Wes Fraser

Wes Fraser
Position
Adjunct Associate Professor
UVic Physics and Astronomy; NRC Herzberg
Contact
Area of expertise

Kuiper Belt, planet formation, transient astronomy, GPU processing

Research

Areas of Interest: Kuiper Belt, planet formation, transient astronomy, GPU processing

Wes Fraser is primarily interested in studying the physical properties of the Outer Solar System’s small body populations with the aim of understanding the Solar System formation process. His efforts have involved Kuiper Belt search and discovery surveys to determine the belt’s size distribution and dynamical properties, compositional surveys to constrain the belt’s formative origins, and focused studies to determine the mass and compositions of certain unique icy bodies. His recent interests have lead him to efforts in prediction and observation of stellar occultations by the Solar System’s icy bodies, and N-body simulations of comet production which take advantage of the computational prowess offered by Graphics Processor Units.