Dr. Yanga Fernández

Dr. Yanga ("Yan") Fernández earned his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland in 1999. He was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Hawai`i from 1999 to 2002, and a Spitzer Fellow at UH from 2002 to 2005. He joined UCF in 2005, earned tenure in 2011, and became a Full Professor in 2019. He was Director of UCF's Robinson Observatory from 2009 to 2021.

Dr. Fernández's research area is in the physical and compositional properties of comets and asteroids. He is an observational astronomer, using ground-based and space-based telescopes to study active comets, extinct comets, Trans-neptunian objects, Centaurs, Trojans, primitive main-belt asteroids, and near-Earth asteroids. A more detailed listing of some current projects can be found on Dr. Fernández's research page, and a complete list of published work can be found on his CV and on his Science page.

Research summary using only the ten hundred most common words in English: I study space rocks and ice balls. Most of them are small, smaller than a big city. But they can tell us about how our home space-rock and other big, round space-rocks in our area of space -- that all go around the Sun -- were first made. What are ice balls and space rocks made of? How are they put together? How do they change over time? Did some space rocks and some ice balls used to be the same? How are ice balls in different places different from each other, now and in the past? How have they all changed our own home space-rock? What happened when we got hit by many space rocks and ice balls long ago? I study these things with big eyes in dark, cold, dry places with clear skies. These eyes use big mirrors to get the light from the rocks and ice balls. Some of the eyes also can tell how warm the rocks and ice balls are. But there is usually only a little light, so getting enough light is hard, and it takes many, long visits to the big eyes. Some of the ice balls that I study are each strange and interesting in their own way. But I also study big groups of many rocks and ice balls together to learn what is normal about them all, and what is not.

(Updated April 2022; see the online CV, ORCID, ADS, and Google Scholar for further links.)

Refereed Book Chapters (3 total)

•Y. R. Fernández et al. 2015. Asteroids and Comets. In Treatise on Geophysics, 2nd Edition (G. Schubert, Ed.-in-Chief), Vol. 10 (T. Spohn, Ed.), Elsevier, pp. 487-528. DOI.

• R. L. Jones et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2009. The Solar System. In LSST Science Book (LSST Science Collaborations and LSST Project, Eds.), Version 2.0, arXiv: 0912.0201, online, pp. 97-136.

• P. L. Lamy, I. Toth, Y. R. Fernández, H. A. Weaver 2004. The sizes, shapes, albedos, and colors of cometary nuclei. In Comets II (M. Festou et al., Eds.), U. Ariz. Press, Tucson, online, pp. 223-264.

Refereed Journal Articles (97 total)

• 97. M. L. Hinkle et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2022. The Global Thermophysical Properties of (433) Eros. Icarus 382, 114939. DOI.

• 96. C. A. Schambeau et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2021. Characterization of Thermal Infrared Dust Emission and Refinements to the Nucleus Properties of Centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1. Plan. Sci. J. 2, 126. DOI.

• 95. J. N. Purdum et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2021. Time-series and Phasecurve Photometry of Episodically-Active Asteroid ( 6478) Gault in a Quiescent State Using APO, GROWTH, P200 and ZTF. Astrophys. J. Lett. 911, L35. DOI.

• 94. T. D. Clements and Y. R. Fernández 2021. Dust Production from Mini Out- bursts of Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1. Astron. J. 161, 73. DOI.

• 93. T. Kareta et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2021. Contemporaneous Multi-Wavelength and Precovery Observations of Active Centaur P/2019 LD2 (ATLAS). Plan. Sci. J. 2, 48. DOI.

• 92. B. Bolin et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2021. Initial Visible and Mid-IR Characterization of P/2019 LD2 (ATLAS), an Active Transitioning Centaur Among the Trojans, with Hubble, Spitzer, ZTF, Keck, APO and GROWTH Imaging and Spectroscopy. Astron. J. 161, 116. DOI.

• 91. E. Fernández-Valenzuela et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2021. Compositional study of trans-Neptunian objects at λ > 2.2 μm. Planetary Sci. J. 2, 10. DOI (alt).

• 90. D. E. Trilling et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2020. Spitzer's Solar System studies of asteroids, planets, and the zodiacal cloud. Nature Astron. 4, 940. DOI.

• 89. C. M. Lisse et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2020. Spitzer's Legacy Science Studies of Comet, Centaur, and Kuiper Belt Object Relics of Solar System Formation. Nature Astron. 4, 930. DOI.

• 88. C. D. Lewin et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2020. Near-infrared spectral characterization of solar-type stars in the Northern Hemisphere. Astronomical J. 160, 130. DOI.

• 87. O. Groussin et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2019. Spitzer Space Telescope observations of bilobate comet 8P/Tuttle. Astronomy & Astrophys. 632, A104. DOI.

• 86. C. A. Schambeau, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2019. Analysis of HST WFPC2 Observations of Centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 while in Outburst to Place Constraints on the Nucleus' Rotation State. Astronomical J. 158, #259. DOI.

• 85. S. S. Sheppard, Y. R. Fernández, A. Moullet 2018. The Albedos, Sizes, Colors, and Satellites of Dwarf Planets Compared with Newly Measured Dwarf Planet 2013 FY27. Astronomical J. 156, #270. DOI.

• 84. D. E. Trilling et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2018. Spitzer Observations of Interstellar Object 1I/'Oumuamua. Astronomical J. 156, #261. DOI.

• 83. J. D. Rosser et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2018. Behavioral Characteristics and CO+CO₂ Production Rates of Halley-type Comets Observed by NEOWISE. Astronomical J. 155, #164. DOI.

• 82. B. Bolin, H. A. Weaver, Y. R. Fernández, et al., 2018. APO time resolved color photometry of highly-elongated interstellar object 1I/`Oumuamua. Astrophysical J. Letters 852, #L2. DOI.

• 81. E. Howell et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2018. SHERMAN -- A shape-based thermophysical model. II. Application to 8567 (1996 HW1). Icarus 303, 220-233. DOI.

• 80. C. Magri et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2018. SHERMAN -- A shape-based thermophysical model. I. Model description and validation. Icarus 303, 203-219. DOI.

• 79. C. M. Lisse et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2017. Infrared Spectroscopy of HR 4796A's Bright Outer Cometary Ring + Tenuous Inner Hot Dust Cloud. Astronomical J. 154, #182. DOI.

• 78. R. Kokotanekova et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2017. Rotation of Cometary Nuclei: New Lightcurves and an Update of the Ensemble Properties of Jupiter-Family Comets. Monthly Notices of Royal Astron. Society 471, 2974-3007. DOI.

• 77. S. P. D. Birch et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2017. Geomorphology of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Monthly Notices of Royal Astron. Society 469, S50-S67. DOI.

• 76. J. M. Bauer, T. Grav, Y. R. Fernández, et al., 2017. Debiasing the NEOWISE Cryogenic Mission Comet Populations. Astronomical J. 154, #53. DOI.

• 75. S. E. Marshall et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2017. Thermal properties and an improved shape model for near-Earth asteroid (162421) 2000 ET70. Icarus 292, 22-35. DOI.

• 74. E. A. Kramer, J. M. Bauer, Y. R. Fernández, et al., 2017. The perihelion emission of comet C/2010 L5 (WISE). Astrophysical J. 838, #58. DOI.

• 73. J. L. Crowell, E. S. Howell, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2017. Radar and lightcurve shape model of near-Earth asteroid (1627) Ivar. Icarus 284, 359-371. DOI.

• 72. C. A. Schambeau, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2017. Analysis of R-band observations of an outburst of Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 to place constraints on the nucleus? rotation state. Icarus 284, 359-371. DOI.

• 71. N. A. Moskovitz et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2017. Near-infrared thermal emission from near-Earth asteroids: Aspect-dependent variability. Icarus 284, 97-105. DOI.

• 70. J. Licandro, V. Ali-Lagoa, G. Tancredi, Y. R. Fernández 2016. Size and albedo distributions of asteroids in cometary orbits using WISE data. Astronomy & Astrophysics 585, #A9. DOI.

• 69. C. A. Schambeau, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2015. A new analysis of Spitzer observations of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1. Icarus 260, 60-72. DOI.

• 68. J.M. Bauer et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2015. The NEOWISE-discovered comet population and the CO+CO₂ production rates. Astrophysical J. 814, #85. DOI.

• 67. E. A. Kramer, Y. R. Fernández et al. 2014. A dynamical analysis of the dust tail of comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) at high heliocentric distance. Icarus 236, 136-145. DOI.

• 66. J. P. Emery, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2014. Thermal Infrared Observations and Thermophysical Characterization of OSIRIS-REx Target Asteroid (101955) Bennu. Icarus 234, 17-35. DOI.

• 65. Y. R. Fernández et al. 2013. Thermal properties, sizes, and size distribution of Jupiter-Family cometary nuclei. Icarus 226, 1138-1170. DOI.

• 64. M. S. Kelley, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2013. The persistent activity of Jupiter-family comets at 3-7 AU. Icarus 225, 475-494. DOI.

• 63. J. M. Bauer et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2013. Centaurs and scattered disk objects in the thermal infrared: Analysis of WISE/NEOWISE observations. Astrophysical J. 773, #22. DOI.

• 62 K. J. Meech et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2013. The demise of comet 85P/Boethin, the first EPOXI mission target. Icarus 222, 662-678. DOI.

• 61. A. S. Rivkin et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2013. The NEO (175706) 1996 FG3 in the 2-4 μm spectral region: Evidence for an aqueously altered surface. Icarus 223, 493-498. DOI.

• 60. L. O'Rourke et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2013. Determination of an upper limit for the water outgassing rate of main-belt comet P/2012 T1 (PANSTARRS). Astrophysical J. 774, #L13. DOI.

• 59. J. M. Bauer et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2012. WISE/NEOWISE preliminary analysis and highlights of the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko near nucleus environs. Astrophysical J. 758, #18. DOI.

• 58. J. M. Bauer et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2012. WISE/NEOWISE observations of active bodies in the Main Belt. Astrophysical J. 747, #49. DOI.

• 57. H. H. Hsieh et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2012. Discovery of main-belt comet P/2006 VW139 by Pan-STARRS1. Astrophysical J. 748, #L15. DOI.

• 56. J. Licandro et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2012. 5-14 μm Spitzer spectra of Themis family asteroids. Astronomy & Astrophysical 537, #A73. DOI.

• 55. H. Campins et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2012. Spectra of asteroid families in support of Gaia. Planetary & Space Sci. 73, 95-97. DOI.

• 54. J. M. Bauer et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2011. WISE/NEOWISE observations of comet 103P/Hartley 2. Astrophysical J. 738, #171. DOI.

• 53. K. J. Meech et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2011. EPOXI: 103P/Hartley 2 observations from a worldwide campaign. Astrophysical J. 734, #L1. DOI.

• 52. J. Ziffer et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2011. Near-infrared spectroscopy of primitive asteroid families. Icarus 213, 538-546. DOI.

• 51. C. Magri et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2011. Radar and photometric observations and shape modeling of contact binary near-Earth asteroid (8567) 1996 HW1. Icarus 214, 210-227. DOI.

• 50. K. J. Meech et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2011. Deep Impact, Stardust-NExT and the Behavior of Comet 9P/Tempel 1 from 1997-2010. Icarus 213, 323-344. DOI.

• 49. M. J. S. Belton et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2011. Stardust-NExT, Deep Impact, and the accelerating spin of 9P/Tempel 1. Icarus 213, 345-368. DOI.

• 48. H. Campins et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2010. Water ice and organics on the surface of the asteroid 24 Themis. Nature 464, 1320-1321. DOI.

• 47. Y. R. Fernández 2009. That's the way the comet crumbles: Splitting Jupiter-family comets. Planetary & Space Science 57, 1218-1227. DOI.

• 46. Y. R. Fernández, D. Jewitt, J. E. Ziffer 2009. Albedos of small Jovian Trojans. Astronomical J. 138, 240-250. DOI.

• 45. J. Licandro, H. Campins, M. Kelley, Y. R. Fernández, et al., 2009. Spitzer observations of the asteroid-comet transition object and potential spacecraft target 107P/(4015) Wilson-Harrington. Astronomy & Astrophysics 507, 1667-1670. DOI.

• 44. C. M. Lisse, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2009. Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the nucleus of comet 103P/Hartley 2. Publ. Astronomical Society of the Pacific 121, 968-975. DOI.

• 43. H. H. Hsieh, D. Jewitt, Y. R. Fernández 2009. Albedos of main-belt comets 133P/ Elst-Pizarro and 176P/LINEAR. Astrophysical J. 694, L111-L114. DOI.

• 42. H. Campins, J. P. Emery, M. Kelley, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2009. Spitzer observations of spacecraft target 162173 (1999 JU3). Astronomy & Astrophysics 503, L17-L20. DOI.

• 41. H. Campins, M. S. Kelley, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2009. Low-perihelion near-Earth asteroids. Earth Moon & Planets 105, 159-165. DOI.

• 40. O. Groussin et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2009. The size and thermal properties of the nucleus of comet 22P/Kopff. Icarus 199, 568-570. DOI.

• 39. N. Dello Russo et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2008. The volatile composition of comet 17P/Holmes after its extraordinary outburst. Astrophysical J. 680, 793-802. DOI.

• 38. J. M. Bauer et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2008. The large-grained dust coma of 174P/Echeclus. Publ. Astronomical Society of the Pacific 120, 393-404. DOI.

• 37. J. P. Emery, C. M. Dalle Ore, D. Cruikshank, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2007. Ices on (90377) Sedna: Confirmation and compositional constraints. Astronomy & Astrophysics 466, 395-398. DOI.

• 36. Y. R. Fernández et al. 2007. Near-infrared light curve of comet 9P/Tempel 1 during Deep Impact. Icarus 187, 220-227. (Reprinted in Icarus 191S, 424-431.) DOI.

• 35. C. M. Lisse et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2006. Spitzer spectral observations of the Deep Impact ejecta. Science 313, 635-640. DOI.

• 34. H. U. Käufl, T. Bone, H. Boehnhardt, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2006. Pre-impact mid-IR and optical observations of comet 9P/Tempel 1. Earth Moon & Planets 97, 331-339. DOI.

• 33. Y. R. Fernández et al. 2006. Comet 162P/Siding Spring: A surprisingly large nucleus. Astronomical J. 132, 1354-1360. DOI.

• 32. J. E. Ziffer et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2006. Near-infrared spectra of two asteroids with low Tisserand invariant. Earth Moon & Planets 97, 203-212. DOI.

• 31. H. Campins et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2006. Nuclear spectra of comet 162P/Siding Spring (2004 TU₁₂. Astronomical J. 132, 1346-1353. DOI.

• 30. P. A. Abell, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2005. Physical characteristics of comet nucleus C/2001 OG₁₀₈ (LONEOS). Icarus 179, 174-194. DOI.

• 29. Y. R. Fernández, D. C. Jewitt, S. S. Sheppard 2005. Albedos of asteroids in comet-like orbits. Astronomical J. 130, 308-318. DOI.

• 28. Y. R. Fernández et al. 2005. New near-aphelion light curves of comet 2P/Encke. Icarus 175, 194-214. DOI.

• 27. K. J. Meech et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2005. Deep Impact: Observations from a world-wide Earth-based campaign. Science 310, 265-269. DOI.

• 26. C. M. Lisse, M. F. A'Hearn, O. Groussin, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2005. Rotationally resolved 8-35 μm Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the nucleus of comet 9P/Tempel 1. Astrophysical J. 625, L139-L142. DOI.

• 25. D. P. Cruikshank, J. A. Stansberry, J. P. Emery, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2005. The high-albedo Kuiper Belt object (55565) 2002 AW₁₉₇. Astrophysical J. 624, L53-L56. DOI.

• 24. M. J. S. Belton, N. H. Samarasinha, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2005. The excited spin state of comet 2P/Encke. Icarus, 175, 181-193. DOI.

• 23. K. J. Meech, M. F. A'Hearn, Y. R. Fernández, et al., 2005. The Deep Impact Earth-based campaign. Space Science Reviews 117, 297-334. DOI.

• 22. M. J. S. Belton et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2005. Deep Impact: Working properties for the target nucleus -- comet 9P/Tempel 1. Space Science Reviews 117, 137-160. DOI.

• 21. J. A. Stansberry et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2004. Spitzer observations of the dust coma and nucleus of 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1. Astrophysical J. Supplement 154, 463-468. DOI.

• 20. C. M. Lisse, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2004. A tale of two very different comets: ISO and MSX measurements of dust emission from 126P/IRAS (1996) and 2P/Encke (1997). Icarus 171, 444-462. DOI.

• 19. H. H. Shieh, D. C. Jewitt, Y. R. Fernández 2004. The strange case of 133P/Elst-Pizarro: A comet amongst the asteroids. Astronomical J. 127, 2997-3017. DOI.

• 18. J. M. Bauer, K. J. Meech, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2003. Physical survey of 24 Centaurs with visible photometry. Icarus 166, 195-211. DOI.

• 17. J. M. Bauer, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2003. An optical survey of active Centaur C/NEAT (2001 T4). Publ. Astronomical Society of the Pacific 115, 981-989. DOI.

• 16. D. C. Jewitt, S. S. Sheppard, Y. R. Fernández 2003. 143P/Kowal-Mrkos and the shapes of cometary nuclei. Astronomical J. 125, 3366-3377. DOI.

• 15. Y. R. Fernández, S. S. Sheppard, D. C. Jewitt 2003. The albedo distribution of Jovian Trojan asteroids. Astronomical J. 126, 1563-1574. DOI.

• 14. Y. R. Fernández et al. 2003. The nucleus of Deep Impact target comet 9P/Tempel 1. Icarus 164, 481-491. (Reprinted in Icarus 191S, 11-21.) DOI 1, DOI 2.

• 13. Y. R. Fernández 2002. The nucleus of comet Hale-Bopp: size and activity. Earth Moon & Planets 89, 3-25. DOI.

• 12. Y. R. Fernández, D. C. Jewitt, S. S. Sheppard 2002. Thermal properties of Centaurs Asbolus and Chiron. Astronomical J. 123, 1050-1055. DOI.

• 11. H. Campins and Y. R. Fernández 2002. Surface characteristics of cometary nuclei. Earth Moon & Planets 89, 117-134. DOI.

• 10. J. M. Bauer, K. J. Meech, Y. R. Fernández, et al., 2002. Observations of the centaur 1999 UG₅: Evidence of a unique outer Solar System surface. Publ. Astronomical Society of the Pacific 114, 1309-1321. DOI.

• 9. C. M. Lisse, A. Schulz, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2002. Discovery of an extremely red object in the field of HD 155826. Astrophysical J. 570, 779-784. DOI.

• 8. Y. R. Fernández, D. C. Jewitt, S. S. Sheppard 2001. Low albedos among extinct comet candidates. Astrophysical J. 553, L197-L200. DOI.

• 7. Y. R. Fernández et al. 2000. Physical properties of the nucleus of comet 2P/Encke. Icarus 147, 145-160. DOI.

• 6. Y. R. Fernández et al. 1999. The nucleus and inner coma of comet Hale-Bopp: Results from a stellar occultation. Icarus 140, 205-220. DOI.

• 5. C. M. Lisse, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 1999. Infrared observations of the dust emitted by comet Hale-Bopp. Earth Moon & Planets 78, 251-257. DOI.

• 4. C. M. Lisse, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 1999. The nucleus of comet Hyakutake (C/1996 B2). Icarus 140, 189-204. DOI.

• 3. I. de Pater et al., including Y. R. Fernández 1997. BIMA observations of comet Hyakutake: upper limit to the 2.7 mm continuum emission. Planetary & Space Science 45, 731-734. DOI.

• 2. Y. R. Fernández et al. 1997. Analysis of POSS images of comet-asteroid transition object 107P/1949 W1 (Wilson-Harrington). Icarus 128, 114-126. DOI.

• 1. Y. R. Fernández et al. 1997. X-Band VLA observations of comet Hyakutake (C/1996 B2) and implications for nuclear properties. Planetary & Space Science 45, 735-739. DOI.

Refereed Conference Proceedings (8 total)

• I. M. Coulson et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2009. JCMT observations of the Deep Impact event. In Deep Impact as a World Observatory Event: Synergies in Space, Time, and Wavelength (H. U. Käufl and C. Sterken, Eds.), Springer, Berlin, pp. 69-72. DOI.

• J. Pittichova, Y. R. Fernández, et al. 2009. Dust evolution of comet 9P/Tempel 1. In Deep Impact as a World Observatory Event: Synergies in Space, Time, and Wavelength (H. U. Käufl and C. Sterken, Eds.), Springer, Berlin, pp. 317-322. DOI.

• C. M. Lisse et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2007. Planetary science goals for the Spitzer warm era. In The Science Opportunities of the Warm Spitzer Mission Workshop (L. J. Storrie-Lombardi and N. A. Silberman, Eds.), American Institute of Physics, Melville, NY, pp. 184-212. DOI.

• D. P. Cruikshank, M. A. Barucci, J. P. Emery, Y. R. Fernández, et al., 2007. Physical properties of trans-neptunian objects. In Protostars and Planets V (B. Reipurth et al., Eds.), U. Ariz. Press, Tucson, online, pp. 879-893.

• D. P. Cruikshank et al., including Y. R. Fernández 2006. Solar System observations with Spitzer Space Telescope. In The Spitzer Space Telescope: New Views of the Cosmos (L. Armus and W. T. Reach, Eds.), Astronomical Society of the Pacific, San Francisco, online, pp. 23-30.

• Y. R. Fernández et al. 2006. Review of Spitzer Space Telescope observations of small bodies. In Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union Symposium 229 (D. Lazzaro et al., Eds.), Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, pp. 121-131. DOI.

• C. M. Lisse, M. F. A'Hearn, Y. R. Fernández, S. B. Peschke 2002. A search for trends in cometary dust emission. In Dust in the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems (S. F. Green et al., Eds.), Pergamon, pp. 259-268. DOI.

• D. C. Jewitt and Y. R. Fernández 2001. Physical properties of planet-crossing objects. In Collisional Processes in the Solar System (H. Rickman and M. Marov, Eds.), Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp. 143-161. DOI.