Robert S. McMillan
materials documenting the Radial Velocity Project of the University of Arizona Lunar and
Planetary Laboratory. The project developed and used a spectrometer to detect the reflex
Doppler shift of solar-type stars orbited by Jupiter-sized planets. Observation log books,
grant materials, research files, instruments, photographs, and compact disks.
Collection Number:
MS 668
Language:
Materials are in English.
Repository:
University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections
University of Arizona
PO Box 210055
Tucson, AZ 85721-0055
Phone: 520-621-6423
Fax: 520-621-9733
URL: http://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/
E-Mail: LBRY-askspcoll@email.arizona.edu
Biographical Note
Dr. McMillan leads the SPACEWATCH® Project which recovers and makes astrometric
observations of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). He is also a Co-Investigator on the Science Team
of the NEO Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) spacecraft mission that surveys the
sky in the near-infrared. The Spacewatch Project's role for that mission is follow-up
observations of asteroids and comets detected by that spacecraft. Spacewatch contributes the
majority of the recovery observations of NEOs recently discovered by NEOWISE.
McMillan's career has included studies of variable stars, statistics of stellar populations,
interstellar dust, interstellar magnetic fields, planetary atmospheres, Doppler shift
spectroscopy of stars, astronomical instrumentation, and surveys of asteroids. He has worked
in the last four disciplines from 1979 to the present while at the Lunar and Planetary
Laboratory at the University of Arizona. Some of McMillan's peer-reviewed first-author
papers from the 1970s were still being cited and used as many as 40 years later.
McMillan's group at LPL was the first to publish stellar Doppler shift (radial velocity; RV)
measurements better than +/-20 meters per second (m/s) in a refereed journal. They also made
the first reliable detection of p-mode oscillations in a star other than the Sun (Arcturus),
discovered the spectroscopic binary of then-longest known period, and established a new
upper limit on the RV stability of the Sun observed as a point source. That limit was
published in 1993 and as of 2014 has been neither challenged nor surpassed. McMillan also
further investigated techniques to measure the RVs of stars in ways that minimize confusion
of Doppler shift measurements by effects intrinsic to stellar atmospheres. He returned to
the field in 2007 as a collaborator with a group who used a prototype of a newly designed
dispersed Fourier Transform Spectrometer to measure the RVs of binary stars with the
2.3-meter Bok Telescope of the Steward Observatory.
As Co-Investigator, Deputy Principal
Investigator, Project Scientist, and Project Manager of Prof. Tom Gehrels' Spacewatch
Project from 1980-1997, McMillan guided the physical realization of CCD surveying as a
productive method of exploring the solar system for asteroids and comets. McMillan became
the Principal Investigator of Spacewatch in mid-1997. In 2000 McMillan discovered large
Trans-Neptunian Object 2000 WR106, now known as Minor Planet (20000) Varuna. On 2005 Dec 28
he discovered minor planet 2005 YU55, a 300-meter diameter Earthcrossing asteroid that made
a close approach to Earth on 2011 Nov 8. The 1.8-m telescope was completed in 2002 and the
0.9-m telescope was completely rebuilt with all new optics and detectors under McMillan's
leadership. The 0.9-m telescope was fully automated in 2006. The 1.8-m telescope received a
new imaging camera in 2011 October, which has increased the rate of observations by 50% and
improved astrometric accuracy by a factor of 2. In 2015 October, the Spacewatch Project
further boosted its rate of observations with a new CCD camera at the cassegrain focus of
the Bok 2.3-meter telescope of the Steward Observatory and converting the operation of the
Spacewatch 0.9-meter telescope from surveying to targeted followup observations.
Historical Note
The Radial Velocity Project was started by Krzysztof Serkowski around 1973 to detect planets orbiting other stars. Detection requires specialized
equipment for measuring the polarization of light that is more accurate than conventional Doppler shift equipment. The instrument required a great
deal of careful calibration and lots of photons to make measurements with ground-based telescopes.
Robert S. McMillan began collaborating with Serkowski in 1979 because his dissertation topic, interstellar polarization, related to his work.
Serkowski was suffering from Lou Gehrig's Disease and the project was passed to McMillan in 1980. Serkowski passed away in 1981. At the time the project had
run out of money so McMillan had to restart the project from scratch. Funding was secured from the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration.
The specialized instrument, the University of Arizona radial velocity spectrometer (RVS), was redesigned and new software was written before ovservations
commenced. It was successful and the team was the first to publish radial velocity measurements of starts better than 20 meters per second accuracy.
They also discovered pulsations in Arcturus, a different, new type of pulsation that had never been seen before in any other stars but the Sun. They
also discovered the longest period of a spectroscopic binary.
The program was successful, but suffered from "photon starvation". It required vast amounts of light to work effectively and due to various constraints
sufficient large telescope time wasn't available for the project. With a small telescope the project wasn't able to discover planets as it set out to,
but it proved the measurement concept and achieved the desired accuracy.
In the 1990s McMillan and the Radial Velocity Project partnered with George David Gatewood, of Allegheny Observatory, Univ. of Pittsburgh, to
make ovservations with an instrument called the Multichannel Astrometric Photometer and Spectrograph (MAPS). Observing runs were conducted in
1997 at the Keck II telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii.
Scope and Content Note
Professional papers of Robert S. McMillan related to the Radial Velocity Project of the
University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. Includes many phases of the project
including grant writing, project design and instrument development, ovservation and data
collection and subsequent scholarship. Collection includes extensive observation log books
(over 30 with additional data files and raw data on compact disks), and extensive
photographs documenting the instrument, University of Arizona Lunar And Planetary Laboratory
facilities, instrument shipment to Hawaii, and Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea in Hawaii.
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from theowner of the
copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees,
heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Arizona Board of Regents for the University of Arizona, its officers, employees, and agents
from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of
copyright.
Includes original project grant to the National Science Foundation in 1981 and other
grant proposals, award documents, correspondence and materials related to NSF and NASA
grants. Arranged chronologically.
box
folder
1
1
Original Radial Velocity proposal to National Science Foundation, 1981
1
2
Reviews of Radial Velocity project grant proposal, 1981-1997
1
3
Radial Velocity grant proposal and award documents, 1990-1993
Extensive observation log books, numbered and organized chronologically and binders of
data. Set of folders related to specific stars. Includes computer disks with raw data
migrated from tapes.
box
folder
3
16
Lab book "Zero", 1980-1998
3
17
Lab book 1, 2, 1981
3
18
Lab book 3, 4 (3 overlaps books 4, 5), 1982-1985
3
19
Lab book 5, 1985
3
20
Meter log book 6, 1985
3
21
Meter log book 7, 1985-1986
box
folder
4
1
Observing log book 8, 1986
4
2
Observing log book 9, 1986-1987
4
3
Observing log book 10, 1987
4
4
Observing log book 11, 12, 1987
4
5
Observing log book 13, 14, 1987-1988
4
6
Observing log book 15, 1988
4
7
Observing log book 16, 17, 1988-1989
4
8
Observing log book 18, 19, 1989
4
9
Observing log book 20, 1990
4
10
Observing log book 21, 22, 1990-1991
4
11
Observing log book 23, 24, 1991-1992
4
12
Observing log book 25, 1992-1993
box
folder
5
1
Observing log book 26, 1993-1994
5
2
Observing log book 27, 1994
5
3
Observing log book 28, 29, 1994-1995
5
4-6
Meter Observation logs, 1985-1989
5
7
Observation data, calibration plots, data analysis, correspondence, grant
documents, 1982-1987
5
8
Analysis of Fabry-Perot modulation by WLREFORM, 1988
5
9
LR's [Lunar Reductions], data, plots, 1988-1995
5
10
George H. Jacoby, data, articles, 1984-1992
5
11
Radial Velocities of the Moon, data, articles, notes, 1991-1995
5
12
Sunspots, graphs, data, 1992
5
13
Radial Velocity reductions, data, digital storage directories, 1992-1993
5
14
Line ratio scan, data, 1993-1995
5
15
Epsilon Eri literature, notes, 1984-1996
5
16
Beta Gem, draft paper, data, 1987, 1991
box
folder
6
1
36 UMa, Radial Velocieties, literature, 1987-1993
6
2
Eta Cas A, manuscript, papers, Radial Velocities, 1987-1993
Late phase of the project involving a collaboration with Dr. George Gatewood using the
Multichannel Astrometric Photometer (MAP) or Multichannel Astrometric Photometer and
Spectrograph (MAPS) instrument.
box
folder
6
10
Radial Velocity Spectrometer for Keck-2, correspondence with Aden and
Marjorie Meinel, Gene Levy, others, 1991
6
11
MAPS, figures, charts, 1996-1997
6
12
MAPS Spectrograph, 1996-1997
6
13
MAPS instrument, DOM output beam photographs, correspondence, 1996-1997
6
14-15
UA/LPL RV-MAPS Spectrograph, 1996-1997
6
16
MAPS Observing Log Book 1, George D. Gatewood, Robert McMillan,
WMKO, 1997
Includes press and outreach, radial velocity literature, writings and figures,
correspondence, and files related to workshops and professional organizations.
box
folder
6
24
Popular articles, press, correspondence with editors and public outreach
events, 1975-2001
box
folder
7
1
Literature on radial velocity, 1967-1986
7
2
Literature on radial velocity, includes correspondence, 1977-1986
7
3
Position paper on the interpretation of negative radial velocity results,
William Heacox, draft, correspondence, 1978
7
4
Radial Velocity publication, articles, 1982-1984
7
5
Short Period Oscillations, draft, Perter Smith, Robert McMillan, 1987
Prints, negatives and slides of Radial Velocity equipment, LPL facilities, and Keck
Observatory on Mauna Kea in Hawaii (bulk). Mostly 3 x 5 and 4 x 6 inch commercial prints
developed in the photogrpahy studio in the University of Arizona student union, but also
prints given to McMillan from colleagues. Mostly from professional trips to Hawaii.
box
9
Radial Velocity Instruments, notes, 1985, undated
9
Radial Velocity Spectrometer, notes, undated
9
Radial Velocity pictures by T. Schemenauer, undated
9
Radial Velocity equipment, 1986
9
Radial Velocity instrument in room 223, circa 1984
Photometrics at Steward Observatory Kitt Peak 36", negatives, 1987
9
Schematics: Input Optics, Newtonian optic, Fabry-Perot etalon, CCD control
and readout electronics, Sensitivity of interference, undated
9
Schematics: spectrometer real-time control and display system, peak
transmissions of the Fabry-Perot etalon, undated
9
USNO dFTS2 run on 90-inch, 2007
9
Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS), undated
9
Radial Velocity instrument, 1996
9
36" drive, Radial Velocity CCD, 1997
9
Roof security at Radial Velocity CCD, 1995
9
Radial Velocity fiber output mount, 1999
9
Installation of roof telescope, 1995
9
Radial Velocity stuff shipped, 1997
9
Keck run, roll 4 of 4, 1997
9
Bok 2.3-meter telescope, Kitt Peak, using fiber-optic fed sunlight to test a
spectrometer, 2007
9
International Astronomical Union (IAU), Radial Velocity Colloquium 170,
Victoria, British Columbia, Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (DAO), with Dave
Balam, 1998
9
Steward Observatory 90" telescope, 2000
box
10
Keck Telescope, 1996
10
Keck Observatory, 1996
10
Keck, photographs by Tim Persinger, 1997
10
Hawaii, photographs by Andrew Tubbiolo, 1997
10
Hawaii, big island, volcano, Gloria McMillan, 1997
10
Shipping crates at Keck, 1997
10
First run of MAPS at Keck, 1997
box
11
First run of MAPS at Keck, 1997
11
Keck trip, photographs and correspondence from Dave, 1997
