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Herbst, William


John Monroe Van Vleck Professor of Astronomy
Astronomy Department
860.685.3672
Van Vleck Observatory 104

Professor of Astronomy
Astronomy Department
860.685.3672
Van Vleck Observatory 104


BA Princeton University
MSC University of Toronto
PHD University of Toronto
MAA Wesleyan University
EMAIL:
wherbst@wesleyan.edu
PERSONAL HOME PAGE:
https://wesfiles.wesleyan.edu/home/wherbst/web/HomePage/
WESLEYAN PO BOX:
 Astronomy Department
COURSES TAUGHT THIS SEMESTER:
ASTR107 - 01
ASTR107 - 02
SCIE634 - 01
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
I am an optical astronomer interested in low mass star and planet formation. I study the light variations of extremely young stars that are analogous to the Sun at the time the Solar System was forming. I use telescopes on campus and around the world (and above it!) to carry on this research.

One object of particular interest that we discovered here at Wesleyan is KH 15D, also known as the "winking star". It is a unique astronomical object that promises to tell us much about protoplanetary disks.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE:
Star Formation
T Tauri Stars
ACADEMIC ASSOCIATIONS:
American Astronomical Society
International Astronomical Union
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Sigma Xi
AWARDS WON:
Binswanger Award for Excellence in Teaching
OFFICE HOURS:
By appointment via e-mail.
PUBLICATIONS:
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-abs_connect?return_req=no_params&&author=HERBST,%20W&db_key=AST
GRANTS:
I have had continuous support for my research from the National Science Foundation and/or NASA since 1982. I am currently supported through NASA's Origins of Solar Systems program.