A 402T Observing Projects

last revised 1/31/18

Project 1: Imaging the ISM

due in lab, Monday, March 12

The high-level requirement is to demonstrate the presence of interstellar gas and/or dust via broadband and/or narrowband imaging. Possibilities include:

  • Obtain a multicolor image of an emission nebula, e.g., M42, M27, or IC443.
  • Obtain a multicolor image of a reflection nebula.
  • Obtain a multicolor image of a galaxy with significant interstellar dust.
  • Obtain a multicolor image of a dark nebula, showing both obscuration and reddening by interstellar dust.
  • Using your own B-V differential photometry of at least 3 stars (plus at least 1 reference star known spectral type and low reddening), demonstrate the presence of interstellar reddening and therefore interstellar dust.
  • Demonstrate the presence of interstellar hydrogen by imaging an appropriate object in Hα and nearby continuum.

 

This list is not exhaustive, so if you have other project ideas please discuss them with Dr. Souza to be sure that they are feasible. Projects may require late night or pre-dawn observations. All will require careful observation planning (ASTR211T skills), taking and processing data, and researching the object(s). You will need to submit a formal proposal which will have to be approved before you do any observing. Your project paper and presentation should include a discussion of the images or data you obtained and how you analyzed them, and discussion of the object(s). Your grade will be based in part on how close you come to what is possible at our site, with our equipment. Poor weather will only be taken into consideration if you have made every reasonable effort to make use of the clear time that we do get this semester.