The stars of St. John’s
Church Lunenburg, a mystery that I unwittingly discovered and solved after
being approached in June 2004 to provide assistance in designing a replica of
the original star scene that graced the chapel ceiling of the Church. The story
had a long life on the Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet feature, but the
full details were described in a story I wrote for Cassiopeia, the
newsletter of the Canadian Astronomical Society. To view an expanded version of
the story, click here. 
Research interests:
Young
to intermediate age open clusters. Most of my research involves very sparse
clusters and groups associated with Cepheid variables, but I am also interested
in very young clusters that contain Wolf-Rayet stars or pre-main-sequence
objects. Steve Shorlin, who recently (1998) completed his M.Sc. thesis under my
supervision, searched a field in Carina as part of his thesis research, and
discovered a previously undetected young cluster associated with two Wolf-Rayet
stars, one of type WN6 and the other of type WC4. It is the first instance of
both types of objects being found in the same cluster. To view a sample of open
clusters of interest to me, click here. 
Intrinsic
properties of
Cepheid variables and the galactic distance scale. Click here
for a list of open clusters and groups that contain Cepheids as potential
members. In recent years, undergraduate students working with me (Andrew
Horsford, Joseph MacMillan, and Stephen Goobie) have observed Cepheids with the
CCD camera on the 0.4-m telescope of the Burke-Gaffney Observatory, and have
added valuable data on period changes for these stars. The derived period
changes primarily reflect stellar evolution through the Cepheid instability
strip, but also help to specify the pulsation modes of the stars. For more
details on our use of the campus telescope, click here. 
Observable properties of interstellar and circumstellar extinction. Much of my
early work focused on the use of the variable-extinction method to derive
values for the ratio of total-to-selective extinction, R, in open
clusters and associations. Roughly 60 or so open clusters yield fairly normal
values of R = 3.1, plus or minus 0.4, but there are a few regions where
anomalously large values of R, i.e. 4 or 5, seem to exist.
Galactic structure, when I can find time for it.
Honours:
Clockwise from upper left: President’s Award for Excellence in Research
presented by President Dr. Kenneth Ozmon at Saint Mary’s University’s Fall
Convocation (October 1997), Service Award of the Royal Astronomical
Society of Canada presented by Randy Attwood (June 2001), Founding Member
Special Award of the Sudbury Astronomy Club presented during the Club’s
20th Anniversary celebrations (November 2001), Distinguished Alumnus of the
Year award by Renison College (University of Waterloo) at its 45th Founders’
Day ceremony (January 2004), Asteroid 27810 Daveturner (= 1993 OC2) (not
exactly as illustrated) named by Carolyn Shoemaker and David Levy (November
2003).
(Hi Brandi!)
Email: turner(“at”)ap.smu.ca
Phone: (902) 420-5635
Fax: (902) 496-8218
Recently Published Research Papers:
2012
Turner, D. G. 2012, Why Visual Observations of Mu Cephei are Important,
Proceedings for the Society of Astronomical Sciences, in press
Majaess, D. J., Turner, D. G., Gierem W., and Lane, D. J. 2012, The
Implications of Contaminated RR Lyrae/Globular Cluster Photometry on the Distance
Scale, Astrophysical Journal Letters, in press
Majaess, D. J., Turner, D. G., Gallo, L., Bonatto, C. J., Gieren, W. P.,
Lane, D. J., Balam, D. D., and Berdnikov, L. N. 2012, Anchoring the
Distance Scale via X-Ray/IR Data for Cepheid Clusters: SU Cas,
Astrophysical Journal, in press
Zagury, F, and Turner, D. G. 2012, The Extinction Curve in
the Visible and the Value of Rv. II. Addendum to AN 333, 160, Astronomische
Nachrichten, 333, in press
Turner, D. G. 2012, Classical Cepheids After 228 Years of Study,
Journal of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, 40, in press
Turner, D. G., Majaess, D. J., Lane, D. J., Balam, D. D., Gieren, W. P.,
Storm, J., Forbes, D. W., Havlen, R. J., and Alessi, B. 2012, Alessi 95 and
the Short Period Cepheid SU Cassiopeiae, Monthly Notices of the Royal
Astronomical Society, 422, 2501-2509
Majaess, D. J., Turner, D. G., Gieren, W., Balam, D., and Lane, D. 2012,
Discovery of the Host Cluster for the Fundamental Cepheid Calibrator Zeta
Geminorum, Astrophysical Journal Letters,748, L9, 1-5
Majaess, D. J., Turner, D. G., and Gieren, W. 2012, A Cluster of
Class I/f/II YSOs Discovered Near the Cepheid SU Cas, Monthly Notices of the
Royal Astronomical Society, 421, 1040-1042
Majaess, D. J., Turner, D. G., and Gieren, W. 2012, New Evidence
Supporting Cluster Membership for the Keystone Calibrator Delta Cephei,
Astrophysical Journal, 747, 145, 1-5
Turner, D. G. 2012, The Color-Magnitude Diagram of NGC 2264,
Astronomische Nachrichten, 333, 174-181
Majaess, D. J., Turner, D. G., Moni Bidin, C., Geisler, D., Borissova, J.,
Minniti, D., Bonatto, C., Gieren, W., Carraro, G., Kurtev, R., Mauro, F., Chené, A.-N.,
Forbes, D. W., Lucas, P. W., Dékány, I., Saito, R. K., and Soto, M. 2012,
Strengthening the Open Cluster Distance Scale Via VVV Photometry,
Astronomy and Astrophysics, 537, L4, 1-4
Turner, D. G. 2012, WR 38/38a and the Ratio of Total-to-Selective
Extinction in Carina, Astrophysics and Space Science, 338, 303-312
2011
Majaess, D. J., Turner, D. G., Lane, D. J., and Krajci, T. 2011,
Deep Infrared ZAMS Fits to Benchmark Open Clusters Hosting Delta Scutis,
Journal of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, 39, 217-239
Turner, D. G., Rosvick, J. M., Balam, D. D., Henden, A. A., Majaess, D. J.,
and Lane, D. J. 2011, New Results for the Open Cluster Bica 6 and its
Associated Planetary Nebula Abell 8, Publications of the Astronomical Society
of the Pacific, 123, 1249-1261
Majaess, D. J., Turner, D. G., and Gieren, W. 2011, Concerning the
Classical Cepheid VIc Wesenheit Function’s Strong Metallicity Dependence,
Astrophysical Journal Letters, 741, L36, 1-5
Majaess, D. J., Turner, D. G., Moni Bidin, C., Mauro, F., Geisler, D.,
Gieren, W., Chené, A.-N., Minniti, D., Lucas, P. W., Borissova, J.,
Kurtev, R., Dékány, I., and Saito, R. 2011, New Evidence
Supporting Membership for TW Nor in Lyngå 6 and the Centaurus Spiral Arm,
Astrophysical Journal Letters, 741, L27, 1-4
Turner, D. G., MacLellan, R. F., Henden, A. A., and Berdnikov, L. N.
2011, Space Reddenings for Fifteen Galactic Cepheids, Revista Mexicana
de Astronomía y Astrofisica, 47, 345-356
Majaess, D. J., Turner, D. G., and Lane, D. J. 2011, Securing
the Distance Scale via a Universal VIc Wesenheit Template and Deep Infrared
ZAMS, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 43, Meeting
218, 322.08 (abstract)
Turner, D. G., Rosvick, J. M., Balam, D. D., Henden, A. A., Majaess,
D. J., and Lane, D. J. 2011, Membership of the Planetary Nebula Abell 8
in the Open Cluster Bica 6 and Implications for the PN Distance Scale,
Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 43, Meeting 218,
126.08 (abstract)
Turner, D. G., Moncrieff, K. E., Short, C. I., Wing, R. F., and
Henden, A. A. 2011, AAVSO Estimates and the Nature of Type C
Semiregulars: Progenitors of Type II Supernovae, Bulletin of the American
Astronomical Society, 43, Meeting 218, 96.06 (abstract)
Turner, D. G. 2011, The Usefulness of JHKs Photometry for Open Cluster
Studies, Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofisica, 47, 127-137
Turner, D. G. 2011, Visual Observations of Delta Cephei: Time to
Update the Finder Chart, Journal of the American Association of Variable
Star Observers, 39, 148 (abstract)
Majaess, D. J., Turner, D. G., Lane, D. J., Henden, A. A., and
Krajci, T. 2011, Anchoring the Universal Distance Scale Via a Wesenheit
Template, Journal of the American Association of Variable Star Observers,
39, 122-140
2010
Turner, D. G., Berdnikov, L. N., Percy, J. R., and Abdel-Sabour Abdel-Latif,
M. 2010, The Onset of Chaos in Pulsating Variable Stars, Odessa
Astronomical Publications, 23, 129-132
Turner, D. G., Majaess, D. J., Lane, D. J., Percy, J. R., English, D. A.,
and Huziak, R. 2010, HDE 344787, The Polaris Analogue That is Even More
Interesting Than Polaris, Odessa Astronomical Publications, 23,
125-128
Turner, D. G., Majaess, D. J., Lane, D. J., Rosvick, J. M., Henden, A. A.,
and Balam, D. D. 2010, The Galactic Calibration of the Cepheid Period-Luminosity
Relation and its Implications for the Universal Distance Scale,Odessa
Astronomical Publications, 23, 119-124
Moncrieff, K. E., Turner, D. G., Short, C. I., and Bennett, P. D. 2010,
Spectral Type and Radial Velocity Variations in Three SRC Variables, Odessa
Astronomical Publications, 23, 86-89
Berdnikov, L. N., and Turner, D. G. 2010, A Search for Evolutionary
Period Variations of Cepheids using the Harvard Plate Stacks: II Carinae,
Astronomy Reports, 54, 392-399
Turner, D. G., and Majaess, D. J. 2010, The Galaxy as Mapped in the
Optical, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 41, 929 (abstract)
Turner, D. G. 2010, The PL Calibration for Milky Way Cepheids and
its Implications for the Distance Scale, Astrophysics and Space Science,
326, 219-231
Berdnikov, L. N., Kniazev, A. Yu., Kravtsov, V. V., Turner, D. G.,
Pastukhova, E. N., and Zhujko, S. V. 2010, Photometric Observations of
Type II Cepheids from the ASAS-3 Catalogue, In Variable Stars, the Galactic
Halo and Galaxy Formation, edited by C. Sterken, N. Samus, and L. Szabados,
p. 206
Berdnikov, L. N., Kniazev, A. Yu., Kravtsov, V. V., Turner, D. G., and
Pastukhova, E. N. 2010, Photometric Observations of Small-Amplitude
Cepheids from the ASAS-3 Catalogue, In Variable Stars, the Galactic Halo
and Galaxy Formation, edited by C. Sterken, N. Samus, and L. Szabados, p. 205
Berdnikov, L. N., Kniazev, A. Yu., Kravtsov, V. V., Turner, D. G., and
Pastukhova, E. N. 2010, Photometric Observations of Classical Cepheids
from the ASAS-3 Catalogue, In Variable Stars, the Galactic Halo and Galaxy
Formation, edited by C. Sterken, N. Samus, and L. Szabados, p. 204
Turner, D. G., Majaess, D. J., Lane, D. J., and Balam, D. D. 2010,
The Origin of Cosmic Rays and the Stars of Berkeley 87, Bulletin of the
American Astronomical Society, 42, 566 (abstract)
Submitted papers and papers in preparation (for preprints contact author):
Turner, D. G., Usenko, I. A., Miroshnichenko, A. S., Klochkova,
V. G., Panchuk, V. E., Yang, S. L. S., and Gregory, P. C. 2008, The
Dynamical Challenges of the Polaris System, Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical
Astronomy, in preparation
Turner, D. G. 2008, The Reddening of Classical Cepheid
Variables, Astronomical Journal, in preparation
Turner, D. G., Moncrieff, K. E., Short, C. I., and Wing, R. F. 2011,
The Nature of the Variability in the M Supergiants: The Forgotten Type C
Semiregulars, Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, submitted
Turner, D. G., Majaess, D. J., and Lane, D. J. 2011, Recent
Observations of HDE 344787, the Smallest Amplitude Classical Cepheid,
Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, submitted
Majaess, D. J., Turner, D. G., Geisler, D., Minniti, D., Rosvick, J.,
Moni Bidin, C., Gieren, W., Borissova, J., Chené, A.-N., Bonatto, C.,
Lane, D. J., Artigau, É., Carraro, G., Kurtev, R., Mauro, F., Lucas, P. W.,
Dékány, I., and Saito, R. K. 2012, Discovery of Numerous
YSOs and their Host Complexes via Infrared WISE/2MASS Photometry,
Astronomy and Astrophysics, submitted
Previous Positions:
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Toronto (1974-1976)
Assistant Professor, Laurentian University (1976-1978)
Assistant Professor, University of Toronto (1978-1980)
Assistant/Associate Professor, NSERC University Research Fellow,
Laurentian University (1980-1984)
Teaching (courses I have taught at Saint Mary’s):
AST 202.0 Introductory Astronomy for Science Students
AST 205.1 General Astronomy I
AST 206.2 General Astronomy II
AST 215.1(.2) The Sky and Planets
AST 216.1(.2) Stars and Galaxies
AST 306.1(.2) Observational Astronomy
AST 2312.1(.2) Foundations of Astrophysics
AST 2313.1(.2) Properties of Stars
AST 316.1(.2) Stellar Astronomy
AST 3412.1(.2) Interstellar Matter and Stellar Evolution
AST 416.1(.2) Astrophysics II
AST 445.1(.2) Solar System Astronomy
AST 602.1(.2) Galactic Astronomy
AST 607.1(.2) Binary and Variable Stars
AST 611.1(.2) Directed Readings in Current Literature
AST 695.1(.2) Graduate Seminar I
AST 696.1(.2) Graduate Seminar II
AST 697.0 Research Project in Astronomy
AST 698.0 Thesis
PHY 210.1/211.2 University Physics I, II (various lab sections)
PHY 305.1(.2) Newtonian Mechanics
PHY 500.0 Research Thesis
Updated May 2012.
David G. Turner, Professor Emeritus
Astronomical
phenomena that can be viewed with the unaided eye, such as sunrises, sunsets,
auroral displays, planetary conjunctions, first sighting of the thin crescent
of the Moon following New Moon (occasionally Ramadan in North America begins as
a result of a sighting through my office window), etc. A lot of
astronomy can be done without telescopes or binoculars. To view a sample
selection of images and drawings, click here. 
The Star of
Bethlehem, a subject in which I became interested during the six years I spent
as Director of the Doran Planetarium, Laurentian University, where each year I
scripted and produced Christmas Star shows for the general public. The
mystery of the Star of Bethlehem is an historical, as well as astronomical,
puzzle. To read a fictional article on the Star of Bethlehem that I wrote for
the Saint Mary’s Maroon and White, click here. 