Variable star photometry in a secondary school curriculum
Author(s)
O'Brien, Hollie M
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Other Contributors
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.
Advisor
Richard P. Binzel.
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The author proved that photometry of variable stars can be performed by anyone using the shoestring budget of only a digital camera along with a laptop. Extrinsic variable star Algol was observed using a 14" telescope as well as CCD and had its light curve plotted. In direct comparison, V474 Mon was observed using only a low cost $200 digital camera. Armed with a laptop for data analysis, the author plotted its light curve. Lastly, the whole process of research astronomy was applied to a classroom final project setting. Future work includes expanding this thesis into a full semester long astronomy course for high school students.
Description
Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 2015. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (pages 61-64).
Date issued
2015Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary SciencesPublisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Keywords
Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.