Richard Whitaker
Heritage Intern: Summer 2000
Born in Derbyshire, England, I live there with
my parents, two brothers, and a Golden Retriever
dog named "Benson." After completing my A-Levels
in Maths, Physics, and Chemistry, I decided on a
degree in Astrophysics at the University of St.
Andrews in Fife, Scotland. My interest in physics
both at school and at home, combined with my love
for the starry night sky, made it the natural choice.
I am currently in my third year at St Andrews and
am enjoying every minute of it!
Although I have always been fascinated by the
night sky, my interest increased considerably after
a certain Christmas gift--a telescope of my very
own. With it I have observed some major "amateur
objects," and have successfully photographed both
Jupiter and Saturn.
During the summer of 2000, I worked as an Intern
on the Hubble Heritage Project at the Space Telescope
Science Institute, which was truly fantastic-- my
10-inch 'scope is a far cry from the Hubble! It
was a great experience to work alongside Keith,
Lisa, and the rest of the Heritage Team. Among the
images I helped to process are the planetary nebula
IC 418 (the Spirograph Nebula), and the globular
cluster M15. I also tried my hand at the famous
"drizzling" technique used to produce the Hubble
Deep Field.
I am a Christian and am especially intrigued by
the way in which science complements my belief.
Aside from Astronomy I enjoy flying large Power
Kites, swimming and--occasionally--golf (a must
if studying in St Andrews!). I am a car enthusiast
and despite having an interest in the usual Ferraris
and Aston Martins, I am also keen on trusty British
Landrovers, being the proud owner of one.
Prior to my experiences at the "'Tute" I was unsure
whether or not to opt for a career in Astronomy.
After all I have seen and learnt this summer I am
now very keen to further my studies and hope to
continue on for a Ph.D. after I finish my undergraduate
degree.
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