As an introduction: Students could decide how the asteroids close proximity to Earth might effect their life. By doing this background research, students will gain a better understanding of these planetary objects in space. Students could request images of the constellation Orion the Hunter.
Midway through the project students will begin their search for asteroids, (asteroids will move at a faster rate than the background stars and galaxies.) Using image processing the student can eliminate stationary objects relative to the asteroids and using the process of visual analysis, determine whether the object is or is not an asteroid. Students will work cooperatively in groups, the teacher will act as a coordinator and resource agent, who can provide feedback and general assistance. To compare with the known night sky students can use computer generated night skies to determine what objects should not be in the night sky of Orion. Students can also use Internet Sky Charts to determine whether the asteroid has already been identified.
Student Evaluations: Students
will share their findings with their sister school "Oak Park River
Forest" . Students will be match with appropriate groups from O.P.R.F.
and relay their information via E-mail, Fermi Lab Project Arise Home Page
& HOU Project Page. Students from the sister school will take the data
generated by the other schools and check and confirm the asteroid existence
and location.
How can the computer help: "Hands On Universe" (HOU) has
developed and piloted an educational program that enables high school students
to request their own observations from professional observatories. HOU students
download CCD images to their classroom computers and use HOU's powerful
image processing software to visualize and analyze their data.
Requirements for HOU. "Computer
Imaging Program" The HOU image
processing software and data analysis software runs under Windows on a 486
or better as well as a Macintosh II series or better. Image processing tools
include: log scaling, min/max adjustment, re-sizing, a variety of color
palettes, and image manipulation such as rotation, flip, shift, and arithmetic
functions (add, subtract, multiply and divide). For data analysis, counts
are displayed for each pixel and slice plots and\ histograms show brightness
distributions. Photometry routines calculate full width half max and sky-subtracted
brightness.
Engaged Learner Centered Project: The project curriculum integrates
mathematics, science and technology in the context of exciting astronomical
explorations. This project can address many of the goals for mathematics
and science education standards by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
and the National Research Council. Through the investigation of the solar
system, galaxies, asteroids students develop problem-solving techniques
and critical thinking skills. Along the way students discover the need for
algebra, geometry, various data representations and interpretations, as
well as physical principles such as force and motion, and properties of
light. The classroom computer, along with the image processing software
and telecommunications, are regarded as research tools which enable students
to pursue their investigations.
Telescope Image Request: Initially, HOU students requested images
from the 30" automated telescope at Leuschner Observatory of the U.C.
Berkeley astronomy department or other telescopes being placed in the network.
Student requests will be processed by the network to decide which telescope
is best suited for the particular request, considering weather, geography,
scheduling and equipment.
Classroom Environment: The students will initially be trained in
using the image processing program as a large group in the computer lab.
After the project is announce students will have a choice of working in
the lab room or computer class. The lab will continue with the regular physics
curriculum as this project runs simultaneously.
Teacher Role: The teacher will act as a coordinator and resource agent, who can provide feedback and general assistance. The teacher will conference with the students group, to help students as they encounter problems that would fustrated them. Also the teacher will communicate with the sister school physics instructor to coordinate time lines and student success and problem areas.
Evaluation: Students will develop their own rubric showing their
objectives and a time line for completing each part. The group will schedule
teacher/group conferences to evaluate how the project is coming along and
what direction the group should continue. The students will be asked to
write in their journals a entry each time they work together on the project.
They should continue to include a summary of the conversations held between
their sister group at O.P.R.F. via the internet or e-mail. The final evaluation
could take place on Hyperstudio Stack, Power Point, Video Presentation,
or Formal Science Fair Report. The teacher will arrange a presentation day
to observe and evaluate the projects. The final presentation could be video
conferenced with Oak Park & River Forest High School.
Video Conferencing: Setting up internet collaboration tools for project