Penn State Behrend
November 2007 “Planet Paparrazi” Harlow Shapley Lecture at Lewis University (Chicago, IL)
October 2007 Mercyhurst North East (North East, Pennsylvania)
October 2007 “Planet Paparrazi” Harlow Shapley Lecture at the University of Great Falls (Great Falls, Montana)
September 2007 “Planet Paparrazi” Open House Nights in Astronomy; Penn State Behrend
March 2007 “Oceans of Water on Distant Earth-like Planets” Carnegie Science Center (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
March 2007 “Astronomical Perspective on Global Warming” Open House Nights in Astronomy; Penn State Behrend
December 2006 “We’re in This Together” Graduation address at Penn State Behrend
November 2006 “What is a Planet? Why not Pluto?” Harlow Shapley Lecture at the University of Maine (Orono, Maine)
November 2006 “What is a Planet? Why not Pluto?” The Pennsylvania State University (University Park campus)
October 2006 “What is a Planet? Why not Pluto?” University of Vermont (Burlington, Vermont)
September 2006 “Looking for Oceans on Earth-like Planets” University of Vermont (Burlington, Vermont)
September 2006 “The Search for Extrasolar Planets” University of Vermont (Burlington, Vermont)
August 2006 “Oceans of Water on Distant Earth-like Planets” Black Forest Star Party (Cherry Springs, Pennsylvania)

 

Publications

Moskovitz, N.A., Gaidos, E., and Williams, D.M. 2009. The Effect of Lunar-like Satellites on the Orbital Infrared Light Curves of Earth-Analog Planets. Astrobiology. 9(3): 269-277.

Williams, D.M., and Gaidos, E. 2008. Detecting the Glint of Starlight on the Oceans of Distant Planets. Icarus 195(2): 927-937.

Gaidos, E. and D.M. Williams. 2004. Seasonality on terrestrial extrasolar planets: inferring obliquity and surface conditions from infrared light curves.New Astronomy 10(1), 67-77.

Williams, D.M. and R. Knacke. 2004. Looking for Planetary Moons in the Spectra of Distant Jupiters. Astrobiology 4(3), 400-403.

Williams, D.M. and D. Pollard. 2002. Earth-Like Worlds on Eccentric Orbits: Excursions Beyond the Habitable Zone. International Journal of Astrobiology. 1(1), 61-69.

Williams, D.M. and D. Pollard. 2002. Habitable Planets on Eccentric Orbits. In The Evolving Sun and its Influence on Planetary Environments. B.A. Montesinos, A. Gimenez, and E.F. Guinan, eds., ASP Conference Series Vol. 269. pp. 201-213.

Williams, D.M. and Szklenski, S. 2001. Following the Martian Sun. Astronomy (Jul. 2001) p. 51.

Williams, D.M. and Pollard, D. 2000. Earth-Moon Interactions: Implications For Terrestrial Climate and Life. In The Origin of the Earth and Moon. R.M. Canup and K. Righter Eds., Arizona Press; pp. 513-525.

Heath, M.J., Williams, D.M., and Doyle, L.R. 2000. Extrasolar Planetary Complex Biosphere Organization as Exemplified by Earth-Type Forest Ecosystems. Bioastronomy `99: A New Era in Bioastronomy. Lemarchand, G.A. and Meech, K.J., eds. ASP Conference Series Vol. 213. pp 183-186.

Williams, D.M., Kasting, J.F., and Frakes, L.A. 1998. Low-latitude glaciation and rapid changes in the Earth's obliquity explained by obliquity-oblateness feedback. Nature 396, 453-455.

Williams, D.M. 1998. The stability of habitable planetary environments. Ph.D. Dissertation, The Pennsylvania State University. 140 pp.

Williams, D.M. 1997. The susceptibility of Earth-like planets to large obliquity variations. In the proceedings of the workshop on "Planetary Systems: the Long View", 9th Rencontres de Blois, June 22-28 1997; Blois, France. L. Celnikier ed. pp. 415-419.

Williams, D.M., and J.F. Kasting 1997. Habitable planets with high obliquities. Icarus 129, 254-268.

Williams, D.M., J.F. Kasting, and R.A. Wade 1997. Habitable moons around extrasolar giant planets. Nature 385, 234-236.

Williams, D.M., J.F. Kasting, and K. Caldeira 1996. Chaotic obliquity variations and planetary habitability. In Circumstellar Habitable Zones--Proceedings of the First International Conference. L. Doyle ed. Travis House Pub.; Menlo Park CA, pp. 43-62.

 

Selected Research Presentations

“Orbital Evolution of Primordial Material Beyond the Moon Around the Early Earth” Division of Planetary Science Conference; (October 2008) Ithaca, NY

 “Using Interplanetary Spacecraft to search for Water on the Blue Dot of the Earth” Astrobiology Science Conference ’08; (April 2008) Santa Clara, CA

 “Detecting the Glint of Starlight off the Oceans of Distant Planets” Pale Blue Dot III Conference; (September 2006) Chicago, IL

Seasonal Variation in the Optical Appearance of Earth-like Planets” Division of Planetary Science Conference; (September 2005) Cambridge, England

“Simulating the Gas-Assisted Capture of Earth-sized Moons around Extrasolar Giant Planets” Division of Planetary Science Conference; (September 2003) Monterey CA

 

Popular Press

“Space on the Plane: Encouraging Tales of a Traveling Astronomer”
Sky and Telescope focal point (Feb. 2009)

“Ocean Glints Could Reveal Alien Planets” Space.com (Aug. 2008)     

“Interplanetary Paparazzi: Using Spacecraft to Expose the Water-Covered Earth”
Accuweather.com (Jan. 2008)

“Circles of Life” Discover. (November 2002). pp. 42-47.

“As the World Turns, and Maybe, Tilts” National Geographic. (September 1999)

“Habitable Moons” Sky and Telescope. (December 1998). pp. 50-56.

“Thank the Moon You’re Here” Sky and Telescope. (March 1998). pp. 20-21.

“Are Tilted Planets Habitable?” Astronomy. (February 1998.) p. 30.

“Mooning Over Life in the Cosmos” Science News. (November 1997). p. 328.

“In Search of Habitable Moons” Science Journal of The Pennsylvania State University,
Eberly College of Science.
(Spring 1997). V14:7-8.

“Worlds Beyond the Sun” Research/Penn State Magazine. (January 1997). V18:14-18.

“All Possible Worlds” Economist. (January 1997). pp. 71-73.

 

Recent Student Projects
2008-2009 Michael Dulaney “Timing the Eclipses of the Moons of Jupiter to Measure the Speed of Light” 
2008-2009 Matt Crowell “Using a Gravitational Tractor to Tow the Asteroid Apophis?”
2007-2008 Adam Carlisle "Dynamical Evolution of Impact Debris Launched from the Early Earth"
2008 Charles Moore "Polarized Light Reflected from Planetary Surfaces" and "Determining the Appearance of Earth as seen from Venus Express"
2007 Charles Moore "Calculating the Free-Return Flight Paths of the Apollo Spacecraft" and "Simulating the Orbit of Asteroid Apophis"
2006-2007 Blake Autin "Orbital Stability of the Galilean Satellites around Jupiter"