معرفی
Dr. Cristina Thomas serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science at Northern Arizona University. Her research utilizes ground-based telescopes including NASA's IRTF and SOAR to investigate asteroid composition, space weathering effects, and rotational properties. She leads the DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) Observations Working Group and holds Guaranteed Time Observations on the James Webb Space Telescope for solar system studies.
Her research centers on asteroid compositional analysis through infrared spectroscopy, with emphasis on space weathering processes and rotational dynamics of small solar system bodies. She employs multi-wavelength observational techniques to study near-Earth and main-belt asteroids, contributing to planetary defense initiatives and understanding solar system evolution through international collaborations.
Analysis of her 2025 publications reveals dominant themes including JWST-based characterization of asteroid composition, post-DART impact dynamics of the Didymos system, and investigations of water ice in the asteroid belt. Key research threads involve rotational property analysis of binary asteroids, compositional mapping of Jupiter's irregular satellites, and planetary defense applications for objects like Apophis.
No scientific awards are mentioned in the provided text. While no student names are listed, her leadership in the DART Observations Working Group and JWST Guaranteed Time Observations indicates significant research management responsibilities and grant-funded project coordination.
Dr. Thomas leads the global DART Observations Working Group coordinating post-impact studies of Dimorphos, and is a key member of the JWST solar system science team focusing on asteroid and comet characterization through infrared spectroscopy and imaging capabilities.
