Papers
1
Total Citations
51
H-Index
1
About
Annie Kirby is a leading figure in astronomical instrumentation, whose work has revolutionized how we conduct high-resolution spectroscopy. Her primary research focuses on the development and deployment of robotic, networked observatories, with her most significant contribution being the creation of the Network of Robotic Echelle Spectrographs (NRES). This ambitious project, part of the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network (LCOGT), involved building four identical, high-resolution optical spectrographs. Each unit is fiber-fed by up to two 1-meter telescopes and a calibration source, enabling unprecedented, automated, and simultaneous observations from multiple sites. Her 2018 paper detailing the NRES system has garnered 51 citations, underscoring its foundational role in the field. By transforming a global network of telescopes into a single, powerful, and efficient spectroscopic instrument, Kirby has dramatically expanded access to time-domain astrophysics, enabling everything from exoplanet characterization to stellar variability studies. Her work stands as a model for the future of scalable, robotic astronomy.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1NRES: the network of robotic echelle spectrographs51 citations · 2018