William T Thompson
(SCIENTIST)
| Email: | william.t.thompson@nasa.gov |
| Phone: | 301.286.2040 |
| Org Code: | |
| Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 671 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| Employer: | ADNET SYSTEMS INC |
Brief Bio
Dr. William Thompson has been a member of the Solar Physics
Laboratory since he first came to Goddard in 1984. He is
currently Chief Observer for NASA's Solar and Terrestrial
Observatory (STEREO) mission. As Chief Observer, he runs the
STEREO Science Center, which is responsible for archiving the
science data, processing the real-time space weather beacon data,
and general science coordination between the instruments and with
other missions and observatories.
While in graduate school at the University of Massachusetts at
Amherst, Dr. Thompson worked on the measurement of azimuthal
brightness variations in Saturn's A ring, and used Monte Carlo
simulations to study the possible physical interpretation of
these variations for his doctoral thesis.
After recieving his Ph.D., and before coming to Goddard,
Dr. Thompson spent two years as a lecturer in the Department of
Physics and Astronomy at San Francisco State University.
In his inital years at Goddard, Dr. Thompson worked on the Solar
Extreme-ultraviolet Rocket Telescope and Spectrograph sounding
rocket experiment, and analyzed data from the Ultraviolet
Spectrometer and Polarimeter instrument on NASA's Solar Maximum
Mission. This work led to him becoming involved in the
development and subsequent operations of the Coronal Diagnostics
Spectrometer instrument for the NASA/ESA Solar and Heliospheric
Observatory (SOHO) mission.
Later, Dr. Thompson worked on the development of the optics for
the COR1 coronagraph on the STEREO mission, and continues to
monitor the performance of the instrument in flight. Along with
the COR1 work for STEREO, Dr. Thompson designed the STEREO
Science Center (SSC), and wrote most of the software that allows
it to function. The SSC archives all the science data from the
instruments, along with ancillary data from the Mission
Operations Center. Ephemeris data for the two spacecraft are
organized to assist the instrument teams with their science
planning and data analysis. In addition, real-time beacon
telemetry data from the two spacecraft are processed within
minutes for use in space weather forecasting. Higher resolution
data are also processed into images and movies as browse
products. These beacon and browse products have gone on to
become incorporated into other venues such as Science-on-a-Sphere
and other spherical projection systems in museums, and the 3D Sun
app for the iPad.
In addition to his duties for STEREO, Dr. Thompson is involved in two aspects of the European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter program. Dr. Thompson was part of the team which developed the detector for the Spectral Imaging
of the Coronal Environment (SPICE) instrument, and is part of the SPICE team at Goddard. One of his duties is helping to keep track of any changes in the detector response. He also maintains a NASA mirror of the official Solar Orbiter archive.
Current Projects
Solar and Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO)
STEREO Chief Observer
COR1 calibration lead
Solar Orbiter
Detector monitoring for Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment (SPICE) instrument.
NASA mirror of Solar Orbiter archive.
Education
B.A., Physics and Mathematics, New College of the University of South Florida, 1977
Publications
Refereed
2023. "A multiple spacecraft detection of the 2 April 2022 M-class flare and filament eruption during the first close Solar Orbiter perihelion.", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 677 A130 [10.1051/0004-6361/202346321] [Journal Article/Letter]
2022. "Plasma Composition Measurements in an Active Region from Solar Orbiter/SPICE and Hinode/EIS.", The Astrophysical Journal, 940 (1): 66 [10.3847/1538-4357/ac9b0b] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "First observations from the SPICE EUV spectrometer on Solar Orbiter.", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 656 A38 [10.1051/0004-6361/202141221] [Journal Article/Letter]
2017. "No pre-maximum halt in classical nova V5589 Sgr observed with STEREO HI-1B.", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 470 (4): 4061-4065 [10.1093/mnras/stx1552] [Journal Article/Letter]
2017. "Variation of Coronal Activity from the Minimum to Maximum of Solar Cycle 24 using Three Dimensional Coronal Electron Density Reconstructions from STEREO/COR1.", Solar Physics, 292 (8): 97 (32 pp) [10.1007/s11207-017-1130-3] [Journal Article/Letter]
2017. "The Dependence of the Cerean Exosphere on Solar Energetic Particle Events.", The Astrophysical Journal, 838 (1): L8 [10.3847/2041-8213/aa66cd] [Journal Article/Letter]
2015. "Linear Polarization Measurements of Comet C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) from STEREO.", Icarus, 261 122-132 [10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.018] [Journal Article/Letter]
2015. "Representations of Time Coordinates in FITS. Time and Relative Dimension in Space.", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 574 A36 [10.1051/0004-6361/201424653] [Journal Article/Letter]
2014. "STEREO/Extreme-Ultraviolet Imager (EUVI) Event Catalog 2006-2012.", Solar Physics, 289 (3): 919-938 [10.1007/s11207-013-0378-5] [Journal Article/Letter]
2013. "Alternating Twist Along an Erupting Prominence.", Solar Physics, 283 (2): 489-504 [10.1007/s11207-013-0228-5] [Journal Article/Letter]
2013. "SPICE EUV spectrometer for the Solar Orbiter mission.", SOLAR PHYSICS AND SPACE WEATHER INSTRUMENTATION V, 8862 [10.1117/12.2027581] [Journal Article/Letter]
2012. "Intercomparison of the LASCO-C2, SECCHI-COR1, SECCHI-COR2 and Mk4 Coronagraphs.", Solar Physics, 280 (1): 273-293 [10.1007/s11207-012-0028-3] [Journal Article/Letter]
2012. "The Height of a White-light Flare and its Hard X-ray Sources.", The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 753 (2): L26 [10.1088/2041-8205/753/2/L26] [Journal Article/Letter]
2012. "A Parameteric Study of Erupting Flux Rope Rotation. Modeling the "Cartwheel CME" on 9 April 2008.", Solar Physics, 281 (1): 137-166 [10.1007/s11207-012-9990-z] [Journal Article/Letter]
2012. "3D Reconstruction of a Rotating Erupting Prominence.", Solar Physics, 276 (1-2): 241-259 [10.1007/s11207-011-9868-5] [Journal Article/Letter]
2012. "Direct Measurement Of The Height Of A White-light Flare.", American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #220, 220 #204.41- [Journal Article/Letter]
2012. "Erratum: Relation Between Type II Bursts and CMEs Inferred from STEREO Observations.", Solar Physics, 277 459 [10.1007/s11207-011-9918-z] [Journal Article/Letter]
2011. "STEREO/SECCHI COR1-A/B Intercalibration at 180° Separation.", Solar Physics, 272 (1): 215-225 [10.1007/s11207-011-9815-5] [Journal Article/Letter]
2011. "Stereoscopic Analysis of STEREO/SECCHI Data for CME Trajectory Determination.", Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 73 (10): 1173-1186 [10.1016/j.jastp.2010.09.004] [Journal Article/Letter]
2011. "Viewing The Entire Sun With STEREO And SDO.", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 1835- [Journal Article/Letter]
2011. "STEREO SECCHI COR1-A/B Intercalibration at 180° Separation.", Solar Physics, 272 (1): 215-225 [10.1007/s11207-011-9815-5] [Journal Article/Letter]
2010. "Strong Rotation of an Erupting Quiescent Polar Crown Prominence.", Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 73 (10): 1138-1147 [10.1016/j.jastp.2010.07.005] [Journal Article/Letter]
2010. "Background Subtraction for the SECCHI/COR1 Telescope Aboard STEREO.", Solar Physics, 262 213-231 [10.1007/s11207-010-9513-8] [Journal Article/Letter]
2009. "Recent STEREO Observations of Coronal Mass Ejections.", AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, A1491- [Journal Article/Letter]
2009. "EUV Wave Reflection from a Coronal Hole.", The Astrophysical Journal, 691 (2): L123-L127 [10.1088/0004-637X/691/2/L123] [Journal Article/Letter]
2009. "Relation Between Type II Bursts and CMEs Inferred from STEREO Observations.", Solar Physics, 259 227-254 [10.1007/s11207-009-9382-1] [Journal Article/Letter]
2008. "A Quick Method for Estimating the Propagation Direction of Coronal Mass Ejections Using STEREO-COR1 Images.", Solar Physics, 252 385-396 [10.1007/s11207-008-9267-8] [Journal Article/Letter]
2007. "Stereo Observations Of The Solar Corona Using The Secchi Experiment.", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 39 #119.01- [Journal Article/Letter]
2007. "Early SECCHI Observations Of CME Initiation And Propagation.", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 39 137- [Journal Article/Letter]
2007. "Early Results from STEREO SECCHI COR1.", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 39 #119.03- [Journal Article/Letter]
2006. "Space Weather Studies at the Planets Enabled by the STEREO Mission.", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 38 567- [Journal Article/Letter]
2005. "Multialtitude Observations of a Coronal Jet during the Third Whole Sun Month Campaign.", The Astrophysical Journal, 623 519-539 [10.1086/428479] [Journal Article/Letter]
2004. "Multi-Altitude Observations of a Coronal Jet.", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 759- [Journal Article/Letter]
2004. "Synopsis of the interstellar He parameters from combined neutral gas, pickup ion and UV scattering observations and related consequences.", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 426 897-907 [10.1051/0004-6361:20035834] [Journal Article/Letter]
2002. "EUV irradiance measurements from SOHO during Cycle 23.", 34th COSPAR Scientific Assembly, 34 - [Journal Article/Letter]
2002. "The solar corona in cycle 23.", Advances in Space Research, 29 361-372 [10.1016/S0273-1177(01)00598-1] [Journal Article/Letter]
1998. "Analyse statistique de points brillants solaires observés par le satellite SOHO.", Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences - Series IIB - Mechanics-Physics-Chemistry-Astronomy, 326 (3): 211-218 [10.1016/S1251-8069(99)89010-1] [Journal Article/Letter]
1994. "Searching the SOHO online catalogs.", Solar Dynamic Phenomena and Solar Wind Consequences; the Third SOHO Workshop, 373 429- [Journal Article/Letter]
1993. "Analysis of EUV, Microwave and Magnetic Field Observations of Solar Plage.", IAU Colloq 141: The Magnetic and Velocity Fields of Solar Active Regions, 46 291- 294 [Proceedings]
1993. "Simultaneous observations of solar plage with the solar extreme ultraviolet rocket telescope and spectrograph (SERTS), the VLA, and the Kitt Peak magnetograph.", The Astrophysical Journal, 411 410-417 [10.1086/172843] [Journal Article/Letter]
1986. "Searching the UVSP (Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter) database, and a list of experiments showing massmotions.", NASA Conference Publication, 2442 191-196 [Journal Article/Letter]
1986. "Searching the UVSP (Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter) database, and a list of experiments showing massmotions.", NASA Conference Publication, 2442 191-196 [Journal Article/Letter]
1984. "A model containing blobs for the A ring of Saturn.", Planetary Rings, 93-98 [Journal Article/Letter]
1980. "Saturn's Rings : Azimuthal Variations, Phase Curves, and Radial Profile Observed at Three Tilt Angles.", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 12 699- [Journal Article/Letter]
1980. "Saturn's Rings : Azimuthal Variations, Phase Curves, and Radial Profile Observed at Three Tilt Angles.", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 12 699- [Journal Article/Letter]
1979. "International Planetary Patrol Observations of Saturn's Rings.", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 11 556- [Journal Article/Letter]
1979. "International Planetary Patrol Observations of Saturn's Rings.", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 11 556- [Journal Article/Letter]
Non-Refereed
2012. "The Journey of Sungrazing Comet Lovejoy.", American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #220, 220 #525.07- [Proceedings]
2009. "Recent STEREO Observations of Coronal Mass Ejections.", AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, A1491- [Proceedings]
2005. "STEREO's Interactions With the Virtual Solar and Heliospheric Observatories.", AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts, 6- [Journal Article/Letter]
2004. "The STEREO Science Center.", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 799- [Journal Article/Letter]