Dr. Michael Solontoi
msolontoi@ben.edu
Phone: 773.495.5749 (cell)
Degree Level/Concentration: Ph.D., M.Sc. in Astronomy, B.A. in Physics

Professional Background:
Dr. Solontoi received a B.A. in Physics from Reed College, and a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Washington, with a dissertation topic focusing on comets in large-sky surveys. He is currently an astronomer at the Adler Planetarium, studying the small bodies of the solar system (comets and asteroids) with optical and near-infrared spectroscopy. Michael has done extensive work on detecting and analyzing comets observed by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), and is a member of the Solar System Science Collaboration for the forthcoming Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). Previously he has taught astronomy at the University of Washington and in community colleges in the greater Seattle area.