My Journey in Astrophysics
Passionate about stars, science, and discovery
I’m Daniel, an astrophysicist from Meirás, a small village near La Coruña, Galicia. I studied Physics at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, where I completed my BSc thesis on "Photometric observations of eclipsing binary star systems." During my studies, I had the incredible opportunity to spend a year in Tenerife through the SICUE grant, where I took my first astrophysics courses and made my initial observations with professional telescopes. This experience gave me invaluable insights into the life of a professional astrophysicist.
In 2021, I moved to San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Tenerife) to start my Master's studies in Astrophysics. Those two years were challenging yet incredibly rewarding, offering me opportunities to work with world-class telescopes like the NOT and INT, as well as meet inspiring people in the astronomy community. I completed my MSc thesis, "Physical parameters of the low-mass eclipsing binary System ASAS J052919-1617.3," and received the highest possible mark for my work.
I am now a PhD student in the Physical Properties and Evolution of Massive Stars group at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC). My research focuses on the rotational properties of massive stars and their impact on stellar evolution and their ultimate fates—whether they end as supernovae or black holes. The goal of my project is to understand how the rugby-ball deformation of highly rotating (>200 km/s) and overcontact massive stars affects their fundamental parameters. Taking into account rotational deformation, I'm studying massive stars in the Cygnus OB2 association, one of the most active star-forming regions in the Milky Way, especially important for understanding the formation and evolution of massive stars. Surprisingly, we’ve found a lack of fast-rotating stars in Cygnus OB2, which is unexpected given that massive stars typically form in multiple systems and interact with each other. I’m working to determine if this lack of fast rotators is real by analyzing single and multiple systems, mergers, and runaways within the association. If these stars are indeed absent, current stellar evolution models and interaction mechanisms may need revision.
Alongside my research on massive stars, I am involved in various other astrophysical activities:
- I am co-leading the establishment of the first association of astrophysicists from Galicia (my home region) and providing consultancy to establish the only Galician observatory in Forcarei.
- I am co-directing a course on Positional Astronomy and the Basics of Astronomical Observation at the Universidad de La Laguna (ULL).
In 2023, I began my teaching career as an assistant professor for the "Basic Observational Techniques" course in the Master’s program in Astrophysics at the Universidad de La Laguna (ULL). Currently, I teach in the Physics degree program at ULL, where I supervise students during their external internships at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC). I’m also co-directing my first BSc thesis on eclipsing binary systems with Dr. María Jesús Arévalo Morales.
