Larry A. Molnar


Larry Molnar

Education

  • PhD Harvard University, Astronomy, 1985
  • MA Harvard, University, Astronomy, 1981
  • BS University of Michigan, high honors in Astronomy, 1980
  • Junior Year in Germany Program, University of Freiburg, 1978/79

Biography

Professional experience

  • Professor, Calvin College (1998-present)
  • Assistant Professor, University of Iowa (1990-1998)
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Iowa (1988-1990)
  • Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics postdoctoral fellow (1985-1988)

Publications

Henry A. Kobulnicky, Lawrence A. Molnar, Evan M. Cook, Lauren E. Henderson, "A Bayesian Analysis of Physical Parameters for 783 Kepler (Near)-Contact Binaries: Extreme-Mass-Ratio Systems and a New Mass Ratio versus Period Lower Limit", Astrophysical Journal (2022) 

Lawrence A. Molnar, Daniel M. Van Noord*, Karen Kinemuchi, Jason P. Smolinski, Cara E. Alexander*, Evan M. Cook*, Byoungchan Jang*, Henry A. Kobulnicky, Christopher J. Spedden*, Steven D. Steenwyk, "Prediction of a red nova outburst in KIC 9832227", Astrophysical Journal 840:1 (2017 May 1) 

Melissa J. Dykhuis*, Lawrence A. Molnar, Christopher J. Gates*, Joshua A. Gonzales*, Jared J. Huffman*, Aaron R. Maat*, Stacy L. Maat*, Matthew I. Marks*, Alyssa R. Massey-Plantinga*, Nathan D. McReynolds*, Jeremy A. Schut*, Joshua P. Stoep*, Andrew J. Stutzman*, Brandon C. Thomas*, George W. Vander Tuig*, Jess W. Vriesema*, Richard Greenberg "Efficient spin sense determination of Flora-region asteroids via the epoch method," Icarus, 267, 174-203 (2016)

Carry, B., Matter, A., Scheirich, P., Pravec, P., Molnar, L., Mottola, S. and 26 coauthors "The small binary asteroid (939) Isberga" Icarus, 248, 516-525 (2015)

Dykhuis, Melissa J*., Molnar, L, Van Kooten, Samuel J., Greenberg, Richard “Defining the Flora Family: Orbital Properties, Reflectance Properties and Age”, Icarus, 243, 111-128 (2014)

Paper published in conference proceedings: Daniel M. Van Noord*, L. Molnar, S. D. Steenwyk, “Automated Searches for Variable Stars”, proceedings of “40 Years of Variable Stars: A Celebration of Contributions by Horace A. Smith”, eprint arXiv: 1310.0536, October, (2013).

Paper published in conference proceedings: L. Molnar, Daniel M. Van Noord*, and S. D. Steenwyk, “The Short Period End of the Distribution of Contact Binary Stars”, proceedings of “40 Years of Variable Stars: A Celebration of Contributions by Horace A. Smith”, eprint arXiv: 1310.0539, October, (2013).

Paper published in conference proceedings:  S. D. Steenwyk, Daniel M. Van Noord*, and L. Molnar, “Atypical Light Curves”, proceedings of “40 Years of Variable Stars: A Celebration of Contributions by Horace A. Smith”, eprint arXiv: 1310.0537, October, (2013).

Stephen M. Slivan, Lawrence A. Molnar, “Spin vectors in the Koronis family: III. (832) Karin,” Icarus, 220, 1097-1103 (2012)

Daniel J. Majaess, David Higgins, Larry A. Molnar, *Melissa J. Haegert, David J. Lane, David G. Turner, and Inga Nielsen, "New Constraints on the Asteroid 298 Baptistina, the Alleged Family Member of the K/T Impactor", Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, volume 103, pages 7-10 (February, 2009).

Lawrence A. Molnar, *Melissa J. Haegert, and *Kathleen M. Hoogeboom, "Lightcurve Analysis of an Unbiased Sample of Trojan Asteroids", The Minor Planet Bulletin, volume 35, pages 82-84 (2008 April).

Lawrence A. Molnar, *Melissa J. Haegert, *Christopher N. Beaumont, *Marjorie J. Block, *Timothy H. Brom, *Andrew R. Butler, *Peter L. Cook, *Allyson G. Green, *Joshua P. Holtrop, *Kathleen M. Hoogeboom, *Jason J. Kulisek, *Jonathan S. Lovelace, *Jeffery S. Olivero, *Achyut Shrestha, *Jessie F. Taylor, *Kenneth D. Todd, *John D. Vander Heide, and *Samuel O. Van Scoter, "Lightcurve Analysis of a Magnitude Limited Asteroid Sample", The Minor Planet Bulletin, volume 35, pages 9-12 (2008 January).

D. E. Dunn, I. Pater, L. A. Molnar, "Examining the wake structure in Saturn's rings from mircowave observations over varying ring opening angles and wavelengths" Icarus 192, 56 (December 2007).

L. A. Molnar and *M. J. Haegert, "Lightcurve analysis of five main belt asteroids at the Calvin-Rehoboth Observatory" Minor Planet Bulletin, volume 34, p. 126-128 (September 2007).

David E. Dunn, Imke de Pater, Melvyn Wright, Michiel R. Hogerheijde, Lawrence A. Molnar, " High-Quality BIMA-OVRO Images of Saturn and its Rings at 1.3 and 3 Millimeters”, Astronomical Journal, 129, 1109 (2005)

David E. Dunn, Lawrence A. Molnar, Jon T. Niehof*, Imke de Pater, and Jack J. Lissauer, "Microwave observations of Saturn's rings: anisotropy in directly transmitted and scattered saturnian thermal emission", Icarus, 171, 183-198 (2004).

D. E. Dunn, L. A. Molnar, and J. D. Fix "More microwave observations of Saturn: Modeling the Ring with at Monte Carlo Radiative Transfer Code", Icarus, volume 160, issue 1, p.132-160 (2002).

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