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Quick Links
Current Academy Projects
Being Worked on by Academy Students in Academy Courses
or Astronomy and Space Science students
Watch this space for links to the finished research2003-2005 School Years
RESEARCH
OUTREACH
Using IRAF to convert images for use with HOU Image Processing Software
This is a set of notes by Jeff Adkins on how to prepare 32-bit FITS images for use with the Hands On Universe program Image Processing.
Performance of Mars by Holtz
Renee Mastrolia organized a performance of Mars by a student orchestra. You can download it here as an MP3 file (5 MB). Permission is granted to use this file for educational purposes only.
Searching for Novae in Globular Clusters
Robert Johnson and Kyle Hornbeck are beginning a systematic search for novas in prominent globular clusters. They have 5 epochs of data already and are collecting more over time. No novas have been found yet, but they are measuring the brightness of a known variable star as an exercise while they search. Robert was one of the 2 students selected for the School Year Observing Program at the Kitt Peak National Observatory, sponsored by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory. He and Kyle will use the additional data to continue constructing light curves for variables in M13 and M3. Robert and Kyle are using the Image Processing software from the Hands On Universe project to do their measurements.
(Link leads to a pdf file.)
Planetarium shows for local schools
In cooperation with the Antioch Unified School District's science program for elementary and middle schools, we present planetarium shows for local schools and organizations. To request a show, contact Dena Palmer at the AUSD Science Center or Jeff Adkins at Deer Valley High School. To see a list of schools we have served this year, look at the Planetarium Production Class home page.Measurement of dune height to spacing ratio in the Ophir Chasma region on Mars
Images of Mars taken by the Mars Global Surveyor on behalf of the Astronomy and Space Science Class are being analyzed by students attempting to determine the height of sand dunes revealed by the images. This is part of the ongoing mission of the MGS to take pictures requested by the public for specfic areas of the surface of Mars. Project lead: Ashley Hall.
The AP Physics Class (which is one of several courses which can be a culminating class for an academy student) has received a $900 grant from EBCUE (East Bay Computer Using Educators) for purchasing web cams to make short instructional videos about physics phenomena which can be measured from video. Our target audience is the 9th Grade Science class here at our school. We will work on these after the AP test this sping.Measurement of Crater to Spot Diameter Ratios in the Arabia Region of Mars
Alex Payne and Andrew Espiritu are investigating some mysterious spots seen in Mars Global Surveyor images. They want to know what causes the spots and why they all appear in the same quadrant of each crater.
This project was started in 2002 and explains how to build a classroom planetarium from cardboard for "not much money." Students in this year's class continue to work on the project by designing a homemade projector for use in the dome. The culminating part of the project was a web site, to which the link above leads.
Moss Growth in the DVHS Amphitheatre
Michael Peterson has completed data gathering on his project to determine how precisely moss grows on the north side of objects by doing a careful study of the pattern of moss growth on the circular steps of the Deer Valley High School ampitheatre. Michael's research is posted at the link above.Journal of Research and Outreach
The Journal of Research and Outreach is now soliciting entries for its first ever edition. Click on the link above for more information. Sponsored by the Earth, Space, and Astronomy Center for Education (ESPACE) the Journal will consist of entries in four categories:
- Original research in mathematics, science, English, or history related to mathematics, Earth or space science, or science in general
- Reports on Outreach (students providing information in a public setting)
- Original essays expressing opinions about topics relevant to the academy
- Art or other creative expressions using or about science and math
Moon Parallax project
The moon parallax project seeks to photograph the moon and background stars simultaneously from two widely separated locations to determine the distance to the moon through parallax. The project successfully collected data in May of 2004. We are going to try again next school year.Project conducted by: Kelli Hover, Chris Guarini, and Chris Moore.
Catalog of Stellar Evolution
The Astronomy/Physics research class is going to compile a catalog of images illustrating stellar evolution from dark nebulas to supernova remnants. These images will be used by next year's Planetarium Production class to construct a show based on the idea of stellar evolution and linked to the California Science Standards. The images will be captured through visits to local amateur astronomer's observatories, use of the school's telescope, and observing time provided by the TLRBSE School Year Observing Program from the University of Arizona and the National Optical Astronomy Observatory.2004 Project lead: Trevor Butler.
2005 Project lead: Barry Parker
Effect of fin placement on friction in model rocket flight
by Joey Cardone and Scott Banker
Joey and Scott are investigating if the placement of fins on a rocket has an effect on the overall altitude the rocket will reach when launched and are using computer models to study and compare the actual data with predicted effects.
Catalog of Star Clusters and Galaxies
This page will accumulate interesting pictures of open clusters, galaxies, and globular clusters. Eventually, different types of galaxies will be illustrated.
2004 Project lead: Trevor Butler
Light Pollution in Antioch, California
Several students are attempting to quantify the light pollution in our home town due to the recent surge of commercial growth on the southeast end of town. More information can be found at the International Dark Sky Association web page.Project lead: Anne Nguyen and Sebin Sohn.
Note: link leads to a ZIPPED QuickTime Movie and is 2.1 MB (long download). You will need QuickTime for Mac/PC, Stuffit Expander (Mac) or an unZIP utility such as PKunzip for PC to decompress and view this presentation. A properly configured computer will download, uncompress and open the document automatically.
All about the Pleiades
This interesting paper by Renee Mastrolia compares the Subaru car company's logo to the well known asterism.
(Link leads to a pdf file.Requires Adobe Acrobat to open.)
Nova Search in M31
We continue to participate in the TLRBSE sponsored search for novas in the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). This is an ongoing student-centered research project. Students analyze photos taken of the Andromeda Galaxy and search for stars that explode and fade away, then plot their brightnesses over time.Our first original derivative project tests the hypothesis that the curvature of the decay curve may be affected by the nova's location in the galaxy. This research compiled and analyzed results from 3 classes' analysis of nova curves from the data provided by TLRBSE.
This research was conducted by Robert Sullenger and Tri Nguyen and the 2004 Astronomy and Space Science classes.
(Link leads to a pdf file.)
An Era of Mayhem
An awesome end-of-the world story by Jennifer Wilkinson. What would you do if you knew the sun was going to go nova...and you could delay the end?
Light Curve for Supernova 2004et in NGC 6946
Barry Parker is measuring the magnitude of a supernova currently seen exploding in NGC 6946.
Microvariability in Blazar BL Lac
Tri Nguyen is collecting data at Kitt Peak National Observatory to measure small-scale variations in a the first blazar ever found. Tri will contribute his data to the AAVSO and to the Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope's Global Telescope Network databases. Tri is one of the two students from DVHS selected for the KPNO School Year Observing Project in 2004.
RA 1420 Radio Telescope Project
Efforts continue to establish a radio telescope on the roof of Deer Valley High School with which students can measure radio signals from Jupiter and the Sun. A steerable dish has been donated from Seatel of Concord, and they have provided training and expertise in the installation of the dish. More students have joined the Radio Telescope project this year, and hope to continue the work started by students Eric Chamberlain and Ryan King last year.Asteroid Occultation with a CCD
The Astronomy/Physics Research class is going to attempt to image an asteroid occultation using a remote control observatory. Funding for the observing time was provided by the TLRBSE School Year Observing Program from the University of Arizona and the National Optical Astronomy Observatory.The status of this project is on hold because the only favorable occultation of an asteroid seen from the New Mexico Skies site was obscured by clouds. Other dates are being investigated.
Asteroid Triangulation by Simultaneous Photography
We attempted to triangulate on an asteroid by simultaneously photographing it from New Mexico via the New Mexico Skies program and from Oakley with the help of amateur astronomer Mike Harms. The project was not a complete success because we could not reliably identify the asteroid in the photos. However, several students did the work necessary to demonstrate the proof of concept.
Here are some pictures taken by Raymond Kuntz of the delivery of the RA1420 Project's radio telescope on December 19. The equipment was donated by Seatel of Concord.
Pending Projects
Radio JOVE
Students are trying out a radio telescope built last year to demonstrate the feasability of radio astronomy from the DVHS campus. The bipole antenna is being installed off campus and data collection should start soon.
Jeff Adkins, Director
astronomyteacher@mac.com
Cheryl Domenichelli, Assistant Director
cheryldomenichelli@antioch.k12.ca.us
4700 Lone Tree Way
Antioch, CA 94531
The ESPACE Academy is sponsored in part by a grant from the California Department of Education's Specialized Secondary Program.
