![[Apsidal Motion Binary Orbit Diagram]](apsidal.gif)
In the Spring of 1985, I entered Appalachian State University to begin work on my B.S. in Physics/Astronomy. Soon afterwards, I began working for Dan Caton (that's Dan's wife Susan standing) reducing data on RS CVn binaries. Until we rewrote a lot of our software, this involved lots of gross and unmentionable practices involving UNIVAC's and Commodore 64's However, we soon found that the weather in the East US was unsuitable for this type of monitoring, so we switched to observing binaries that show apsidal motion. Some of these binaries, particularly DI Herculis, show a rate of precession of the line of the apsides that is inconsistent with general relativistic predictions.
Since it is only necessary to observe near the time of minimum to get useful science on an apsidal system, useful science can be done in one night. This makes apsidal monitoring an excellent project for areas where there are seldom long stretches of clear weather, such as the East US.
After graduating from Appalachian in 1990 with an M.S. in Applied Physics/Astronomical Instrumentation, I accepted the position of Instrumentation Engineer for the Keck Northeast Astronomy Consortium(KNAC). From then until September, 1999, I used the 24" Telescope and CCD at Wellesley College to observe faint (Mv < 12) apsidal motion binaries.
During the Summer of 1999, I accepted the position of Observatory Assistant/Engineer for my alma mater, Appalachian State University. I work in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, maintaining, upgrading, and developing new instrumentation for ASU's Dark Sky (DSO) and Rankin Science (RSO) Observatories. I plan to continue my eclipsing binary research at Appalachian.
