John Lester

John Lester is a Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto, specializing in stellar atmospheres and computational astrophysics. His work bridges observational astronomy with advanced computer modeling to understand stellar physics.

• Developed modernized versions of the Kurucz ATLAS code (Atlas_ODF, Atlas_OS, SAtlas_ODF, SAtlas_OS) for modeling stellar atmospheres
• Focus on applying optical/infrared interferometry to study stellar surfaces
• Research on mass determination in non-binary stars through surface brightness analysis

His recent publications focus on limb-darkening diagnostics for FGK dwarfs and red giants, angular diameter corrections, and mass indicators in spherical atmospheres. Former students include prominent astrophysicists like Dimitar Sasselov (Harvard) and Hilding R. Neilson (University of Toronto). The Model Atmosphere Programs section details code restructuring efforts in Fortran 2008.