Carl Andrew Ziegler
| Carl Andrew Ziegler | |
|---|---|
| Born | Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 🏳️ Nationality | American |
| 🎓 Alma mater | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Ph.D.) |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | Exoplanet detection, binary star research, high-resolution imaging |
Carl Andrew Ziegler is an American observational astronomer and instrument builder specializing in extrasolar planets and multiple-star systems. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Physics, Engineering, and Astronomy at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) and director of the SFA Observatory.[1] He is noted for leading high-angular-resolution imaging surveys that have contributed to the characterization of TESS and Kepler planet candidates, including the SOAR TESS Survey and the Robo-AO Kepler Planetary Candidate Survey.[2][3]
Early life and education
Ziegler grew up in Hannibal, Missouri. He earned his B.A. in Physics and Math from William Jewell College, and later obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[4] His doctoral dissertation, Characterization of Exoplanets and Stellar Systems with New Robots, developed robotic adaptive optics systems for large-scale high-resolution imaging surveys, enabling efficient detection and characterization of close stellar companions to exoplanet host stars.[5]
Career
Following his Ph.D., Ziegler joined the faculty of Stephen F. Austin State University, where he directs the SFA Observatory and teaches undergraduate and graduate astronomy courses. He has served on national collaborations in the TESS Follow-up Observing Program and the Robo-AO survey team, mentoring students who have presented research at professional conferences and co-authored peer-reviewed publications.[1]
Research
Ziegler’s research examines the impact of stellar multiplicity on planetary formation and evolution, with emphasis on high-angular-resolution imaging to identify and characterize binary companions to exoplanet host stars.
SOAR TESS Survey
As principal investigator of the SOAR TESS Survey, Ziegler has led high-resolution speckle imaging of hundreds of TESS planet candidate host stars with the 4.1 m Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) Telescope in Chile. The project has demonstrated that roughly 20% of TESS host stars have nearby stellar companions, influencing both measured planetary radii and occurrence statistics.[6][7]
Robo-AO Kepler Survey
Ziegler played a central role in the Robo-AO Kepler Planetary Candidate Survey, which used an autonomous laser adaptive optics system to perform the largest high-resolution imaging survey of Kepler planet candidates to date. This work identified numerous close stellar companions, resulting in revised planet size estimates and evidence for the suppression of certain planet types in close binary systems.[8][9]
Selected publications
- Ziegler, C. A. et al. (2020). "SOAR TESS Survey. I: Sculpting of TESS planetary systems by stellar companions". The Astronomical Journal. 159 (1): 19.
- Ziegler, C. A. et al. (2021). "SOAR TESS Survey. II: The impact of stellar companions on planetary populations". The Astronomical Journal. 161 (1): 3.
- Ziegler, C. A. et al. (2018). "Robo-AO Kepler Survey IV: The effect of nearby stars on 3857 planetary candidate systems". The Astronomical Journal. 155 (4): 161.
- Ziegler, C. A. et al. (2018). "Robo-AO Kepler Survey V: The effect of physically associated stellar companions on planetary systems". The Astronomical Journal. 156 (6): 259.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Faculty Profile – Carl Ziegler". Stephen F. Austin State University. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ↑ Beatty, Kelly (27 March 2018). "The Kepler Planet Search Gets Sharper". Sky & Telescope. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ↑ "SOAR TESS Survey". NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ↑ "Alumni profiles – Department of Physics and Astronomy". University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ↑ "Characterization of Exoplanets and Stellar Systems with New Robots". University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ↑ Ziegler, C. A. (2020). "SOAR TESS Survey. I: Sculpting of TESS planetary systems by stellar companions". The Astronomical Journal. 159 (1): 19. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ab5d3a.
- ↑ Ziegler, C. A. (2021). "SOAR TESS Survey. II: The impact of stellar companions on planetary populations". The Astronomical Journal. 161 (1): 3. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/abc54e (inactive 14 August 2025).
- ↑ Ziegler, C. A. (2018). "Robo-AO Kepler Survey IV: The effect of nearby stars on 3857 planetary candidate systems". The Astronomical Journal. 155 (4): 161. arXiv:1712.04454. Bibcode:2018AJ....155..161Z. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/aab042.
- ↑ Ziegler, C. A. (2018). "Robo-AO Kepler Survey V: The effect of physically associated stellar companions on planetary systems". The Astronomical Journal. 156 (6): 259. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/aadf8e (inactive 14 August 2025).
References
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