Current Research Activity:

Despite the long illness I am recovering from, I continue my research. I recently had a proposal approved for an observation to be performed with the ASCA satellite, I am member of teams who have recent approved and performed proposals with the ROSAT-HRI and with Beppo-SAX, and have recently proposed four sets of different observations with the new AXAF satellite. I have been sustaining a small but active group doing X-ray observations of compact objects; for the future an important plan is to shift emphasis from neutron stars tostellar size galactic black hole candidates. For this re-orientation program I have been just granted $8490 by the graduate school. I consider the future of observational X-ray astronomy to be very good with the scheduled launches of very high quality satellites (AXAF, XMM and SSRG). Despite my absence from the scene for many months, the momentum of my research group kept up kept up the publications and research going (see the continuation of the publications list without interruptions). 1997 was a special year for me because I produced my first crop of five Ph.D.students. Although it was sad to see them go away I was happy that all five of them found decent jobs in excellent science establishments. Now I am ready for a new cycle of graduate students.