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Susan BenecchiAssociate Research ScientistPlanetary Science Institute
susank |
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Susan BenecchiAssociate Research ScientistPlanetary Science Institute
susank |
Dr. Benecchi is passionate about astronomical research and inquiry-based science education. Her research focuses on small bodies, often binaries, in the outer solar system. She has worked as part of the Deep Ecliptic Survey (DES), a program to discover and dynamically characterize ~500 Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) since 2000. Her thesis work under Dr. Jim Elliot at MIT focused on variability of KBOs, astrometric follow-up of DES objects and discovery of binaries. Her post doctoral work at Space Telescope Science Institute with Dr. Keith Noll concentrated on further characterization of the properties of transneptunian binaries, this work continues today. Since 1997, Dr. Benecchi has been involved with various educational outreach programs to a spectrum of audiences including elementary-college students, teachers and the general public (Project ARTIST, Project ASTRO, U. of Arizona Astronomy Camp and outreach for New Horizons). Asteroid (21458) Susank has been named in her honor.
Recent papers include:
Benecchi, S. D., Noll, K. S., Grundy, W. M., and Levison, H. F. (47171) 1999 TC36, A Transneptunian Triple. Icarus, resubmitted after review (29 Sept 2009)
Hubbard, W. B., McCarthy, D. W., Kulesa, C. A., Benecchi, S. D., Person, M. J., Elliot, J. L., and Gulbis, A. A. S. 2009. Buoyancy waves in Pluto's high atmosphere: Implications for stellar occultations. Icarus 204, 284-289.
Benecchi, S. D., Noll, K. S., Grundy, W. M., Buie, M. W., Stephens, D. C., Levison, H. F. 2009. The correlated colors of Transneptunian binaries. Icarus 200, 292-303.
Grundy, W. M., Noll, K. S., Buie, M. W., Benecchi, S. D., Stephens, D. C., and Levison, H. F. 2009. Mutual Orbits and Masses of Six Transneptunian Binaries. Icarus 200, 627-635.