Richard Hunstead
Encyclopedia
Professor Richard Waller Hunstead is a member and former head of the Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA) and the Director of the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope
(MOST), within the University of Sydney
. Dick is internationally recognised for his work in the field of quasars and radio galaxies. In 1995, he was awarded the Robert Ellery
Lectureship of the Astronomical Society of Australia
in recognition of his outstanding contributions in astronomy. One of 33 Australian Science Citation Laureates (of which only nine are astronomers), he is the author of multiple high impact papers which are frequently cited by other scientists around the world. The minor planet
171429 Hunstead is named in his honour.
His most notable achievements to date include the discovery of the variability of radio sources at low frequencies, resulting in a large number of related research projects, conferences and workshops internationally, and his research into the redshift evolution of the Lyman alpha absorption forest. Dick's work on the Lyman alpha forest resolved much of the confusion surrounding the nature of the cloud population responsible for these absorption lines, by confirming that their comoving number density does indeed evolve with redshift
. He has also contributed to our understanding of the metallicity, dust content and star formation
rate in high redshift galaxies from his comprehensive study of damped Lyman alpha systems. This has subsequently motivated interest in galaxy formation and evolution
. More recently, he was involved in a study that showed radio loud quasars have distinct spectroscopic signatures that depend on their orientation and size. He is currently leading an international team to locate and study the first massive galaxies formed in the Universe.
, on the North Shore
of Sydney
. In 1963, he graduated from Sydney University with a B.Sc (Hons) and in 1972, completed his PhD titled "Studies of selected radio sources" with Bernard Mills as his supervisor, also at Sydney University.
Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope
The Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope is a radio telescope operating at 843 MHz. It is operated by the School of Physics of the University of Sydney...
(MOST), within the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. Dick is internationally recognised for his work in the field of quasars and radio galaxies. In 1995, he was awarded the Robert Ellery
Robert L. J. Ellery
Robert Lewis John Ellery CMG was an English-Australian astronomer and public servant; Victorian government astronomer for 42 years.-Early life:...
Lectureship of the Astronomical Society of Australia
Astronomical Society of Australia
The Astronomical Society of Australia is the professional body representing astronomers in Australia. Established in 1966, it is incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory. Membership of the ASA is open to people "capable of contributing to the advancement of astronomy or a closely related...
in recognition of his outstanding contributions in astronomy. One of 33 Australian Science Citation Laureates (of which only nine are astronomers), he is the author of multiple high impact papers which are frequently cited by other scientists around the world. The minor planet
Minor planet
An asteroid group or minor-planet group is a population of minor planets that have a share broadly similar orbits. Members are generally unrelated to each other, unlike in an asteroid family, which often results from the break-up of a single asteroid...
171429 Hunstead is named in his honour.
His most notable achievements to date include the discovery of the variability of radio sources at low frequencies, resulting in a large number of related research projects, conferences and workshops internationally, and his research into the redshift evolution of the Lyman alpha absorption forest. Dick's work on the Lyman alpha forest resolved much of the confusion surrounding the nature of the cloud population responsible for these absorption lines, by confirming that their comoving number density does indeed evolve with redshift
Redshift
In physics , redshift happens when light seen coming from an object is proportionally increased in wavelength, or shifted to the red end of the spectrum...
. He has also contributed to our understanding of the metallicity, dust content and star formation
Star formation
Star formation is the process by which dense parts of molecular clouds collapse into a ball of plasma to form a star. As a branch of astronomy star formation includes the study of the interstellar medium and giant molecular clouds as precursors to the star formation process and the study of young...
rate in high redshift galaxies from his comprehensive study of damped Lyman alpha systems. This has subsequently motivated interest in galaxy formation and evolution
Galaxy formation and evolution
The study of galaxy formation and evolution is concerned with the processes that formed a heterogeneous universe from a homogeneous beginning, the formation of the first galaxies, the way galaxies change over time, and the processes that have generated the variety of structures observed in nearby...
. More recently, he was involved in a study that showed radio loud quasars have distinct spectroscopic signatures that depend on their orientation and size. He is currently leading an international team to locate and study the first massive galaxies formed in the Universe.
Education
Hunstead attended North Sydney Boys High SchoolNorth Sydney Boys High School
North Sydney Boys High School is an academically selective, public high school for boys, located at Crows Nest in Sydney, Australia.- History :...
, on the North Shore
North Shore (Sydney)
The North Shore is an informal term used to describe the primarily residential area of northern metropolitan Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The term usually refers to the suburbs located on the north shore of Sydney Harbour between Middle Harbour and the Lane Cove River, up to...
of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. In 1963, he graduated from Sydney University with a B.Sc (Hons) and in 1972, completed his PhD titled "Studies of selected radio sources" with Bernard Mills as his supervisor, also at Sydney University.