Our Solar Siblings (formerly 'Space to Grow') Project.
Project from 2015
This year saw the start of the project up in the air but led to a change in name and partner university im Edith Cowan. Though we had a slow start to the year we have finished strong using a telescope in Forth worth, Texas, to image two spiral galaxies.
The first image is that NGC5453. The image below to the left was done my Max, the other to the right by David.
This year saw the start of the project up in the air but led to a change in name and partner university im Edith Cowan. Though we had a slow start to the year we have finished strong using a telescope in Forth worth, Texas, to image two spiral galaxies.
The first image is that NGC5453. The image below to the left was done my Max, the other to the right by David.
Below is a second Galaxy we worked on next which is M94.
Project from 2014
In Space to Grow this year, we have spent a lot of time discussing the ways in which we calculate the distances to open clusters in the Milky Way, by analyzing images captured from the Faulkes optical telescopes through different filters, red, green, blue, infrared and ultraviolet.
This is a very involved process, not only the analysis, but also the steps that must be taken to request images from the Space to Grow administration at Macquarie and Charles Sturt Universities. When ordering images, one must know the right location of the cluster using coordinates called ascension and declination, and the steps to be taken when using online software, SIMBAD, ALADIN, and Makali’i.
Thomas using Makali’I to analyse a star cluster
In Space to Grow this year, we have spent a lot of time discussing the ways in which we calculate the distances to open clusters in the Milky Way, by analyzing images captured from the Faulkes optical telescopes through different filters, red, green, blue, infrared and ultraviolet.
This is a very involved process, not only the analysis, but also the steps that must be taken to request images from the Space to Grow administration at Macquarie and Charles Sturt Universities. When ordering images, one must know the right location of the cluster using coordinates called ascension and declination, and the steps to be taken when using online software, SIMBAD, ALADIN, and Makali’i.
Thomas using Makali’I to analyse a star cluster
Throughout the year, we have read through pages and pages of instructions, as well as theory. We have also done various experiments, such as diffusion of light through milk, modelling interstellar reddening which is an effect of dust in the universe making stars look more red than they really are. This must be accounted for when determining the distance to a star cluster.
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We have also spent a significant amount of time discussing the particle and wave theories of light and had many great discussions about other aspects of science, such as evolutionary theory, stellar evolution, and the theory of relativity
Max showing a star cluster to Hayden
Max showing a star cluster to Hayden
Project from 2013
This year students from year 11 Physics and some year 9 students have been involved in the space to grow project learning about Astronomy. The main things they learned in the first half of the year include:
· How to locate objects in the sky using ‘Right Ascension’ (RA) and ‘Declination’ (Dec)
· How to process the 3 images requested to make it a full colour image (as shown to the left)
Once students learn how to do this they will then be given star clusters never before analysed to determine their distances and contribute to real scientific knowledge.
How to request an image from the 2 metre diameter ‘Faulkes’ telescopes in either Hawaii or Coonabarabran.
This year students from year 11 Physics and some year 9 students have been involved in the space to grow project learning about Astronomy. The main things they learned in the first half of the year include:
· How to locate objects in the sky using ‘Right Ascension’ (RA) and ‘Declination’ (Dec)
· How to process the 3 images requested to make it a full colour image (as shown to the left)
Once students learn how to do this they will then be given star clusters never before analysed to determine their distances and contribute to real scientific knowledge.
How to request an image from the 2 metre diameter ‘Faulkes’ telescopes in either Hawaii or Coonabarabran.
Oliver from year 11 processed an image of the nebula NGC3372 after combining a blue, green, & red image into one, using Adobe Photoshop, to make a colour image. Astronomers do not use normal digital cameras that make colour images because too much information is lost in the process that the camera decides on. Instead they take three photos through colour filters (red, green, then blue) and combine them to make a colour image.
Groups within the Space to Grow Project processed some of their own images that they requested from the Faulkes telescopes and then compared them to that of Hubble Space Telescope which has the advantage of being above the atmosphere!
Groups within the Space to Grow Project processed some of their own images that they requested from the Faulkes telescopes and then compared them to that of Hubble Space Telescope which has the advantage of being above the atmosphere!
During the second half of the year Oscar submitted a request from the Faulkes Telescopes to image the Cat’s Eye Nebula. Students then used astronomical software along with Photoshop to process the image and the best one was produced by Thomas as shown below.