Review for:Hands On Astrophysics

posted: on June 11, 2007 at 12:52PM

astronomy

general observing

I wanted students to get experience in terms of estimating star magnitudes, what a light curve is, and do data analysis. I also wanted students to make contributions to the variable star database

Honors or Advanced

Hands On Astrophysics is a whole curriculum. It incorporates technology in that it has a software that aids student understanding of light curves. It gave them practice in estimating. Then we went out and made the measurements. When we got back we sent off our observations to be added to the national database.

Provides visualization or animation, Increases graphing skills, Increases mapping skills, Provides access to data sets, Increases data collection & analysis skills, Provides practice or tutorial, Provides additional content, Increases student engagement and motivation

Hands On Astrophysics as a whole curriculum is very strong in terms of making students understand what scientist do. It is absolutely exciting to students when they know that their observations will be used in current scientific research. Variable star observing is one of the few places left where amateurs make a significant contribution to advancing the scientific understanding.

The computer software does aid in understanding. At first you sort of use it to practice what you will be doing outside. It also helps you use the database that is present at the AAVSO to look at the light curves of particular variable stars (some stars have solid data for hundred years). Finally, it gives you the ability to add your data to the data set.

Along the way within the curriculum you are learning a lot of good scientific skills -- estimating, error analysis, accuracy/precision, significant figures, graphing, curve fit, etc.

Going through the whole curriculum takes a fair amount of time -- 6weeks could easily be spent. Variable stars are not as "sexy" as black holes, supernova, etc. If not pitched right, student interest could waver