Tyler Horvath

Current Projects

Diviner: Advanced Methods for Mapping and Modelling Point-based Planetary Datasets

Utilizing advanced modeling and application of Diviner's Effective Field of View (EFOV) to dramatically improve the resolution of mapping products and inverse modeling of point-based data
Diviner: Thermophysical characteristics and formation mechanisms of Irregular Mare Patches (IMPs)

Using advanced EFOV methods, determine the thermophysical characteristics of the hummocky terrain vs. smooth mounds of irregular mare patches to understand their formation mechanism and morphology
Diviner: Global dataset, analysis, and charactarization of lunar cold spots

Using new high-resolution Diviner maps a more complete dataset of lunar cold spots can be aggregated and analyzed to better understand their morphology
L-CIRiS: Lunar Compact Infrared imaging System

Assisting in the development, modeling, and future operations of the L-CIRiS instrument destined for the lunar South pole
Proposed Lunar Orbiter

Created an n-body astrodynamics pipeline for determining the orbital lifetime and delta-v requirements for an ultra-low lunar orbiter

Drone Operations

Have conducted over 50 flights in support of UCLA classes, as well as UCLA and NASA affiliated research. Collaborated with Calfire to monitor mass wasting after the 2025 Palisades fire, and with NASA as part of the AMASE expedition to study the Mars analog Tindholmur in the Faroe Islands.
Loyola Marymount University Part-time Faculty

Have tought four general Astronomy courses with 30 students each at LMU. Helped physics students start a University-wide Astronomy club with over 100 members and procure an amateur astronomy grade telescope+astrophotography system.
Laboratory Equipment Engineering

Designed and procured custom, high-precision laboratory equipment for use in rotating convection experiments at UCLA and Loyola Marymount University. Designed a one-of-a-kind transparent heat exchanger for use in particle-image-velocimetry experiments, and a full-scall research-grade rotating convection device.
NASA-affiliated Field Work

Assisted in field work to support analog studies of the RIMFAX instrument aboard the Mars Perseverance rover in central California, as well as worked with the UMD/NASA Goddard based GEODES team at Lava Beds National Monument in northern California to determine the capabilities of various geophysical sensing techniques for detecting subsurface lunar lava tubes.