Your Guide to Executive Learning

All experts
AboutBiographyCases

Michael Mendillo

Professor of Astronomy at Boston University

Schools

  • Boston University

Links

Biography

Boston University

As Professor of Astronomy and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, he leads a research group in space physics that has developed new low-light-level imaging techniques for observations of emissions from the Earth’s atmosphere. Radio observations and modeling studies are merged with an optical tomography program to investigate various areas of “space weather” in the solar terrestrial system. Professor Mendillo is also known for his work on so-called Active Experiments – the technique of introducing (by space shuttle or sounding rockets) known gaseous perturbations into space plasmas, observing the induced effects, and then deriving the basic physical processes that govern the system.

In 1989, Professor Mendillo initiated a planetary astronomy research effort at Boston University that led to discoveries of extraordinary large, tenuous atmospheres of sodium gas on Jupiter, on the Earth’s moon and, most recently, in comet Hale-Bopp. To conduct these studies, Professor Mendillo and his long-term research colleague, Jeffrey Baumgardner, designed and constructed, in 1994, the new Boston University Station at McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis, Texas.

Professor Mendillo’s research program has received support from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory, the Department of Energy, and the Office of Naval Research. His flight program experience as principal investigator includes NASA’s Spacelab-2 mission, the CRRES program, and a series of sounding rocket active experiments. He has served on several National Academy of Sciences committees, boards, and special panels, and is currently a member of its committee on Lunar and Planetary Exploration (1997-2000). At NASA he has served on the Space and Earth Sciences Advisory Committee (SESAC) and the Space Physics Advisory Committee. In June 1987, he was named to the first Advisory Committee for the National Science Foundation’s new CEDAR (Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions) program, and in 1996-97 rejoined the CEDAR Science Steering Committee as its chairman. At National Science Foundation, Professor Mendillo also served as co-chairman of its Planetary Astronomy Advisory Committee in 1994-95.

Read about executive education

Cases

‘Potentially hazardous asteroid’ bigger than Earth’s tallest building will zoom past us next month

January 18, 2018

Fox News Michael Mendillo A “potentially hazardous asteroid” known as 2002 AJ129 is set to fly by Earth at a whopping 67,000 miles per hour next month — but there is no need to worry, scientists say… Expert quote: An asteroid of this size “would be this kind of object that would cause a catastrophic […]

View full article

A ”potentially hazardous” asteroid will makes it closest pass to Earth in 45 years tonight

December 17, 2017

Entertainment.ie Michael Mendillo Interestingly, the asteroid has been listed by NASA as Potentially Hazardous – which means that at some point in the future, it could possibly strike Earth… Expert quote: the asteroid “appears to be, at the moment, in a very stable orbit. It’s very predictable. If no other mass comes close to it, […]

View full article

A 3-Mile-Wide ‘Potentially Hazardous’ Asteroid Will Fly by Earth, Scientists Say

November 28, 2017

TIME Michael Mendillo A gigantic asteroid will pass by Earth in December — but scientists say the “close” encounter isn’t cause for concern… Expert quote: “It would be this kind of object that would cause a catastrophic collision, should there be one.” View full article

View full article

Meteor Shower Peaks Wednesday Night

August 13, 2015

NECN Michael Mendillo, College of Arts & Sciences Mother Nature is giving away a free show Wednesday night- the Perseids meteor shower… Expert quote: “The moon is not full so the sky is not bright, and you’re able to see these faint flashes. There are a couple a minute predicted to happen.” View full article […]

View full article

Dark skies make for prime viewing of Perseid meteor shower

August 12, 2015

Boston Globe (subscription required) Michael Mendillo, College of Arts & Sciences If you go outside after dark Wednesday or Thursday, be sure to look to the northeast. Earth is being bombarded by the tiny Perseid meteors at the perfect time this year: as a moonless night approaches… Expert quote: “Part of the fun is that […]

View full article

Pluto mountains rock astronomy world

July 16, 2015

Boston Herald Michael Mendillo, College of Arts & Sciences Astronomers across the globe rejoiced yesterday after mankind got its first close-up pictures of Pluto and a look at some unexpected surface features, including massive ice mountains about as high as the Rockies and very few impact craters… Expert quote: “The absence of impact craters tells […]

View full article

Pluto’s stature grows as new photos sent to Earth

July 15, 2015

Boston Herald Michael Mendillo, College of Arts & Sciences Pluto — the icy world at the outer-reaches of our solar system that was demoted to ‘dwarf planet’ status — had its moment in the sun yesterday when NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft gave mankind its first close-up look at the mysterious celestial body… Expert quote: “This […]

View full article

Experts Media Alert – New Horizons spacecraft ready to make historic flyby of Pluto

July 9, 2015

After traveling 3.6 billion miles through space, The New Horizons spacecraft is set to come within 6,200 miles of Pluto in less than one week. The space probe will make history at 7:49 a.m. on July 14 as it becomes the first spacecraft to do a flyby of the dwarf planet. NASA launched New Horizons in 2006. The following […]

View full article

NASA Moon Launch Viewable From Boston Tonight

September 6, 2013

WGBH News Michael Mendillo, College of Arts & Sciences If going to the moon seems like something from America’s past, you might be surprised to learn that we never really stopped going… Listen to audio

View full article

Red arcs over Europe: Astronomers capture bizarre phenomenon caused by magnetic storms for first time

April 3, 2013

Daily Mail Michael Mendillo, College of Arts & Sciences, Center for Space Physics Glowing red arcs invisible to the naked eye have been spotted high above Europe… View full article

View full article

Other experts

Francisco Rivera Batiz

Francisco Rivera-Batiz  joined the faculty of Columbia University for the first time in 1991 as an associate professor of economics and education at Teachers College, and as the director of the Institute for Urban and Minority Education until 1995. From 1997 to 1999, he served as the director of ...

Susanna Huey Sy Leong

Professor Susanna Leong, Vice Provost (Masters' Programmes and Lifelong Education) since January 2018, is responsible for initiatives and programmes on continuous education and training in NUS. Susanna is also Dean of the School of Continuing and Lifelong Education. Prior to that, she was the Vic...

Roy Richards

Roy Richards has more than forty years of experience leading and serving on boards of listed companies, family companies, NGOs, and industry associations. For 17 years he was the CEO of his family’s manufacturing company (Southwire: $6+BUS revenues and 6500+ employees) and still chairs it today....

Looking for an expert?

Contact us and we'll find the best option for you.

Something went wrong. We're trying to fix this error.