Education:
Ph.D., University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; Planetary Sciences,
1990.
Dissertation Title: The Pluto-Charon system as revealed during the
mutual events.
Dissertation Directors:
Dr. Larry A. Lebofsky,
Dr. William B. Hubbard
M.S., Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN; Physics &
Astronomy, 1983.
Thesis Title: A two spot model for the surface of Pluto.
Thesis Director:
Dr. Douglas S. Hall
S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA;
Earth & Planetary Sciences, 1980.
S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA;
Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering, 1978.
Professional Experience:
Senior Research Specialist, 1996-:
Lunar & Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona
Construction, alignment, and calibration of flight
hardware (CCD cameras) for several NASA missions. Calibration
includes design of apparatus, custom fixturing, and setups required to
characterize a camera subsystem; image data acquisition and reduction;
and incorporation of results into calibration reports.
Tasks include both ambient (room-temperature, Class-5 Clean Room
conditions) and thermal vacuum environmental chamber testing.
Additional responsibilities encompassed instrument flight-qualification,
care and upkeep of the Clean Room Facility, and the training of
undergraduate assistants.
Camera characterizations included: dark current and bad pixel
map, modulation transfer function/point-spread function,
focus table, geometric distortion, stray light, spectral responsivity,
pointing/backlash modeling, temperature sensor calibration, and EMF
compatibility testing.
Delivery to and interfacing with JPL and Lockheed/Martin
System Test Labs and integration with the spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center
was required, as was field deployment of
engineering/testbed cameras to terrestrial Mars-analog sites.
GRS tasks include: coding of an IDL-based spectrum reduction
package, complete with error analysis; lead for GRS spatial efficiency map
determination; spacecraft/planet geometry derivations for data reduction;
lead (at LPL) for GRS cartographic products.
Missions and Instruments include:
- Mars 2001 Surveyor Lander: Mars Environmental Compatibility Assessment
Microscope and Robotic Arm Cameras
- Built prototype MIMI camera (Multispectral Imaging MIcroscope;
not chosen for flight)
- Mars Polar Lander: Stereo Surface Imager and Robotic Arm Cameras
- Mars Odyssey Orbiter: Gamma Ray Spectrometer
Engineer, 1995: Lunar & Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona
Calibration of the Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP) Camera.
Duties similar to above, but position was half-time. Camera returned
18,000 images of the Martian surface and atmosphere.
Applications Systems Analyst, 1992-1994: Lunar & Planetary
Laboratory, University of Arizona
- Deployed portable telescopic observatory to remote sites. Observed
several stellar occultations by solar system bodies using high-speed
CCD photometry.
- Guest Observer at Mt. John Observatory, New Zealand. Observed
Comet Shoemaker/Levy-9 impacts into Jupiter as part of the University
of Arizona CINE collaboration.
- Technical translation of educational materials from English to
Spanish.
Adjunct Faculty Member, 1992-1995:
Pima Community College,
Tucson, Arizona
- Taught Astronomy 101, 102, 103, and 104 lectures and
laboratory classes.
- Wrote syllabus for honors course for advanced undergraduates.
- Compiled database of test questions for use in above courses.
JPL Postdoctoral Fellow, 1990-1992: Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
Caltech, Pasadena, California
Conducted telescopic research program concentrating on Pluto,
Charon, and Centaur Objects 2060 Chiron and 5145 Pholus.
Detectors used include CCD and InSb arrays, and photomultiplier tubes.
Laboratory Instructor, 1989: Lunar & Planetary Laboratory,
University of Arizona
Research Associate, 1986-1990: Lunar & Planetary Laboratory,
University of Arizona
Research Assistant, 1983-1986: Lunar & Planetary Laboratory,
University of Arizona
Research Assistant, 1981-1982: Arthur J. Dyer Observatory,
Vanderbilt University
Laboratory Instructor, 1981-1983: Dept. of Physics &
Astronomy, Vanderbilt University
Teaching Assistant, 1976-1980: Dept. of Earth & Planetary Sciences,
M. I. T.
Memberships:
Sigma Pi Sigma (Physics Honorary)
American Astronomical Society (Division for Planetary Sciences)
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Geophysical Union
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics
Pluto/Charon Mutual Eclipse Season Campaign founding member
International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA)
Chiron at Perihelion Campaign founding member
Member, International Astronomical Union, Commissions #15 and #16
Awards:
N.A.S.A. Group Achievement Award, 2001 Mars Odyssey Project:
Gamma Ray Spectrometer Instrument Development Team, 2002
N.A.S.A. Group Achievement Award, Mars Pathfinder Project:
Imager for Mars Pathfinder Instrument Development Team, 1997
Inaugural J.P.L. Postdoctoral Fellow, 1990
N.A.S.A. Graduate Student Researchers Program Fellow, 1986-1989
Salutatorian, Nyack High School, Nyack, NY, Class of 1974
Research Interests:
| Pluto, Charon, and Triton | 2060 Chiron |
| Icy satellites | Outer solar system formation & evolution |
| Solar system photometry | Occultation astronomy |
| RS Canum Venaticorum binary stars |
Certifications:
1992 Lifetime teaching certificate, Arizona Community College
Board:
Physics, Astronomy, and Physical Sciences
2000 Radiation Safety, Sealed Sources, University of Arizona
Books and Book Chapters Co-authored:
Marcialis, R.L.
(2003)
“The Solar System.”
In Encyclopedia of Optical Engineering,
R. Driggers, ed. (New York, NY: Marcel-Dekker Publishing), 2591-2606.
Marcialis, R.L.
(2002)
“Pluto.”
In MacMillan Encyclopedia of the Space Sciences
(Vol. 2, Planetary Science and Astronomy),
P. Dasch, ed. (New York, NY: MacMillan
Reference USA), 147-151.
Marcialis, R.L. (1997) “The first 50 years of Pluto-Charon research.”
Pluto and Charon,
S.A. Stern and D.J. Tholen, eds., University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ,
27-83.
Marcialis, R.L. (1997) “Introducing PLUBIB: a Pluto-Charon bibliography
database.”
Pluto and Charon,
S.A. Stern and D.J. Tholen, eds., University of Arizona Press,
Tucson, AZ, 665-671.
Marcialis, R.L.
(1996)
“The Pluto-Charon system.”
In MacMillan Encyclopedia of the
Earth Sciences, E.J. Dasch, ed.
(New York: Simon & Schuster-MacMillan
Publishing), 870-873.
Mechler, G., Croft, S.K., Hutson, M., and Marcialis, R. (1995)
Planets and their Moons.
National Audubon Society Pocket Guide, Chanticleer Press, 192 pp.
Mechler, G., Hutson, M., and Marcialis, R. (1995)
The Sun and the Moon.
National Audubon Society Pocket Guide, Chanticleer Press, 192 pp.
Greenberg, R., Croft, S.K., Janes, D.M., Kargel, J.S., Lebofsky, L.A., Lunine,
J.I., Marcialis,
R.L., Melosh, H.J., Ojakangas, G.W., and Strom, R.G. (1991)
“Miranda.” Uranus.
J.T. Bergstrahl, E.D. Miner, and M.S. Matthews, eds., University of Arizona
Press,
Tucson, AZ, 693-735.
Publications List (Choose format):
Computer Operating Systems, Languages, Software Packages:
UNIX, DOS, CPM (stop laughing at that one)
Interactive Data Language (IDL), FORTRAN77, BASIC, Lotus 1-2-3, Excel, MONGO
TEX, HTML, WordPerfect
Community Service:
Reviewer, N.A.S.A. Planetary Astronomy Program, 1998-1999
Division for Planetary Sciences Program Committee, 1996
Division for Planetary Sciences Local Organizing Committee, 1996
Educational Counselor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1983-1992
American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor 1981-1982
Other Interests:
Fastpitch Softball Umpire 1975-present
Registered, Amateur Softball Association of America 1982-present
Certified A.I.A. Official, 1993-present
A.C.C.A.C., N.C.A.A. and P.A.C.-10, 1984-present
A.S.A. National Umpire School 1986, 1990
A.S.A. Advanced National Umpire School 1994
About 300 games/year; 9 National Championships: 1988, 1989, 1989, 1994, 1995,
1998, 1999, 2000, 2000
A.S.A. National Indicator Fraternity, 1988
A.S.A. Medals Program: Gold level, 1999
Committee Member, Tucson Softball Officials Association, 1995-2001
Vice-President, Tucson Softball Officials Association, 2001-2002
President, Tucson Softball Officials Association, 2002-
RLM
Last Modified: 2007 January 01
