Dr. Fieber-Beyer

BS MS PhD

Associate Professor, Space Studies

Contact Info

Email: sherry.fieber.beyer@UND.edu
Office: 701.777.6408
Dept: 701.777.2480

Office Address

Space Studies
Clifford Hall Room 512
4149 University Ave Stop 9008
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9008

Office Hours

MWF 9a-10a 1p-2p

Curriculum Vitae

Biography

Dr. Sherry Fieber-Beyer is a planetary scientist and astronomer, and she specializes in the spectroscopic characterization of main-belt and near-Earth asteroids, investigating their mineralogy, dynamical relationships, and connections to meteorites and early solar system processes. Her research focuses particularly on asteroid families and the 3:1 Kirkwood Gap.

In recognition of her scientific contributions, asteroid (14825) Fieber-Beyer was named in her honor by the International Astronomical Union in 2014. She is also a pioneer in space agriculture, leading the first successful efforts to grow plants using CI carbonaceous asteroid regolith simulants as a growth medium in support of future in-situ resource utilization for space exploration.

A native of Jamestown, North Dakota, Dr. Fieber-Beyer earned her B.S. in Physics and Astronomy from Minnesota State University Moorhead, followed by an M.S. in Physics and a Ph.D. in Earth System Science and Policy from the University of North Dakota. She serves as a visiting astronomer at NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility and is actively engaged in planetary defense research, public outreach, and international science collaboration, including participation in the U.S. Speaker Program.

Open All

Astrometry
Photometry
VNIR Spectroscopy
Asteroids
Meteorites
Small Body Mineralogy/Petrology
Space Agriculture
Extraterrestrial Resources

Selected Publications:

Fieber-Beyer, S. K. (2026). Carbonaceous asteroids as a means of space agriculture. Soil Science Society of America Journal, Volume 90, Issue 3, id.e70269, 22 pp. https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/saj2.70269?utm_medium=article&utm_source=researchgate.net
Strom C. A., Nordheim, T. A., Patthoff, D. A. and Fieber-Beyer, S. K., (2026). Constraining Ocean and Ice Shell Thickness on Ariel from Surface Geological Structures and Stress Modeling. Icarus Volume 444, id.116822.
McCloat, Sean; Mulders, Gijs; Fieber-Beyer, Sherry (2025). Diversity in planetary architectures from pebble accretion: Water delivery to the habitable zone with pebble snow. Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 992, issue 2, 15p.
Hutton, Lucas J.; Fieber-Beyer, Sherry; Linder, Tyler R.; Reichart, Daniel E.; Haislip, Joshua B.; Kouprianov, Vladimir V.; Moore, Justin P., (2025). Photometry of NEAs (187026) 2005 EK70 and (152787) 1999 TB10. Bulletin of the Minor Planets Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 148-150.
Strom C. A., Nordheim, T. A., Patthoff, D. A. and Fieber-Beyer, S. K., (2024). Constraining Ocean and Ice Shell Thickness on Miranda from Surface Geological Structures and Stress Modeling. The Planetary Science Journal 5:10, 18pp.
Lucas, L. J., and Fieber-Beyer, S. K. (2024). Photometry of PHA (349507) 2008 QY. The Minor Planet Bulletin (ISSN 1052-8091). Bulletin of the Minor Planets Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, Vol. 51, No. 3, p. 231.Rommel et al. (2023). A large topographic feature on the surface of the trans-Neptunian object (307261) 2002 MS4 measured from stellar occultations. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 678, 25p.
Russell, S., Fieber-Beyer, S. K., and Yurkonis, K. (2022). CI Asteroid Regolith as an In-Situ Plant Growth Medium for Space Crop Production. Planetary Science Journal, 3:7, 11p.
Germann, J. T., Fieber-Beyer, S.K. and Gaffey, M.J. (2022). Evidence for hydrated minerals in the VNIR spectra of G-class asteroids: A first look. Icarus 377, 7p.
McCloat, S., von Essen, C., and Fieber-Beyer, S. (2021). Atmospheric Transmission Spectroscopy of Hot Jupiter KELT-10b using Synthetic Telluric Correction Software. The Astronomical Journal, Volume 162, Issue 4, id.132, 12 pp.
Newcomb, S. D., and Fieber-Beyer, S. K. (2021). Photometric Observations of (68347) 2001 KB67, (494999) 2010 JU39 and (455432) 2003 RP8. The Minor Planet Bulletin (ISSN 1052-8091). Bulletin of the Minor Planets Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, Vol. 48, No. 3, p. 223-224.
Fieber-Beyer, S.K. and Gaffey, M.J., (2020). The Family of (6) Hebe. The Planetary Science Journal, 1:68, 11p.
Fieber-Beyer, S.K., Kareta, T., Reddy, V., and Gaffey, M.J., (2020). Near-Earth Asteroid: 1998 QE2. Icarus 347, 1-4.
Fieber-Beyer, S.K. and Gaffey, M.J., (2019). NEA 162385 (2000 BM 19): near-infrared compositional analysis of a multi-trillion dollar mining target. Icarus 328, 23-31.
McCraig, M. A., Osinskia, G. R., Cloutisa, E.A., Flemming, R. L., Izawac, M. R., Reddy,V.,Fieber-Beyer, S. K., Pompiliog, L., van der Meerh, F., Bergera, J. A., Bramblea, M.S., Applin, D.M. (2017). Fitting the curve in Excel®: Systematic curve fitting of laboratory and remotely sensed planetary spectra. Computers & Geoscience 100, 103-114.
Marion, G. H.; Sand, D. J.; Hsiao, E. Y.; Banerjee, D. P. K.; Valenti, S.; Stritzinger, M. D.; Vinkó, J.; Joshi, V.; Venkataraman, V.; Ashok, N. M.; Amanullah, R.; Binzel, R. P.; Bochanski, J. J.; Bryngelson, G. L.; Burns, C. R.; Drozdov, D.; Fieber-Beyer, S. K.; Graham, M. L.; Howell, D. A.; Johansson, J.; Kirshner, R. P.; Milne, P. A.; Parrent, J.; Silverman, J. M.; Vervack, R. J., Jr.; Wheeler, J. C. (2015). Early Observations and Analysis of the Type Ia SN 2014J in M82. The Astrophysical Journal, 798:39 (12pp).
Fieber-Beyer, S.K. and Gaffey, M.J., (2015). Near-infrared spectroscopy of 3:1 Kirkwood Gap Asteroids III. Icarus 257, 113-125.
Gaffey, M.J., Reddy, V., Fieber-Beyer, S.K., and Cloutis, E. (2015). Asteroid (354) Eleonora: Plucking an odd duck. Icarus, Volume 250, p. 623-638.
Fieber-Beyer, S. K., M. J. Gaffey, and P. S. Hardersen (2015). Potentially Hazardous Asteroid 2007 LE: Compositional Link to the Black Chondrite Rose City and Asteroid (6) Hebe. Icarus 250, 430-437.
Fieber-Beyer, S.K. & Gaffey, M.J., (2014). Near-infrared spectroscopy of 3:1 Kirkwood Gap Asteroids II: Probable and plausible parent bodies; primitive and differentiated. Icarus 229, 99-108.
Fieber-Beyer, S.K., Gaffey, M.J., Hardersen, P.S., and Reddy, V. (2012). Near-infrared Spectroscopy of 3:1 Kirkwood Gap Asteroids: Mineralogical Diversity and Plausible Meteorite Parent Bodies. Icarus 221, 593-602.
Fieber-Beyer, S.K. and Gaffey, M.J., (2011). Near-infrared Spectroscopy of 3:1 Kirkwood Gap Asteroids 3760 Poutanen, and 974 Lioba. Icarus 214, 645-651.
Fieber-Beyer, S. K., Gaffey, M. J., Kelley, M. S., Reddy, V., Reynolds, C. M., Hicks, T. (2011). The Maria Asteroid Family: Genetic Relationships and a Plausible Source of Mesosiderites near the 3:1 Kirkwood Gap Icarus 213, 524-537.
Fieber-Beyer, S.K., Gaffey, M.J., and Abell, P.A., (2011) Mineralogical Characterization of Near Earth Amor Asteroid 1036 Ganymed. Icarus 212, 149-157.
Worman, W. E.; Fieber, Sherry; Hulet, Kiernan (2004). Photometry of 374 Burgundia. The Minor Planet Bulletin (ISSN 1052-8091). Bulletin of the Minor Planets Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, Vol. 31, No. 3, p. 66 – 67.
Worman, W. E.; Fieber, Sherry; Newman, Matthew G.; Kirby, Monica (2004). CCD photometry of 934 Thuringia. The Minor Planet Bulletin (ISSN 1052-8091). Bulletin of the Minor Planets Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, Vol. 30, No. 4, p. 77 – 78.
Worman, W. E.; Fieber, Sherry; Creason, Mary A. (2003). CCD photometry of 625 Xenia. The Minor Planet Bulletin (ISSN 1052-8091). Bulletin of the Minor Planets Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, Vol. 30, No. 2, p. 32 .

Data Archive Products:

Fieber-Beyer, S.K., Yurkonis, K.A., and Russell S.J., CI Asteroid Regolith as an In Situ Plant Growth Medium for Space Crop Production, NASA Open Science Data Repository, 2024. http://doi.org/10.26030/m04e-p031
Rommel et al., VizieR Online Data Catalog: occultation events by (307261) 2002 MS4 (Rommel+, 2023). VizieR On-line Data Catalog: J/A+A/678/A167. Originally published in: 2023A\&A...678A.167R. https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/A+A/678/A167.
Fieber-Beyer, S.K., Fieber-Beyer, S.K., Fieber-Beyer IRTF Mainbelt Asteroid Spectra V2.0. urn:nasa:pds:gbo.ast.fieber-beyer.spectra::2.0. NASA Planetary Data System, 2021.
Fieber-Beyer, S.K., Fieber-Beyer, S.K., Fieber-Beyer IRTF Mainbelt Asteroid Spectra V1.0. urn:nasa:pds:gbo.ast.fieber-beyer.spectra::1.0. NASA Planetary Data System, 2020.
Fieber-Beyer, S.K., Fieber-Beyer IRTF Mainbelt Asteroid Spectra V3.0. EAR-A-I0046-3-FBIRTFSPEC-V3.0. NASA Planetary Data System, 2015.
Fieber-Beyer, S.K., Fieber-Beyer IRTF Mainbelt Asteroid Spectra V2.0. EAR-A-I0046-3-FBIRTFSPEC-V2.0. NASA Planetary Data System, 2013.
Fieber-Beyer, S.K., Fieber-Beyer IRTF Mainbelt Asteroid Spectra V1.0. EAR-A-I0046-3-FBIRTFSPEC-V1.0. NASA Planetary Data System, 2011.

Conference Abstracts:

Strom C. A., Fieber-Beyer, S. K., and Scully, J. E. (2024). Evaluation of Age and Rheology Differences as Causes of the Morphological Distinctiveness of Ahuna Mons. 55th LPSC, LPI Contribution No. 1116.
Strom C. A., Nordheim, T. A., Patthoff, D. A. and Fieber-Beyer, S. K., (2024). Constraining Ocean and Ice Shell Thickness on Ariel from Surface Geological Structures and Stress Modeling. 55th LPSC, LPI Contribution No. 1620.
McCloat, S., Mulders, G., and Fieber-Beyer, S., (2024). The PPOLs Model of Pebble Accretion for Water Delivery to Inner Planet Cores. Exoplanets5 Conference, Leiden, Netherlands, June 2024, Abstract 689.
Strom C. A., Fieber-Beyer, S. K., and Scully, J. E. (2023). Evaluation of Age and Rheology Differences as Causes of the Morphological Distinctiveness of Ahuna Mons. 54th LPSC, LPI Contribution No. 1642.
Strom C. A., Fieber-Beyer, S. K., and Gaffey, M. J. (2022). Evaluating Massalia Family Asteroids as the Source of the L-Chondrite Meteorites. 53rd LPSC, LPI Contribution No. 2678.
Fieber-Beyer, S. K., (2021). Interesting Objects Near (6) Hebe. 52nd LPSC, LPI Contribution No. 1233.
Russell S. J., and Fieber-Beyer, S. K., (2021). An Evaluation gf Ci Carbonaceous Asteroid Regolith As A Plant Growth Medium For Space Crop Production. 52nd LPSC, LPI Contribution No. 1406.
Germann J. T., and Fieber-Beyer, S. K., (2021). VNIR Reflectance Spectroscopy of Five G-class Asteroids: Implications for Mineralogy and Geologic Evolution. 52nd LPSC, LPI Contribution No. 1143.
Strom C. A., Fieber-Beyer, S. K., Germann J. T., and Gaffey, M. J. (2021). A Spectral Analysis Of The Massalia Asteroid Family To Evaluate The Lchondrite Source Hypothesis. 52nd LPSC, LPI Contribution No. 1597.
Germann J. T., Fieber-Beyer, S. K., Strom C. A., and Gaffey, M. J. (2021). NIR Reflectance Spectroscopy of Massalia Family Asteroids 8452 Clay, 2316 Jo-Ann, 7760, 52442, 27120 Isabelhawkins. 52nd LPSC, LPI Contribution No. 1320.
Fieber-Beyer, S. K., and Gaffey, M. J. (2019). The Family 0f Asteroid (6) Hebe: Initial Results. 50th LPSC, LPI Contribution No. 1047.
Gaffey, M. J., and Fieber-Beyer, S. K. (2019). Is The (20) Massalia Family The Source Of The L-Chondrites?50th LPSC, LPI Contribution No. 1441.
Fieber-Beyer, S. K., Gaffey, M. J., and Hardersen, P. S. (2016). Near-infrared Spectroscopy of 3:1 Kirkwood Asteroids. 47th LPSC, LPI Contribution No. 1481.
Fieber-Beyer, S. K., and M. J. Gaffey, (2015). Near-infrared Spectroscopy of 3:1 Kirkwood Gap Asteroids III. 46th Lunar & Planetary Science Conference, LPI Contribution No. 1048.
Roberts, R. V.; Gaffey, M. J.; Fieber-Beyer, S. K., (2015). Is the Gefion Dynamical Asteroid Family the Source of the L-Chondrites? 78th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, held July 27-31, 2015 in Berkeley, California. LPI Contribution No. 1856, p.5073.
Gaffey, M. J., Reddy, V., Fieber-Beyer, S. K., and Cloutis, E. (2014) Asteroid (354) Eleonora: Plucking an Odd Duck. 45th Lunar &Planetary Science Conference, LPI Contribution No. 1777 p 1453.
Fieber-Beyer, S. K., Gaffey, M. J., and Hardersen, P. S. (2014). Potentially Hazardous Asteroid 2007 LE: Probable Parent Body of the Black Chondrite Rose City and Daughter of Asteroid (6) Hebe. 45th Lunar &Planetary Science Conference, LPI Contribution No. 1777 p 1428.
Fieber-Beyer, S.K., and Gaffey, M.J., (2013) Near-infrared Spectroscopy of 3:1 Kirkwood Gap Asteroids: A Battalion of Basalts. 44th Lunar &Planetary Science Conference, LPI Contribution No. 1719, p.1352.
Gaffey, M. J., and Fieber-Beyer, S.K., (2013). Identification of a Possible H-Chondrite Asteroid Family. Meteoritics and Planetary Science Supplement, id.5124
Roberts, R.V., Gaffey, M.J., and Fieber-Beyer, S.K., (2013). Mineralogical Assessment of 2911 Miahelena and 3788 Steyaert, two Gefion Asteroid Family Members. Meteoritics and Planetary Science Supplement, id. 5127.
Roberts, R.V., Gaffey, M.J., and Fieber-Beyer, S.K., (2013). Mineralogical Assessment of two Gefion Family Asteroids: 1433 Geramtina &4182 Mount Locke. 44th Lunar &Planetary Science Conference, LPI Contribution No. 1719, p.2713
Fieber-Beyer, S. K., Gaffey, M.J., and Blagen, J.M. (2012). Near-infrared Spectroscopy of 3:1 Kirkwood Gap Asteroids (660) Crescentia, (797) Montana, (879) Ricarda, (1391) Carelia, and (1644) Rafita. 43rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, LPI Contribution LPI Contribution No. 1659, id.1530.
Blagan, J.M., Gaffey, M.J., and Fieber-Beyer, S.K., (2012). Testing the Gefion family as a possible parent body for the L-chondrite meteorites. 43rd Lunar &Planetary Science Conference, LPI Contribution No. 1659, id.1643.
Fieber-Beyer, S. K., Gaffey, M. J., Kelley, M. S., Reddy, V., Reynolds, C. M., Hicks, T. (2011). The 3:1 Kirkwood Gap and the Maria Family: Genetic Family Membership and Plausible Source Body of Mesosiderites. 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, LPI Contribution No. 1411.
Fieber-Beyer, S. K., Gaffey, M. J., Kelley, M. S., Reddy, V., Reynolds, C. M., Hicks, T. (2010). The 3:1 Kirkwood Gap and the Maria Family: Genetic Family Membership and Probable Source Body of Mesosiderites. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, Abstract # 5122.
Fieber-Beyer, S. K., Gaffey, M. J., Kelley, M. S., Reddy, V., Reynolds, C. M., Hicks, T. (2010). Near-infrared Spectroscopy of 3:1 Kirkwood Gap Asteroids 695 Bella, 714 Ulula, and 3066 McFadden. 41st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, LPI Contribution No. 1533, p.1500
Fieber-Beyer, S.K., and Gaffey, M.J. (2010). Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of 3:1 Kirkwood Gap Asteroids: 908 Buda and 1772 Gagarin. 41st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, LPI Contribution No. 1533, p.1853
Fieber-Beyer, S.K., Gaffey, M.J., Hardersen, P.S., (2009). Near-infrared Spectroscopy of 3:1 Kirkwood Gap Asteroids 1379 Lomonosawa and 974 Lioba: Plausible Parent Bodies of L- and LL-chondrites. In Lunar and Planetary Science XL, Abstract #1115, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston (CD-ROM).
Fieber-Beyer, S.K., Gaffey, M.J., Abell, P.A., Reddy, V., (2008). Compositional and Dynamical Studies of Asteroids Located In/Near the 3:1 Kirkwood Gap: 495 Eulalia-A First Step. In Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIX, Abstract #1149.
Reddy, V.; Gaffey, M. J.; Abell, P. A.; Kumar, S., & Fieber-Beyer, S. K., (2008). Faint, Fuzzy and 'Featureless' PHAs: Making the Most Out of Almost Nothing. 39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, (Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIX), held March 10-14, 2008 in League City, Texas. LPI Contribution No. 1391, p.1996
Fieber-Beyer, S.K., Gaffey, M.J. (2007) Spinel-bearing Asteroids…the Most Ancient Asteroids in the Solar System. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, Abstract # 5116, Vol. 42, No. 8, p.A47
Fieber-Beyer, S.K., Gaffey, M.J., Abell, P.A., Reddy (2007) Mineralogical Characterization of ear Earth Amor Asteroid 1036 Ganymed. Lunar & Planetary Science XXXVIII, Abstract #1695.
Hardersen, P.S., Gaffey, M.J., Kumar, S, Fieber-Beyer, S.K., Crowell J.J, Crowell A.J. (2007) Near-IR Reflectance Spectra of M-asteroids 250 Bettina, 369 Aeria, 413 Edburga, and 931 Whittemora (2007). In Lunar & Planetary Science XXXVIII, Abstract #1956.
Fieber-Beyer, S.K., G

2018 Distinguished Alumna Minnesota State University-Moorhead
2014 Asteroid (14825) Fieber-Beyer

Ph.D. 2010, Earth System Science and Policy, University of North Dakota
M.S. 2006, Physics, University of North Dakota
B.S. 2003, Physics & Astronomy, Minnesota State University-Moorhead

Sigma Xi
The Meteoritical Society
Soil Society of America
Sigma Pi Sigma
The National Honors Scholars Society

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