Donald Kurtz
Encyclopedia
Donald Wayne Kurtz is an astronomer known for his research into asteroseismology
. He completed his PhD in astronomy at the University of Texas in 1976 before moving to Cape Town
, where he became a professor at the University of Cape Town
. After 25 years in South Africa, he moved to the UK where he now teaches at the University of Central Lancashire
.
He discovered a new class of pulsating, strongly magnetic stars (the Rapidly oscillating Ap stars
), sits on the boards of numerous astronomical projects, and was President of the International Astronomical Union Commission on Variable Stars.
Asteroseismology
Asteroseismology also known as stellar seismology is the science that studies the internal structure of pulsating stars by the interpretation of their frequency spectra. Different oscillation modes penetrate to different depths inside the star...
. He completed his PhD in astronomy at the University of Texas in 1976 before moving to Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, where he became a professor at the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
. After 25 years in South Africa, he moved to the UK where he now teaches at the University of Central Lancashire
University of Central Lancashire
The University of Central Lancashire is a university based in Preston, Lancashire, England.The university has its roots in The Institution For The Diffusion Of Useful Knowledge which was founded in 1828. In 1992 it was granted University status by the Privy Council...
.
He discovered a new class of pulsating, strongly magnetic stars (the Rapidly oscillating Ap stars
Rapidly oscillating Ap stars
Rapidly oscillating Ap stars are a subtype of the Ap star class that exhibit short-timescale rapid photometric or radial velocity variations. The known periods range between 5 and 21 min. They lie in the delta Scuti instability strip on the main sequence.-Discovery:The first roAp star to be...
), sits on the boards of numerous astronomical projects, and was President of the International Astronomical Union Commission on Variable Stars.