C. Plymate

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

C. Plymate is an observational astrophysicist specializing in the study of tenuous planetary exospheres, with a particular focus on the Moon’s sodium atmosphere. Their most cited work, a 2019 paper on coronagraphic observations of the lunar sodium exosphere, details the design, construction, and remote operation of a small robotic coronagraph at Winer Observatory in Arizona. This instrument enabled high-cadence, long-term monitoring of the Moon’s extended sodium envelope out to half a degree from the lunar limb, revealing dynamic variations over a six-month period from January to June 2017. Plymate’s contributions are notable for advancing ground-based techniques to probe faint exospheric emissions, achieving 17 citations—a solid impact for a specialized observational study. By operating the coronagraph remotely from Goddard Space Flight Center, they demonstrated a cost-effective, automated approach to exospheric science, paving the way for sustained monitoring campaigns. Plymate’s work bridges instrumentation and planetary science, offering students and researchers a model for innovative, remote-observing strategies in the study of airless bodies.