I am a lecturer at the School of Maths and Physics of Queen’s University Belfast. I also do research in solar system astronomy at the Astrophysics Research Centre.
At the moment, I teach 1st year students in the subjects of Mathematics and Laboratory Physics.
My research work deals with physical properties of small bodies of the solar system, mainly Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) and comets. I also collaborate with medievalist Marilina Cesario to link medieval records of comet sightings to current theories of the evolution of the solar system.
Short CV
- Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast, since 2016
- Max Planck Research Group Leader, 2013-2016
- Michael West Research Fellow, 2010
- Royal Society Newton Fellow, 2008
- PhD, 2005, Leiden University
- Graduated in Physics, 2000, University of Lisbon
Recent News, Results and Publications
- NEW / PAPER Implications of the small spin changes measured for large Jupiter-family comet nuclei (PDF)
- NEW / EXHIBITION “Before and After Halley: Medieval Visions of Modern Science” at the British Academy Summer Showcase 2018 (website)
- EXHIBITION “Marvelling at the skies: comets through the eyes of the Anglo-Saxons” at the Ulster Museum (QUB press release)
- PAPER The tumbling rotational state of 1I/`Oumuamua (PDF)
- PAPER Dynamics of Dust Particles of Different Structures […] (abstract)
- AWARD Marilina Cesario and myself were awarded a Royal Society APEX Award for our project “Before and After Halley: Medieval Visions of Modern Science”
- PAPER A Dwarf Planet Class Object in the 21:5 Resonance with Neptune (PDF)
- PAPER Growth of cometary building blocks in the solar nebula (abstract)
- PAPER Rotation of Cometary Nuclei (PDF)
- PAPER All planetesimals born near the Kuiper belt formed as binaries (PDF)
- PAPER A laboratory study of water ice erosion by low energy ions (PDF)
- PAPER Acceleration of cometary dust near the nucleus […] (PDF)
- PAPER Discovery of a New Retrograde Transneptunian Object […] (PDF)
- PAPER Comet formation in collapsing pebble clouds […] (PDF)
- See older entries in Archive
Things about Pedro
Contact
Astrophysics Research Centre
Queen’s University Belfast
Belfast, BT7 1NN
United Kingdom
email | www
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Pedro, I’m so proud of your accomplishments. I remember how happy you were one time when you scored a 19 in an undergrad course in Lisbon. I also remember you sleeping in my garage one night! I’ll follow your career because I’m still expecting a Nobel Prize…..