About Us

The Asteroid, Stellar, Photometric Research Group (ASPIRE) was founded in 2017 by a small group of experienced observers in the field of photometry that have their observatories located in Malta, Slovakia and La Palma, Spain.

 

ASPIRE’s activities primarily focus on conducting asteroid and stellar photometry using a network of semi-automated and robotic telescopes. Their main focus is on analyzing asteroid photometry to accurately determine rotational periods and model spin and axis. Additionally, the Group is actively involved in the discovery and characterization of variable stars. They closely monitor gravitational lensing events and observe exoplanets using the transit method.

 

Their telescopes range from small to medium-sized optical telescopes, all equipped with high-quality research-grade cameras. ASPIRE Group members have also used large professional telescopes such as Teide’s IAC-80.

 

The Group is dedicated to publishing its own research and findings in reputable scholarly Journals. Additionally, it actively engages in collaborative research with various amateur and professional research groups, including Universities in the United States and Italy. ASPIRE Group members have also formed individual collaborations with researchers from a wide range of countries worldwide, such as various European countries, Japan, and the USA.

 

Meet some of the Team members

ASPIRE Astro wouldn’t be what it is today without input from its experienced and enthusiastic team. Due to continued success we are happy to say the team's ambitions are  getting bolder as we bring more talent on board, please take a look below to see some profiles of our team members (in alphabetical order). 

 

Please note that the list of members displayed here represents a selection and is not comprehensive. Our community is continuously evolving, with new researchers joining and contributing in various capacities. If you are looking for specific individuals or expertise within our group that are not listed, we encourage you to contact us directly at aspire (dot) astrophysics (at) gmail (dot) com for more information

 

Charles Galdies, PhD

Observer Code: GCHB

 Znith Observatory 

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8908-0785 

ASPIRE Role: Observer (asteroids and variable stars); Photometric analysis; Corresponding author

Marek Buček, PhD

Observer Code: MKB

Luckystar Observatory (IAU/MPC Code: M55)

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6921-4146 

ASPIRE Role: Observer (asteroids); Photometric analysis

Martin Mifsud

Observer Code: MXM

Manikata Observatory

ASPIRE Role: Observer (asteroids and variable stars); Photometric analysis; IT integration

Normand Rivard 

Observer Code: RNDA

Rivard Observatory

ASPIRE Role: Observer (asteroids and variable stars); Photometric analysis

Stephen M. Brincat

Observer Code: BSM

Flarestar Observatory (IAU/MPC Code: 171) 

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9205-5329 

ASPIRE Role: Observer (asteroids and variable stars); Photometric analysis; Coordinator

Winston Grech

Observer Code: WG

Antares Observatory

ORCiD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9492-3292 

ASPIRE Role: Observer (asteroids and variable stars); Mechanical Engineering (instrumentation); Astrophotographer