Dr. Peterson joined the Hastings College Faculty in Fall 2018 after teaching for 6 years at the University of Wisconsin – Barron County. He has taught introductory physics and astronomy courses, and will be teaching optics this term.
He is interested in the study of galaxies, particularly galaxy interactions and their effect on star formation. His research projects have used data from the Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope, and Herschel Space Observatory.
Dr. Peterson is also the President of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences for 2024-25. You can read more about that by clicking here.
Institutions:
Ph. D. in Astrophysics from Iowa State University (2011)
B.S. in Physics from University of Nebraska, Lincoln (2004)
Teaching Interests:
Some of my favorite subjects to teach are Astronomy, Optics, Analytical Mechanics, and Introductory Physics for Life Sciences (listed as General Physics in our catalog.).
Research Interests:
Most of my research has been on interacting galaxies. I have used data from telescopes including the Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope, and Herschel Space Observatory to study how galaxy interactions affect star formation in galaxies.
Selected Publications:
1. “Evidence for shock-heated gas in the Taffy Galaxies and Bridge from Optical
Emission-Line IFU spectroscopy.” Joshi, B.A., Appleton, P. N., Blanc, G. A., et al., 2019, The Astrophysical Journal, 878, 161, 17 pp.
2. “Herschel Spectroscopy of the Taffy Galaxies (UGC 12914/12915 = VV 254): Enhanced [C II] emission in the collisionally-formed bridge.” Peterson, B. W.,
Appleton, P.N., Bitsakis, T., et al., 2018, The Astrophysical Journal, 855, 141, 13 pp.
3. “X-Ray Emission From the Taffy (VV254) Galaxies and Bridge.” Appleton, P. N., Lanz, L., Wang, J., et al., 2015, The Astrophysical Journal, 812, 118, 17 pp.
4. “Shock-Enhanced C+ Emission and the Detection of H2O From the Stephan’s Quintet Group-Wide Shock Using Herschel.” Appleton, P. N., Guillard, P., Boulanger, F., et al., 2013, The Astrophysical Journal, 777, 66, 16 pp.
5. “Detection of Powerful Mid-IR H2 Emission in the Bridge Between the Taffy Galaxies.” Peterson, B. W., Appleton, P. N., Helou, G., Jarrett, T. H., Cluver, M. E., Ogle, P., Guillard, P., Struck C., Boulanger F., 2012, The Astrophysical Journal, 751, 11, 15 pp.
6. “Star Clusters in the Interacting Galaxy System Arp 284.” Peterson, B. W., Struck, C., Smith, B. J., Hancock, M., 2009, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 400, pp 1208–1224.
Personal Interests:
indoor exercise, horror movies
