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PROJECT CLEA: Laboratory Exercises for the 21 st Century

PROJECT CLEA: Laboratory Exercises for the 21 st Century. Larry Marschall Glenn Snyder, Dick Cooper Project CLEA Gettysburg College Gettysburg, PA USA. CLEA WORKSHOP 2010—June 17-26, 2010. WHY HAVE A LAB COMPONENT TO AN ASTRONOMY COURSE? . “Interactive Engagement” with real astronomy

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PROJECT CLEA: Laboratory Exercises for the 21 st Century

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  1. PROJECT CLEA: Laboratory Exercises for the 21st Century Larry Marschall Glenn Snyder, Dick Cooper Project CLEA Gettysburg College Gettysburg, PA USA CLEA WORKSHOP 2010—June 17-26, 2010

  2. WHY HAVE A LAB COMPONENT TO AN ASTRONOMY COURSE? • “Interactive Engagement” with real astronomy • Deeper understanding of the distinction between observation and interpretation, data and theory. • Appreciation of what astronomers do—the phenomenology of the science.

  3. AN INTRODUCTION TO INTRODUCTORY ASTRONOMY • What was taught in introductory astronomy? • Some positional astronomy but mostly modern Astrophysics . • Is there an experiential or lab component to these courses ? • In some, but What CAN be done?

  4. An example of a “Canned Lab” on Spectral Classification (S&T)

  5. But this was the type of Modern Astronomy digital spectra displayed graphically.

  6. Why Project CLEA ? • Astronomy Labs in the early 1990’s at Gettysburg College – mostly paper/pencil • Wide availability of computers on campus • Paper Labs from Sky and Telescope widely used in Astronomy • “MACHO Computer Programs like “Voyager” and “The Sky” – Stand-alone packages, but they dominated the entire astronomy curriculum

  7. PROJECT CLEAContemporary Laboratory Experiences in Astronomy • Laboratory exercises illustrating modern astronomical techniques • Designed for non-science majors, but adaptable. • Simulation of measurement process. • Modern digital data and analysis techniques, using, wherever possible, real data. • Modular: each module includes software, student workbook(s) technical guide. • Funded by Gettysburg College and the NSF

  8. Why Project CLEA ? – Part 2 • The Astronomy Laboratory lagged behind contemporary astronomy • We wanted to replace the current paper/pencil labs • We considered realism of operation an essential ingredient of the program • The interface of the program should mimic actual instruments and data

  9. CLEA: The last decade

  10. Application in Astronomy Class • Gettysburg College Application • Class of 80 Students • 4 Labs – 20 Students Each – 2 per table • Coordinate Class with Labs • Use as Demonstration in Class • Labs Used as Projects – Additional Information needed – Instructor input • Other possibilities – How do you use?

  11. Development of Curriculum Material • Curricular Material/Lesson Plans • Change/Modify Labs (Word/pdf) • Split Labs to Fit Lab Time– ex. Jupiter • Add Additional Material for Your Needs • Select Labs that Support Your Curriculum • Sample of Structured Lab For Extra Solar Astronomy – Gettysburg Example

  12. Gettysburg College Stellar AstronomyCourse Outline The Order is What We Follow but There Are Various Possibilities For Sequencing • Period of Rotation of the Sun • Flow of Energy Out of the Sun • Astronomy of Asteroids • Classification of Stellar Spectra • Photoelectric Photometry of the Pleiades • HR Diagrams of Star Clusters • Cepheid Variables – S&T Paper Lab – LE10

  13. Gettysburg College Stellar Astronomy - Continued • Crab Nebula – S&T Paper Lab – LE08 • Dying Stars and Birth of the Elements • Radio Astronomy of Pulsars • Hubble Redshift Distance Relation • Large Scale Structure of the Universe • The Quest For Object X

  14. Many Possibilities – Your Thoughts on Lesson Plans • Do You See Any Possibilities For Using CLEA Labs in Your Courses? • If You Use CLEA Labs - Which Ones Are Your Favorites? • Do You Have Any Examples To Share With The Group?

  15. CLEA: Modules from 2007 A collaboration with the GONG project A collaboration with the XMM-Newton mission

  16. CLEA: X-RAY TELESCOPEMulti-Aperture Spectrometer

  17. CLEA: X-RAY TELESCOPEAbundance Models

  18. New CLEA: Modules in 2008 VIREO - H- R Diagram of Star Clusters Roemer Speed of Light Experiment Jupiter’s Moon

  19. VIREO: H-R Diagrams of Star Clusters Introduced – Jan 2008

  20. GOALS OF HR DIAGRAM EXERCISE • The student should be able to understand what is plotted on an HR diagram. • The student should be able to understand how the HR diagrams of clusters change as the cluster ages, and how the appearance of an HR diagram can be used to determine the age of the cluster.

  21. GOALS OF HR DIAGRAM EXERCISE • The student should be able to understand the difference between apparent and absolute magnitudes, and how the HR diagram of a cluster can be used to determine the distance of the cluster. • The student should be able to recognize the comparative ages of clusters by looking at their HR diagrams.

  22. BASIC STRATEGY OF THE HR DIAGRAM EXERCISE • Load Selected Cluster Data (Either “canned” or taken by the student using VIREO’s telescope and photometer)

  23. BASIC STRATEGY OF THE HR DIAGRAM EXERCISE • Display the data from the cluster on an HR Diagram; Then fit a Zero-Age Main Sequence to the plot to determine distance and reddening.

  24. BASIC STRATEGY OF THE HR DIAGRAM EXERCISE • Fit a theoretical isochrone to the cluster plot to age, using sliders to select isochrone.

  25. The NEXT LEVEL - VIREO • The Combination of all for the next Computer Platform • More Bells and Whistles • Real Databases that are Available • Simulated Where not Available

  26. VIREO “The Virtual Educational Observatory”continuing in developement

  27. Major Project: A non Modular approachA Virtual Observatory • Computer speed and storage so much higher than when this project began that there is practically no limit to what we can simulate in real time. • Huge amount of data available and easily accessible Why not create a software environment in which future (and past) exercises can be developed? A virtual observatory?

  28. EXAMPLES OF FUNDAMENTAL ASTRONOMICAL DATA SETS • The Hubble Guide Star Catalog (coords and mags of ~20 million objects); USNO A2 (5 x108 objects), … • The CfA Redshift Survey (mags, coordinates, redshifts of ~5 x 104 galaxies • Pulsar catalogs (coordinates, P, I(υ) for ~103 objects) • Asteroid elements (coords, mags vs time for ~2 x105 objects) • Large surveys: 2Mass (IR), SDSS (optical &NIR), 2dF (galaxies), etc.

  29. Instrumentation of VIREO • 3 Optical/IR Telescopes: various apertures • CCD Camera • IR Camera • Aperture Photometer • Photon-Counting Spectrometer • Multi-Aperture Spectrometer • Radio Telescope: configurable aperture, etc. • 3 separately tunable receivers • Analysis tools for • Spectroscopy • Imaging • Astrometry

  30. The Virtual Educational ObservatoryMulti-Object Spectrometer

  31. The Virtual Educational ObservatoryInfrared Imager

  32. WIDE DISSEMINATION CLEA USED WORLDWIDE • Freeware (to educational users). • Manuals available in Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Hebrew, Kiwi, French, Portugese, ??? • Users in all states and > 60 countries • Software and manuals downloadable from website: • http://public.gettysburg.edu/~marschal/clea/CLEAhome.html • Or email - clea@gettysburg.edu

  33. Hands-on observing with CCD's as well as an intensive introduction to the CLEA simulations and other computer resources will be featured. Centered at the Gettysburg College Campus, the week willinclude workshops on observing techniques, hands-on experience with all CLEA exercises, evening observing sessions at the Gettysburg College Observatory, and an observing trip to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia. SUMMER WORKSHOP:PROJECT CLEA 2010 • Targeted primarily at faculty who teach undergraduate college astronomy courses and who do not themselves have graduate specialization in astronomy or astrophysics, the workshop will introduce modern techniques of observation and data analysis with an emphasis on the introductory laboratory. The week will include workshops on observing techniques, hands-on experience with all CLEA exercises, evening observing sessions at the Gettysburg College Observatory, and an observing trip to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia.

  34. Many Possibilities – Your Thoughts on Lesson Plans • Do You See Any Possibilities For Using CLEA Labs in Your Courses? • If You Use CLEA Labs - Which Ones Are Your Favorites? • Do You Have Any Examples To Share With The Group?

  35. Shameless Plug… http://astronomy2009.us/

  36. TO LEARN EVEN MORE…… Just Published!

  37. CLEA MANUALS IN SPANISH

  38. CLEA MANUALS IN ITALIAN

  39. CLEA MANUALS IN DUTCH

  40. CLEA MANUALS IN HEBREW

  41. CLEA MANUALS IN POLISH

  42. CLEA MANUALS IN KIWI

  43. An Older “Canned Lab” on Hubble’s Law

  44. The CLEA WEBSITE: http://public.gettysburg.edu/~marschal/clea/CLEAhome.html

  45. Shameless Plug… http://astronomy2009.us/

  46. TO LEARN EVEN MORE…… Just Published!

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