David Alexander - solar guides

Where do you work?

I work in the USA, but I was born and brought up in Glasgow. I studied astronomy at the University of Glasgow and I became very interested in solar explosions, known as solar flares. I then moved to Montana State University in the USA where I became part of the YOHKOH team. Montana is a very beautiful place (not as beautiful as Scotland though!) and is full of friendly, fun people. After a few years in Montana, I headed south to the San Francisco area of California to work at Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory. I visited Japan often as part of the YOHKOH operations team. I have also helped to create a popular YOHKOH solar website: http://www.lmsal.com/YPOP, to explain our work to the public and school students. I now work at Rice University, Houston, Texas

YOHKOH X-ray images of the Sun from solar maximum to solar minimum

Here's a YOHKOH X-ray image of a flare, together with a theoretical model of the flare.

What do you do in your spare time?

Most of my spare time these days is taken up with my son, wee David. I do have a keen interest in football and am an avid Glasgow Rangers fan. Although I don't get to see many games I keep in touch via the internet.

Mostly, I just enjoy having fun with my friends.

Here's me testing out one of my 'inversion' routines.

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