Dr. Patrick Durrell

Professor
Dr. Patrick Durrell - profile photo

Dr. Patrick Durrell

Professor

Physics, Astronomy, Geology, & Environmental Sciences

Ward Beecher Hall 2027

phone: (330) 941-7107

prdurrell@ysu.edu

ysu.edu/directory/people/patrick-durrell

Bio

Dr. Patrick Durrell is a Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Youngstown State University and was recently (2021) named the first Warren M. Young Chair of Physics and Astronomy through his work as Director of YSU’s Ward Beecher Planetarium. Dr. Durrell actively conducts research (as part of numerous international scientific collaborations) on stars and star clusters in nearby galaxies using data from some of the largest telescopes in the world, including the Hubble Space Telescope. Dr. Durrell has been at YSU since 2004, and has been Director of the Ward Beecher Planetarium for most of the 18 years after his arrival.

Research Interests

A varied number of topics in observational astronomy, using data from both large ground-based telescopes and the Hubble Space Telescope. My interests include
- photometric studies of globular clusters, both in our own Milky Way galaxy and in other galaxies.
- photometric studies/surveys of dwarf galaxies, including dwarf elliptical, ultra-compact-dwarfs, and ultra-diffuse galaxies.
- resolved stellar populations in nearby galaxies, including using the Tip of the Red-Giant Branch (TRGB) as both a distance indicator and as a way to study the stellar populations in dwarf galaxies and galactic halos.
- intracluster red giant stars and globular clusters
- photometric studies of interacting/merging galaxies

Teaching Interests

Astronomy/Astrophysics at all levels (undergraduate, general public, graduate level). Including introductory astronomy, introductory planetary science, undergraduate astrophysics, observational techniques and data reduction methods.

  • Education
    • 1996

      Ph D, Physics & Astronomy

      McMaster University

    • 1992

      MS, Physics & Astronomy

      McMaster University

    • 1990

      BS, Astronomy - Honours

      University of Victoria

  • Awards and Honors
    • September 2021

      Youngstown State University

      The Dr. Warren M. Young Chair in Physics and Astronomy

      Award for Ward Beecher Planetarium Director to continue teaching, scholarship, and community outreach through the Planetarium.

    • April 2016

      Youngstown State University

      Distinguished Professorship in Scholarship

      Awarded Distinguished Professorship Award in Scholarship

    • April 2016

      Youngstown State University

      Distinguished Professor

      Awarded title of Distinguished Professor based on receiving awards in all three categories of service, teaching and scholarship.

    • April 2012

      Youngstown State University

      Distinguished Professorship in Teaching

      Awarded Distinguished Professorship Award in Teaching

    • April 2007

      Youngstown State University

      Distinguished Professorship in Service

      Awarded Distinguished Professorship Award in Service

  • Administrative Assignments
    • 2004 - present

      Director

    • 2004 - present

      Coordinator

  • Intellectual Contributions
    • 2024

      "BST1047+1156: A (Failing) Ultradiffuse Tidal Dwarf in the Leo I Group"

      The Astrophysical Journal

    • 2023

      "Star clusters in tidal debris"

      Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, volume 526, issue 2, p. 2341-2364

    • 2023

      "The creation of a massive UCD by tidal threshing from NGC 936"

      Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, volume 526, issue 1, p. L136-L142

    • 2023

      "Ultradiffuse Galaxies in the Virgo Cluster"

      , p. 17528

    • 2023

      "Radial velocities and stellar population properties of 56 MATLAS dwarf galaxies observed with MUSE"

      Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 676, p. A33

    • 2023

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS). XXXV. First Kinematical Clues of Overly Massive Dark Matter Halos in Several Ultradiffuse Galaxies in the Virgo Cluster"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 951, issue 1, p. 77

    • 2023

      "The Orbital Dynamics and Globular Cluster Population of the Virgo Cluster Ultradiffuse Galaxy VCC 615"

      , volume 55, p. 260.04

    • 2023

      "Star Clusters in Tidal Debris"

      , volume 55, p. 402.19

    • 2022

      "HI observations of the MATLAS dwarf and ultra-diffuse galaxies"

      Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 659, p. A14

    • 2022

      "The Distance and Dynamical History of the Virgo Cluster Ultradiffuse Galaxy VCC 615"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 924, issue 2, p. 87

    • 2021

      "Dwarf Galaxies in the MATLAS Survey: Hubble Space Telescope Observations of the Globular Cluster System in the Ultra-diffuse Galaxy MATLAS-2019"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 923, issue 1, p. 9

    • 2021

      "Ultra diffuse galaxies in the MATLAS low-to-moderate density fields"

      Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 654, p. A105

    • 2021

      "Structure and morphology of the MATLAS dwarf galaxies and their central nuclei"

      Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, volume 506, issue 4, p. 5494-5511

    • 2021

      "Flattened structures of dwarf satellites around massive host galaxies in the MATLAS low-to-moderate density fields"

      Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 654, p. A161

    • 2021

      "Probing the Origins of BST1047+1156, the Most Diffuse Star Forming Galaxy"

      , p. 16762

    • 2020

      "Shedding light on the formation mechanism of shell galaxy NGC 474 with MUSE"

      Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 644, p. A164

    • 2020

      "Census and classification of low-surface-brightness structures in nearby early-type galaxies from the MATLAS survey"

      Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, volume 498, issue 2, p. 2138-2166

    • 2020

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. XXXIV. Ultracompact Dwarf Galaxies in the Virgo Cluster"

      The Astrophysical Journal Supplemental Series, volume 250, issue 1, p. 17

    • 2020

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS). XXX. Ultra-diffuse Galaxies and Their Globular Cluster Systems"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 899, issue 1, p. 69

    • 2020

      "Spectroscopic study of MATLAS-2019 with MUSE: An ultra-diffuse galaxy with an excess of old globular clusters"

      Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 640, p. A106

    • 2020

      "The PIPER Survey. I. An Initial Look at the Intergalactic Globular Cluster Population in the Perseus Cluster"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 890, issue 2, p. 105

    • 2020

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS). XIV. The Discovery of Low-mass Galaxies and a New Galaxy Catalog in the Core of the Virgo Cluster"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 890, issue 2, p. 128

    • 2020

      "Newly discovered dwarf galaxies in the MATLAS low-density fields"

      Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, volume 491, issue 2, p. 1901-1919

    • 2019

      "Chapter 6: Practical Considerations for Using a Planetarium for Astronomy Instruction"

      IOP Publishing, volume 1, p. 6-1 to 6-18

    • 2019

      "The properties of bright globular clusters, ultra-compact dwarfs and dwarf nuclei in the Virgo core: hints on origin of ultra-compact dwarf galaxies (UCDs)"

      , volume 344, p. 384-388

    • 2019

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. XXIII. Fundamentals of Nuclear Star Clusters over Seven Decades in Galaxy Mass"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 878, issue 1, p. 18

    • 2019

      "The ultra-diffuse galaxy NGC 1052-DF2 with MUSE. II. The population of DF2: stars, clusters, and planetary nebulae"

      Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 625, p. A77

    • 2019

      "The ultra-diffuse galaxy NGC 1052-DF2 with MUSE. I. Kinematics of the stellar body"

      Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 625, p. A76

    • 2019

      "The PIPER Survey: An Initial Look at the Intracluster Globular Cluster Population in the Perseus Cluster"

      , volume 233, p. 261.04

    • 2019

      "Star Clusters in Tidal Debris"

      , volume 233, p. 429.03

    • 2019

      "HST Imaging of Globular Cluster System of the Virgo Cluster Ultra-Diffuse Galaxy VLSB-B"

      , volume 233, p. 468.07

    • 2019

      "CosmoQuest: Streaming Science"

      , volume 233, p. 147.11

    • 2019

      "IDEAS: Immersive Dome Experiences for Accelerating Science"

      arXiv

    • 2018

      "A Virgo Environmental Survey Tracing Ionised Gas Emission (VESTIGE). IV. A tail of ionised gas in the merger remnant NGC4424"

      Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 620, p. A164

    • 2018

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS). XXXI. The Kinematics of Intracluster Globular Clusters in the Core of the Virgo Cluster"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 864, issue 1, p. 36

    • 2018

      "Stellar Populations in the Outer Disk and Halo of the Spiral Galaxy M101"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 862, issue 2, p. 99

    • 2018

      "A Virgo Environmental Survey Tracing Ionised Gas Emission (VESTIGE). III. Star formation in the stripped gas of NGC 4254"

      Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 615, p. A114

    • 2018

      "A Virgo Environmental Survey Tracing Ionised Gas Emission (VESTIGE). II. Constraining the quenching time in the stripped galaxy NGC 4330"

      Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 614, p. A57

    • 2018

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS). XVIII. Measurement and Calibration of Surface Brightness Fluctuation Distances for Bright Galaxies in Virgo (and Beyond)"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 856, issue 2, p. 126

    • 2018

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS). XXXII. A Search for Globular Cluster Substructures in the Virgo Galaxy Cluster Core"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 856, issue 1, p. 84

    • 2017

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS). XXVI. The Issues of Photometric Age and Metallicity Estimates for Globular Clusters"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 844, issue 2, p. 104

    • 2017

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS). XXIV. The Red Sequence to \raisebox-0.5ex\textasciitilde10$^{6}$ L $_{{\ensuremath{\odot}}}$ and Comparisons with Galaxy Formation Models"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 836, issue 1, p. 120

    • 2017

      "Globular Clusters as Tracers of Fine Structure in the Dramatic Shell Galaxy NGC 474"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 835, issue 2, p. 123

    • 2017

      "Stellar Populations in the Outer Regions of M101"

      , volume 229, p. 144.20

    • 2016

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS). XXV. Fiducial Panchromatic Colors of Virgo Core Globular Clusters and Their Comparison to Model Predictions"

      The Astrophysical Journal Supplemental Series, volume 227, issue 1, p. 12

    • 2016

      "New Constraints on a Complex Relation between Globular Cluster Colors and Environment"

      The Astrophysical Journal Letters, volume 829, issue 1, p. L5

    • 2016

      "A tale of two tails: exploring stellar populations in the tidal tails of NGC 3256"

      Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, volume 461, issue 1, p. 36-50

    • 2016

      "The ultraviolet and infrared star formation rates of compact group galaxies: an expanded sample"

      Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, volume 459, issue 3, p. 2948-2963

    • 2016

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS). XIII. The Luminosity and Mass Function of Galaxies in the Core of the Virgo Cluster and the Contribution from Disrupted Satellites"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 824, issue 1, p. 10

    • 2016

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. VII. The Intrinsic Shapes of Low-luminosity Galaxies in the Core of the Virgo Cluster, and a Comparison with the Local Group"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 820, issue 1, p. 69

    • 2016

      "Spectacular tails of ionized gas in the Virgo cluster galaxy NGC 4569"

      Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 587, p. A68

    • 2016

      "Origin of ultra-compact dwarfs: a dynamical perspective"

      , volume 312, p. 264-268

    • 2015

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. X. Properties of Ultra-compact Dwarfs in the M87, M49, and M60 Regions."

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 812, issue 1, p. 34

    • 2015

      "Galaxies at the Extremes: Ultra-diffuse Galaxies in the Virgo Cluster"

      The Astrophysical Journal Letters, volume 809, issue 2, p. L21

    • 2015

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. IX. Estimating the Efficiency of Galaxy Formation on the Lowest-mass Scales"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 807, issue 1, p. 88

    • 2015

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. XII. Stellar Populations and Kinematics of Compact, Low-mass Early-type Galaxies from Gemini GMOS-IFU Spectroscopy"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 804, issue 1, p. 70

    • 2015

      "A comprehensive HST BVI catalogue of star clusters in five Hickson compact groups of galaxies"

      Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, volume 449, issue 3, p. 2937-2973

    • 2015

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. VI. The Kinematics of Ultra-compact Dwarfs and Globular Clusters in M87"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 802, issue 1, p. 30

    • 2014

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. XV. The Photometric Redshift Estimation for Background Sources"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 797, issue 2, p. 102

    • 2014

      "Photometric redshifts for the NGVS"

      , p. 359-362

    • 2014

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. VIII. The Spatial Distribution of Globular Clusters in the Virgo Cluster"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 794, issue 2, p. 103

    • 2014

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. V. Modeling the Dynamics of M87 with the Made-to-measure Method"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 792, issue 1, p. 59

    • 2014

      "The Spatial Distribution of Virgo's Globular Clusters"

      , volume 223, p. 442.39

    • 2014

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey-Infrared (NGVS-IR). I. A New Near-Ultraviolet, Optical, and Near-Infrared Globular Cluster Selection Tool"

      The Astrophysical Journal Supplemental Series, volume 210, issue 1, p. 4

    • 2013

      "Stellar Populations in Compact Galaxy Groups: A Multi-wavelength Study of HCGs 16, 22, and 42, their Star Clusters, and Dwarf Galaxies"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 770, issue 2, p. 114

    • 2013

      "Under Pressure: Star Clusters and the Neutral Hydrogen Medium of Tidal Tails"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 768, issue 2, p. 194

    • 2013

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. IV. NGC 4216: A Bombarded Spiral in the Virgo Cluster"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 767, issue 2, p. 133

    • 2012

      "Stripped gas as fuel for newly formed H ii regions in the encounter between VCC 1249 and M 49: a unified picture from NGVS and GUViCS"

      Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 543, p. A112

    • 2012

      "Identifying High-metallicity M Giants at Intragroup Distances with Sloan Digital Sky Survey"

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 143, issue 6, p. 128

    • 2012

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS). I. Introduction to the Survey"

      The Astrophysical Journal Supplemental Series, volume 200, issue 1, p. 4

    • 2012

      "A deep view on the Virgo cluster core"

      Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 538, p. A69

    • 2012

      "The Merger History, Active Galactic Nucleus, and Dwarf Galaxies of Hickson Compact Group 59"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 745, issue 1, p. 30

    • 2011

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey: status and first results"

      , p. 153-156

    • 2011

      "Faint Dwarf Galaxies in the Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey"

      , volume 48, p. 345-350

    • 2011

      "The GALEX Ultraviolet Virgo Cluster Survey (GUViCS). I. The UV luminosity function of the central 12 sq. deg"

      Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 528, p. A107

    • 2011

      "Star Clusters in the Tidal Tails of Interacting Galaxies: Cluster Populations Across a Variety of Tail Environments"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 731, issue 2, p. 93

    • 2011

      "The Star Cluster Populations of Compact Galaxy Groups"

      , p. 133-136

    • 2011

      "The Star Cluster Populations in the Evolutionary Sequence of Hickson Compact Groups"

      , volume 217, p. 152.07

    • 2011

      "Color Selection of Intracluster Globular Clusters in the Next Generation Virgo Survey"

      , volume 217, p. 152.03

    • 2010

      "Galaxy Evolution in a Complex Environment: A Multi-wavelength Study of HCG 7"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 723, issue 1, p. 197-217

    • 2010

      "Deep HST/ACS Photometry of the M81 Halo"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 718, issue 2, p. 1118-1127

    • 2010

      "Tidal Tails in Interacting Galaxies: Formation of Compact Stellar Structures"

      , volume 423, p. 129

    • 2010

      "Hierarchical Structure Formation and Modes of Star Formation in Hickson Compact Group 31"

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 139, issue 2, p. 545-564

    • 2010

      "The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey"

      , volume 215, p. 470.05

    • 2010

      "Searching for Intracluster Globular Clusters in the Virgo Cluster"

      , volume 215, p. 478.14

    • 2009

      "Hot Subdwarf Stars Among the Objects Rejected from the PG Catalog: A First Assessment Using GALEX Photometry"

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 138, issue 2, p. 606-614

    • 2009

      "Searching for Planetary Nebulae in Ursa Major: Studies of the Tully- Fisher relation and Intracluster Light"

      , p. 210

    • 2009

      "When and Why Do Star Clusters Form in the Tidal Tails of Merging Galaxies?"

      , volume 213, p. 344.01

    • 2007

      "Star Formation in the Outer Regions of M81"

      , volume 211, p. 95.17

    • 2007

      "Massive Stars in Hickson Compact Groups as Tracers of the Early Universe"

      , volume 211, p. 96.01

    • 2007

      "ACS Photometry of Tidal Debris in HCG 31"

      , volume 211, p. 97.07

    • 2007

      "The Resolved Stellar Populations of a Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy in the Virgo Cluster"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 656, issue 2, p. 746-755

    • 2007

      "The Metallicity Distribution of Intracluster Stars in Virgo"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 656, issue 2, p. 756-769

    • 2007

      "Virgo's Intracluster Globular Clusters as Seen by the Advanced Camera for Surveys"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 654, issue 2, p. 835-843

    • 2006

      "Multiwavelength Observations of Tidally Induced Star Formation in the M81 Group"

      , volume 209, p. 15.06

    • 2006

      "Modes of Star Formation in an Early Universe Laboratory: HST/ACS Imaging of Hickson Compact Group 7"

      , volume 209, p. 211.10

    • 2006

      "Modes of Star Formation in an Early Universe Laboratory: HST/ACS Imaging of Hickson Compact Group 31"

      , volume 209, p. 211.08

    • 2006

      "Modes of Star Formation in an Early Universe Laboratory: An HST/ACS Survey of Hickson Compact Groups"

      , volume 209, p. 114.05

    • 2006

      "Searching for the ``MISSING'' PG Hot Subdwarfs in SDSS and Galex Data"

      Baltic Astronomy, volume 15, p. 81-84

    • 2005

      "VICS: The Virgo Intra-Cluster Stars Project"

      , volume 207, p. 80.05

    • 2005

      "VICS: Stellar Populations of a Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy in the Virgo Cluster"

      , volume 207, p. 80.04

    • 2005

      "VICS: Intergalactic Globular Clusters in Virgo"

      , volume 207, p. 80.06

    • 2005

      "Upgrading the Ward Beecher Planetarium for the 21st Century"

      , volume 207, p. 67.08

    • 2005

      "Searching for the ``missing PG hot subdwarfs'' in SDSS and Galex data"

      , volume 207, p. 69.03

    • 2004

      "Intracluster Planetary Nebulae in the Virgo Cluster. III. Luminosity of the Intracluster Light and Tests of the Spatial Distribution"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 615, issue 1, p. 196-208

    • 2004

      "The Planetary Nebula System of M33"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 614, issue 1, p. 167-185

    • 2004

      "Photometry and the Metallicity Distribution of the Outer Halo of M31. II. The 30 Kiloparsec Field"

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 128, issue 1, p. 260-270

    • 2004

      "The Systematics of Intracluster Starlight"

      , volume 217, p. 88

    • 2004

      "Intracluster Planetary Nebulae in Clusters and Groups"

      , volume 217, p. 64

    • 2004

      "A CFH12K Survey of Red Giant Stars in the M81 Group"

      , volume 217, p. 90

    • 2003

      "Searching for Intergalactic Stars in the M81 Galaxy Group"

      , volume 203, p. 51.01

    • 2003

      "A Search for Stars in the M81 Group's HI Tidal Tails"

      , volume 203, p. 115.22

    • 2003

      "A Keck Survey of the M31 Halo"

      , volume 203, p. 116.14

    • 2003

      "VizieR Online Data Catalog: Virgo intracluster planetary nebula candidates (Feldmeier+, 2003)"

      VizieR Online Data Catalog, p. J/AJS/145/65

    • 2003

      "Intracluster Planetary Nebulae in the Virgo Cluster. II. Imaging Catalog"

      The Astrophysical Journal Supplemental Series, volume 145, issue 1, p. 65-81

    • 2003

      "Kinematics of Planetary Nebulae in M51's Tidal Tail"

      , volume 209, p. 633

    • 2003

      "Kinematics of Planetary Nebulae in M51's Tidal Debris"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 582, issue 1, p. 170-183

    • 2003

      "A Search for Intra-group Planetary Nebulae in the M81 Group"

      , volume 209, p. 605

    • 2002

      "The Kinematics of M33's Disk Planetary Nebulae"

      , volume 201, p. 13.11

    • 2002

      "A Census of the Dwarf Galaxies in Stephan's Quintet Including New Tidal Dwarf Galaxy Candidates"

      , volume 201, p. 116.10

    • 2002

      "The Beginning of the End: Hubble Space Telescope Images of Seyfert's Sextet"

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 124, issue 5, p. 2425-2439

    • 2002

      "Planetary Nebulae as Standard Candles. XII. Connecting the Population I and Population II Distance Scales"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 577, issue 1, p. 31-50

    • 2002

      "Searching for Intracluster Planetary Nebulae in the Dorado group"

      , p. 239

    • 2002

      "Intracluster Red Giant Stars in the Virgo Cluster"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 570, issue 1, p. 119-131

    • 2001

      "The White Dwarf Cooling Age of the Rich Open Star Cluster NGC 2099 (M37)"

      , volume 199, p. 79.02

    • 2001

      "The CFHT Open Star Cluster Survey. III. The White Dwarf Cooling Age of the Rich Open Star Cluster NGC 2099 (M37)"

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 122, issue 6, p. 3239-3257

    • 2001

      "Kinematics of Planetary Nebulae in M51's Tidal Tail"

      , volume 199, p. 52.02

    • 2001

      "Kinematics of Planetary Nebulae in M 51's Tidal Tail"

      arXiv e-prints, p. astro-h/0112292

    • 2001

      "HST Images of Seyfert's Sextet: The Candidate Globular Cluster Population"

      , volume 199, p. 21.02

    • 2001

      "HST Images of Seyfert's Sextet: Candidate Dwarf Galaxies"

      , volume 199, p. 21.01

    • 2001

      "A Search for Intra-group Planetary Nebulae in the M 81 Group"

      arXiv e-prints, p. astro-h/0112435

    • 2001

      "The CFHT Open Star Cluster Survey. II. Deep CCD Photometry of the Old Open Star Cluster NGC 6819"

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 122, issue 1, p. 266-282

    • 2001

      "The CFHT Open Star Cluster Survey. I. Cluster Selection and Data Reduction"

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 122, issue 1, p. 257-265

    • 2001

      "Photometry and the Metallicity Distribution of the Outer Halo of M31"

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 121, issue 5, p. 2557-2571

    • 2000

      "Intracluster Stars in the Virgo Cluster"

      , volume 197, p. 106.04

    • 2000

      "Intracluster Planetary Nebulae in the Fornax Cluster"

      , volume 197, p. 106.07

    • 2000

      "The CFHT Open Cluster Survey"

      , volume 196, p. 14.02

    • 1999

      "Photometry of the Outer Halo of M31"

      , volume 195, p. 04.04

    • 1998

      "Constraints on the Hubble constant from observations of the brightest red-giant stars in a Virgo-cluster galaxy"

      Nature, volume 395, issue 6697, p. 45-47

    • 1998

      "Revealing Palomar 2: a new outer-halo cluster."

      Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, volume 92, p. 28-29

    • 1997

      "A TRGB Distance Calibration to the Virgo Cluster"

      , volume 191, p. 03.03

    • 1997

      "Unveiling palomar 2: The most obscure globular cluster in the outer halo."

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 114, p. 1043-1050

    • 1997

      "Surface Photometry of Virgo Dwarf Ellipticals"

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 113, p. 531-539

    • 1997

      "Hot Subdwarfs in M 15"

      , p. 465

    • 1997

      "Hot HB stars in globular clusters - physical parameters and consequences for theory. IV. sdB candidates in M15."

      Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 317, p. 83-86

    • 1996

      "Globular Cluster Systems in Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies"

      , volume 189, p. 64.05

    • 1996

      "Globular Cluster Systems in Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies. II. The Virgo Cluster"

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 112, p. 972

    • 1996

      "Globular Cluster Systems in Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies. I. The dE, N Galaxy NGC 3115 DW1"

      The Astrophysical Journal, volume 463, p. 543

    • 1996

      "Globular clusters in Virgo dwarf elliptical galaxies."

      Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, volume 90, p. 310

    • 1995

      "Globular Cluster Systems in Virgo Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies"

      , volume 187, p. 11.10

    • 1995

      "Evidence for Mass Outflow from the Nucleus of M101: Knots, Rings, and a Geyser"

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 110, p. 2088

    • 1994

      "The Globular Cluster System of the dE,N galaxy N3115 DW1"

      , volume 185, p. 52.05

    • 1994

      "Periodic Mass Outflow From the Nucleus of M101: Knots, Bubbles, Geysers and Trailing Arms"

      , volume 185, p. 20.05

    • 1994

      "BR Photometry of the Halo of M31"

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 108, p. 2114

    • 1994

      "Photometry of the inner halo of M31."

      Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, volume 88, issue 4, p. 259

    • 1993

      "A Color-Magnitude Study of the Globular Cluster M15"

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 105, p. 1420

    • 1993

      "Deep CCD Photometry of the Globular Cluster M15"

      , volume 48, p. 91

    • 1991

      "Deep CCD photometry of the globular cluster M15."

      Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, volume 85, issue 4, p. 194

    • 1990

      "Is Age REALLY the Second Parameter in Globular Clusters?"

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 99, p. 221

    • 1988

      "A Wind Blown Bubble Associated with the Wolf-Rayet Star HD197406"

      Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, volume 82, p. 275

    • 1988

      "Quasar Candidates in Two Extended CFHT Fields: 1338+27 and 1639+40"

      The Astronomical Journal, volume 96, p. 816

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      Other
      Case Western Reserve University
      Cleveland, OH

    • 2022 - 2022

      Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer
      Space Telescope Science Institute

    • Unknown

      Reviewer, Journal Article
      IOP Publishing - the Astrophysical Journal

    • 2014 - 2014

      Reviewer, Grant Proposal
      National Science Foundation
      Washington, DC

  • Public Service
    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      YSU Society of Physics Students
      Youngstown, Ohio

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Mahoning Valley Astronomical Society
      Youngstown, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Astronomy Club of Akron
      Akron, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Salem Public Library
      Salem, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Ward Beecher Planetarium
      Youngstown, OH

    • Unknown

      Participant
      Mahoning Valley Astronomical Society
      Youngstown, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Columbiana Community Collective
      Columbiana, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Ward Beecher Planetarium
      Youngstown, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      The Wilderness Center
      Wilmot, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Mahoning Valley Lifelong Learners Institute
      Youngstown, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Rupp Observatory
      Bellville, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Mahoning Valley Lifelong Learners Institute
      Youngstown, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Astronomy Club of Akron
      Akron, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Baldwin Wallace University
      Berea, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Mahoning Valley Lifelong Learners Institute
      Youngstown, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Penn State University - AstroFest
      State College, PA

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Lakeside Cautauqua
      Lakeside, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Lakeside Cautauqua
      Lakeside, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Lakeside Cautauqua
      Lakeside, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Lakeside Cautauqua
      Lakeside, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Penn State - Behrend College
      Erie, PA

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      YSU STEM + Youngstown Phantoms - Hockey for Health program
      Youngstown, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Cleveland Astronomical Society
      Cleveland, OH

    • 2014 - 2014

      Guest Speaker
      Ward Beecher Planetarium
      Youngstown, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Boardman Public Library
      Boardman, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society
      Huntsburg, OH

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Allegheny Observatory
      Pittsburgh, PA

    • Unknown

      Guest Speaker
      Mahoning Valley Astronomical Society
      Newton Falls, OH

Patrick Durrell Professor of Astronomy

Patrick Durrell is an astronomer and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, and is also the Director of the Ward Beecher Planetarium.

Dr. Durrell’s research involves studies of the formation of galaxies through photometric studies of stars and globular clusters both within and outside of galaxies, making use of imaging data from the Hubble Space Telescope and other large ground-based telescopes, including the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. Specific research includes:

  • The distribution and chemical composition of globular clusters surrounding galaxies, as well as searching for globular clusters that lie in the space between the galaxies.
  • Intracluster stars – stars that formed within galaxies, but have since been gravitationally extracted from galaxies, and are now part of intergalactic space.
  • Photometric studies of stars and star clusters of colliding galaxies and in dwarf galaxies in nearby galaxy groups and clusters.
  • Stellar populations of nearby galaxies (eg. M81, M101, M31), specifically the luminous red-giant populations in these galaxies, in order to look at the formation and subsequent evolution of these galaxies.
  • Searching for dwarf galaxies and extremely low-surface-brightness (LSB) galaxies in nearby galaxy clusters. Dr. Durrell has been a part of the massive NGVS (Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey) project since 2009, and the MATLAS project since 2012.

He is also actively involved in science outreach through YSU’s Ward Beecher Planetarium, and through CosmoQuest. He is also interested in incorporating recent astronomical data into the fulldome, immersive environment of planetariums.

Dr. Durrell received his PhD in Physics in 1996 from McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario. He held postdoctoral and teaching positions at the University of Waterloo, Case Western Reserve University, the University of British Columbia, and Penn State University, before coming to YSU in 2004.

Patrick Durrell research images

Selected Publications

Galaxies at the Extreme: Ultra-diffuse Galaxies in the Virgo Cluster, Mihos, J.C. et al. 2015, ApJL, 809, 21

The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. I. Introduction to the Survey, Ferrarese, L., et al. 2012, ApJS, 200, 4

Galaxy Evolution in a Complex Environment: A Multi-wavelength Study of HCG 7, Konstantopoulos, I.K. et al. 2010, ApJ, 723, 197

Hierarchical Structure Formation and Modes of Star Formation in Hickson Compact Group 31, Gallagher, S.G., Durrell, P.R., et al. 2010, AJ, 139, 545

The Resolved Stellar Populations of a Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy in the Virgo Cluster, Durrell, P.R. et al. 2007, ApJ, 656, 746

The Metallicity Distribution of Intracluster Stars in Virgo, Williams, B.F. et al. 2007, ApJ, 656, 756

Intracluster Red Giant Stars in the Virgo ClusterDurrell, P.R., Ciardullo, R., Feldmeier, J.J., Jacoby, G.H., Sigurdsson, S. 2002, ApJ, 570, 119

Ward Beecher Planetarium

CosmoQuest