A Catalog of M & M Eclipsing Binaries with TESS
Identified ~1,300 M-dwarf eclipsing binaries across the sky, characterizing their orbital periods, eclipse times, radii, masses, temperatures, and population-level eccentricity distributions.
Astronomer Interested in Exoplanets & Binary Stars
Dominic Oddo
Recently-graduated PhD from the University of New Mexico, mapping the demographics of M dwarf-M dwarf (M & Ms) eclipsing binaries and hunting for planets in these systems with TESS. 2023–2026 NASA FINESST Awardee.
About
From Cleveland to the cosmos
I grew up near Cleveland, Ohio, where a childhood passion for Science Olympiad grew into a lifelong love of science. Astronomy hooked me for the same reason it hooks most people: the scales are impossible to reconcile with everyday life. If you commuted to the Orion Nebula at the average American's 15 mph pace, you'd be driving for about 2.7 billion years.
I completed my B.S. at Case Western Reserve University in 2020 and have recently defended my PhD at the University of New Mexico, studying transiting exoplanets with a focus on circumbinary planets. Outside the office I'm a cat dad to Chini, an avid runner and hiker, a baker, and a proud jazz and D&D nerd.
Thanks to: Lori Cohen, Amy Roediger, Tom Ramsey, Victor Senn, Mark Harker, Ben Monreal, Don Figer, John Ruhl, Gary Chottiner, Chris Mihos, Stacy McGaugh, Diana Dragomir (*PhD advisor), and many more friends, colleagues, teachers, and mentors.
Current focus
- Developing a circumbinary planet detection pipeline for TESS to measure the first occurrence rate from that mission.
- Published a catalog of ~1,300 M-dwarf eclipsing binaries with orbital & physical properties.
Coming soon!
- The occurrence of M & M CBPs with TESS — paper based on my dissertation chapter in the works!
Research
Selected work
Circumbinary planets, M-dwarf binaries, and precision photometry — all through the lens of TESS.
M & M CBPs are rare
For the first time, calculated CBP occurrence rates using TESS data, finding such planets are rare. This has implications for the robustness of planet formation in the low-mass, tight binary context.
Comparing TESS and CHEOPS Photometric Precision
Analyzed 10 planets observed by both TESS and ESA's CHEOPS mission as a comparison of the relative photometric performance of the two space missions.
Community
Beyond the telescope
Science doesn't happen in a vacuum — neither does a career. Here's where I show up outside research.
UNM Graduate Workers Union
Graduate workers have been overworked and undervalued for too long. I've been involved with UNM Graduate Workers in several capacities, including as a co-lead negotiator for the Spring 2024 raise and as Director of Organizing in the 2024-2025 AY. My favorite part, though, is doing walkthroughs and hearing what my colleagues need.
UNM PUMP
The Peer Undergraduate Mentorship Program in UNM Physics & Astronomy pairs grad students with undergrads navigating the same journey we were on just a few years ago. It sharpens mentorship skills on both sides and strengthens the department as a whole.
B.S. in Astronomy
Case Western Reserve University
Undergraduate Researcher
CWRU — exoplanet yield modeling (WAET concept)
Ph.D. in Physics & Astronomy
University of New Mexico
Advisor: Dr. Diana Dragomir
Teaching Assistant
University of New Mexico
NASA FINESST Awardee
Circumbinary planet occurrence rates with TESS
Awards & honors
- NASA FINESST Award — 2023–2026, for circumbinary planet research with TESS
Publications
- A Catalog of M-Dwarf Eclipsing Binaries Observed by TESS, Oddo et al., ApJ 996, 82 (2026). ADS
- Characterization of a Set of Small Planets with TESS and CHEOPS and an Analysis of Photometric Performance, Oddo et al., AJ (2023). ADS
- COMING SOON: M&M CBPs are rare - the occurrence of circumbinary planets orbiting M&M EBs from TESS
- Full publication list on ADS →
Service & Outreach
- Organizer, Right to Health Action - 2020-2022
- Co-lead Negotiator, Director of Organizing, Area Steward, United Graduate Workers of UNM - 2020-present
- Officer, UNM PandA Graduate Student Association - 2020-2022
- Telescope Operator, UNM Campus Observatory - 2021-present
- Mentor, UNM PUMP Peer Mentorship Program — 2022–2024
- LOC member, Transits to Trends Workshop, Albuquerque, NM - 2025
Contact
Let's talk
Whether you have a science question, a collaboration idea, or just want to chat circumbinary planets — reach out.
Primary email: doddo@unm.edu
Personal email: domoddo15@gmail.com
Department: UNM Physics & Astronomy, Albuquerque, NM