From Susan Fant the Above and Beyond: Astronomy, Physics, and Astrobiology Group Leader

Transcription

1 From Susan Fant the Above and Beyond: Astronomy, Physics, and Astrobiology Group Leader Welcome to the Duke TIP Above and Beyond: Astronomy, Physics, and Astrobiology Field Study at the PARI Observatory! Traveling to/from PARI: Students traveling to the PARI Field Study should plan to fly into the Asheville Regional Airport (AVL). Students should plan for their flight to arrive at the airport between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on July 7, 2011, the first day of the program. Duke TIP staff will pick students up at AVL airport and transport them to the PARI Observatory. Please be aware that Duke TIP staff will only provide shuttle service to students with flights arriving between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. If students are unable to secure a flight arriving within this time period, they must contact Dr. Charles at (919) or the Duke TIP main office at (919) to discuss alternative options. In addition, please contact Dr. Charles on the first day of the program if there are difficulties with flight delays, cancellations, inclement weather, etc., so Duke TIP staff can be alerted. A Duke TIP staff member will meet you at the baggage claim area of the Asheville Airport. Staff will be wearing a purple Duke TIP t-shirt. If you have any concerns while you travel, please call Susan Fant, TIP Group Leader at cell phone number is (256) Or please feel free to call Michael Castelaz, TIP Instructor at cell phone number (828) Students may also travel to PARI by car. Students should be dropped off at the PARI Observatory between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on July 7, 2011, the first day of the program. Please see below for driving directions. Students should indicate on their travel form that they will be arriving by car, and indicate their approximate time of arrival. Duke TIP staff will be coordinating student arrival and airport pick-ups throughout the day. If the staff is well aware of their travel plans, they will be able to ensure that a Duke TIP staff member will be at PARI to meet students upon arrival. Please visit the PARI Web site for directions: Students depart on July 21, Students should plan to purchase a flight that departs AVL airport between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Please be aware that Duke TIP staff will only provide transportation to the airport for students with flights departing between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. If students are unable to secure a flight departing within this time period, students must contact Dr. Nicki Charles at (919) or the Duke TIP Main Office at (919) to discuss alternative options. Items to Pack: You will be staying in one of the residential rooms at PARI. Each room already has the following items provided for you: Sheets, Bed, Comforter, Desk w/chair, Pillow, Dresser, Blankets, Clock Radio, Towels, Clothes hangers and clothes rack, Kleenex, Trash Cans, and Cup. You do not need to provide these items for yourself at this program. When packing clothing consider the weather in North Carolina. Average July temperatures are 82F to 61F. The dress for classroom sessions and field trips is casual, but modest. Be sure to pack loose clothing, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray, a light rain jacket, and warmer clothing for cool nights. Field trips include outdoor activities, so please bring a pair of walking shoes that can get muddy. Please see the Parent/Student Guide for more information. Residential Life Staff: Residential life is a great part of Duke TIP. Students will be learning from each other and interacting with each other inside and outside of the classroom. Residential life staff helps prepare and facilitate field trips as well as activities for students. The residential life staff is available to students at all times. At PARI, the Duke TIP residential life staff and Duke TIP academic staff work together as a team throughout the program.

2 Annie Bartels, Residential Councilor Annie is from Durham, NC. She graduated in May 2010 from Elon University with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education. Now she teaches second grade at a small school in Roxboro, NC. This is Annie's first summer with Duke TIP. Annie enjoys reading, photography, playing the violin, spending time with family, and traveling whenever she can. Kevin Mann, Residential Councilor Kevin Mann currently works as a bookseller and nook technician at Barnes and Noble in Asheville, North Carolina. He graduated last May from Georgia College and State University where he earned a BA in Creative Writing with a minor in Philosophy. This is Kevin's second year working with Duke TIP. He has previously worked with Field Studies programs in New Mexico and PARI. He enjoys, poetry, photography, hiking, and folk music. Susan Fant, Group Leader Susan Fant is a freelance strategy and media management consultant in Birmingham, Alabama. She earned her Masters Degree from the University of St Andrews in Creative Industry Management and her Bachelors Degree from Birmingham-Southern College in Business and Leadership Studies. This is Susan s third summer working for Duke TIP. In the past, Susan has worked in both China and Belize for two International Duke TIP Field Studies and at Duke University s West Campus for Duke TIP Summer Studies. Susan enjoys creative writing, traveling, canoeing, constellations, golf, and collecting postage stamps and folk art from countries around the world. Internet and Computer Use: Students are encouraged to bring their laptops, which are used in the Summer Field Study in Astronomy, Physics, and Astrobiology for telescope and instrument control, data analysis, presentations, and note taking. Students may also want to access their during non-academic hours. Internet access is available in the PARI Multimedia Room, which is the designated lab for the program. Connection to the Internet is by Ethernet cable only (cables are provided by PARI if needed) because PARI is radio observatory and wireless connections at 2.4 GHz interfere with radio astronomy observations. PARI does have laptops that students may use if they do not bring their own. (duketippari@gmail.com): Please add duketippari@gmail.com to your address books to avoid important s being sent to spam folders. In late May, I will both parents and students to confirm contact information, to answer any questions, send last minute details, and to send contact information for program director Dr. Nicki Charles. Throughout the program, I will also parents with pictures and updates from the program. Updates and photos will also be posted daily on the PARI website: The Duke TIP PARI staff is looking forward to some exciting research in July! I remind you to take a look at the Parent/Student Guide on the Duke TIP website as a reminder of what to bring and what items are prohibited. Feel free to me with additional concerns or questions. I look forward to working with you all this summer. Best Wishes, Susan Fant Group Leader, Above and Beyond: Astronomy, Physics, and Astrobiology Duke TIP 2011 duketippari@gmail.com

3 DUKE UNIVERSITY TIP PROGRAM ABOVE AND BEYOND: ASTRONOMY, PHYSICS, AND ASTROBIOLOGY AT PISGAH ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE SUMMER 2011 SYLLABUS Staff: Michael Castelaz, Ph.D., Instructor, Christi Whitworth, Science Educator, Susan Fant, Group Leader, Course Description Elevated at 3,000 feet, PARI sits on an expansive 200-acre site in the gorgeous Smoky Mountains, 30 miles southwest of Asheville, North Carolina. Once a satellite tracking station for NASA, the observatory at PARI now houses state-of-the-art equipment, including two 26-meter radio telescopes similar to those in the famous Very Large Array in New Mexico, a 4.6-m remote controlled radio telescope, and a 0.4-m optical telescope. Students have access to a portable StarLab planetarium for mapping the stars any time of day and regardless of most weather conditions. Students will investigate celestial motion and distances, galaxy and star formation, black holes, and quasars. In addition to these exciting topics, students will use the optical and radio telescopes in their studies. Course Objectives Learn to use radio and optical telescopes and understand their purpose as they relate to the fields of physics, astronomy, and astrobiology Develop research methodology through planning, implementation, and analysis of data Formulate conclusions of the nature of celestial objects through the use of scientific data Develop problem solving skills Learn fundamental concepts in the field of Astrophysics and apply these concepts in the formulation and execution of an independent research project Sharpen presentation skills through the delivery of scientific findings to an audience of peers and professionals Develop teamwork skills by collaborating with others while attempting to solve complex problems Materials If you have a computer or laptop, we encourage you to bring it. There are several computers for your use at PARI if you should decide not to bring a computer with you. Bring pens, pencils, a notebook, and your required texts Bring games, puzzles, books, DVD movies, etc. (there is no TV at PARI!) Rooms are furnished with linens, pillows, blankets, clocks, and lamps Bring a flashlight Some cell phones work we know Verizon and US Cellular work, but others may not. Please bring a calling card with you.

4 Rain is common in the afternoon during the summer so remember to bring rain gear. Bring $20 for one evening meal at a local restaurant in Brevard that will take place in the last week of the program. Required Texts Download and bring (either electronic or printed) the Radio Astronomy Tutorial located on the MIT Haystack Observatory website ( Purchase Observing the Universe. Andrew J. Norton. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press pp. ISBN ($34.99 paperback -Available at on-line sources such as amazon.com and bn.com) Daily Schedule The schedule begins at a later time than normal working or school hours because astronomical observations are done in the evening. The agenda is set up to begin about 10 am, but expect to continue each evening after dinner as described in the agenda. Early morning hours before 10 am are set aside for open forum and informal discussion. The agenda for your two weeks of scientific exploration consists of three main sections. The first few days will be a crash course in astrophysics, encompassing stellar and galactic astronomy, astrobiology, and astronomical instrumentation. As the program continues, we will have fewer formal class sessions and more time for you to pursue your research projects. These projects will be completed under the guidance of Duke TIP staff and PARI staff astronomers. In addition to course and research projects, we have invited distinguished scientists to visit and talk to you about their work in various areas of physics, astronomy, and astrobiology. Information is included about each scientist and a summary of their presentation as part of the course syllabus. As we approach the end of the program, you will prepare and present a summary of your research to your fellow classmates and the PARI staff. In addition to all of the exciting academics that we have planned during the program, we also have several recreational activities in store for you! It would be a shame for you not to experience the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina while you are here! For this reason, there will be opportunities to do some hiking, and to go flat water canoeing! As you look at the schedule, please keep in mind that we have structured your days to accommodate the lifestyle of astronomers. This means that formal class sessions will usually start at 10:00am to allow you to get enough rest after our nighttime observing activities that will be held until after dark. There will be open forum discussion sessions held from 8:00-10:00am each morning if you would like to meet with the instructional staff for additional assistance or to further discuss any of the course topics. If you have any questions about any of the details on the agenda, please or call. About the Staff Michael Castelaz, Astronomer Mike Castelaz earned his Ph.D. in astrophysics from the University of Wyoming in Since then he has been a staff scientist for NASA, a staff astronomer for the Allegheny Observatory of the University of Pittsburgh, a university professor, and now a radio and optical observatory astronomer at PARI. His most recent research has been Hubble Space Telescope observations of the central stars of very young objects in the Orion Nebula. Hi s other research pursuits include the nature of the interstellar medium, the atmospheres of cool stars, and dynamics of eclipsing binary stars. As we move into this summer, he is beginning a new adventure studying extreme scattering events, working on a team developing the 26-m radio telescopes into an interferometer. Mike's research has always been done with many collaborators, including high school and undergraduate students, and he is looking forward to continuing this research with the Duke TIP interns. Christi Whitworth, Science Educator

5 Christi Whitworth earned her Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Tennessee Technological University in She has served as a teacher of the gifted and as a middle school science teacher in Tennessee. She then began her career as an informal science teacher in Texas working in a children s science museum and a zoo. Since 2006, Christi began working at PARI as a science educator. She maintains and creates programming for PARI s StarLab, Evening at PARI public programs, and other educational outreach programs. She enjoys working with all ages of students. Susan Fant, Group Leader Susan Fant is a freelance strategy and media management consultant in Birmingham, Alabama. She earned her Masters Degree from the University of St Andrews in Creative Industry Management and her Bachelors Degree from Birmingham-Southern College in Business and Leadership Studies. This is Susan s third summer working for Duke TIP. In the past, Susan has worked in both China and Belize for two International Duke TIP Field Studies. She has also worked at Duke University s West Campus for Duke TIP Summer Studies. Susan enjoys creative writing, traveling, canoeing, photography, constellations, golf, and collecting postage stamps and folk art from countries around the world. PARI Guest Speaker Series We have invited distinguished scientists to visit PARI to present their research interests, and we expect other visiting scientists to volunteer their time to also present their research. The guest scientists and summaries of their talks are: David Moffett, Ph.D., Radio Astronomer, Furman University. Title: Radio Expansion Studies of Two Historical Supernova Remnants: SN 1006 and Tycho. Dr. Moffett is a radio astronomy and experts on the nature of pulsars. He will present the results that trace the dynamics of two historical supernova remnants (SNRs), SN 1006 and Tycho, for the past two decades. Radio observations at 21-cm of each remnant were recorded in , , and 2001 to 2003 will be presented and used to measure the mean radio expansion rate of the SNRs. The rate agrees with a previous X-ray expansion study. And for the first time, we have measured the azimuthal expansion rate over the entire rim of SN Brian Dennison, Ph.D., Radio Astronomer, University of North Carolina-Asheville. Title: The Dedicated Interferometer for Rapid Variability (DIRV. Dr. Dennison is combining the two PARI 26-m radio telescopes into a single unit as a two-element interferometer. The goal of his research is to use the interferometer for a long-term study of a gaseous component of the Milky Way Galaxy for which there is little known. He will present the theory and aspects of the instrumentation needed for his work. John Meriwether, Ph.D., Physicist, Clemson University. Title: High Velocity Winds in the Thermosphere. Dr. Meriwether measures the velocities of winds in the thermosphere by observing the Doppler shifts of oxygen lines. He uses a series of Fabry-Perot spectrometers around the globe for his research. Dr. Meriwether will describe how the instrument works, the observations he makes, and results from recent studies. J. Donald Cline, President, PARI. Title: Pieces of the Universe. Besides being the guiding force behind the establishment of Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, Don Cline is one of the foremost experts on meteorites. A record of the early Solar System is contained in meteorites. Their organic chemical composition, which includes hydrocarbons and amino acids, may hold keys to the problem of the origin of terrestrial life. The origins of meteorites will be described and examples of the different types of meteorites will be presented using exhibits from Don s extensive personal collection of meteorites.

6 Duke University TIP Field Studies 2011 Above and Beyond: Astronomy, Physics, and Astrobiology Welcome from Your Instructors! Dr. Michael Castelaz, PARI Science Director, and Christi Whitworth, PARI Education Director, welcome you to the 2011 TIP Field Study Above and Beyond: Astronomy, Physics, and Astrobiology at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) Observatory. Dr. Castelaz earned his Ph.D. in astrophysics in 1984, served as a staff scientist for NASA and a staff astronomer for the Allegheny Observatory of the University of Pittsburgh, served as a university professor, and now enjoys his role as a radio and optical observatory astronomer at PARI. His most recent research has been Hubble Space Telescope observations of the central stars of very young objects in the Orion Nebula. In the past he studied the interstellar medium and the atmospheres of cool stars. As we move into this summer, he is working on extreme scattering events in our Milky Way Galaxy. These are basically solar system size hot ionized bubbles. But, that s all we know about them. How are they formed? How many are there? His research has always been done with many collaborators, including high school and undergraduate students, and he is looking forward to continuing this research with young scientists like you. Christi Whitworth, PARI Science Educator, earned her Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Tennessee Technological University in She has served as a teacher of the gifted and as a middle school science teacher in Tennessee. She then began her career as an informal science teacher in Texas working in a children s science museum and a zoo. Since 2006, Christi began working at PARI as a science educator. She maintains and creates programming for PARI s StarLab, Evening at PARI public programs, and other educational outreach programs. Christi is an expert on bringing science to the public and enjoys working with all ages of students. She is currently the Principal Investigator on a National Science Foundation Grant which focuses on science education of formal and informal learners who will use the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) digital resources. The digital resources include the School of Galactic Radio Astronomy (SGRA) and the citizen science project Stellar Classification Online Public Exploration (SCOPE). Our team will provide you with the exciting opportunity to explore the wide range of astronomy, physics and astrobiology disciplines. In order to get the most out of your experience,we ask you to do the following preparation: 1. Purchase/Download Required Texts a. Radio astronomy is one of the strengths at PARI, and we will be exploring some radio astronomy topics during the program. Please download or print the Radio Astronomy Tutorial located on the MIT Haystack Observatory website ( Plan to bring this tutorial with you to the program, either on your laptop or in print form. b. Please purchase Observing the Universe by Andrew J. Norton. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press pp. ISBN ( 2. Explore current issues/topics in Astrobiology Astrobiology is a new field and rapidly evolving. During the program, each of you will prepare and present a 10 minute) presentation around Astrobiology Breaking News. Please review these breaking news stories at the NASA Ames Research Center Astrobiology Institute website ( prior to your arrival at PARI. At the beginning of the program, you will be assigned a day for your presentation and will have time while at PARI to complete

7 your presentation. It is a good idea to look at the news topics available and pick a few that you would be interested in presenting to the class. Please contact me directly if you have questions about this assignment. 3. Brainstorm Research Topics Start thinking about what you are interested in exploring in the astrophysical world. What is your interest? What would you do if you had a radio telescope that could detect galactic or extragalactic radio emission from neutral hydrogen? Or, an optical telescope that can image objects as faint as 15 magnitude? Or, use telescopes that can image the Sun? Or, the attention of an astrophysicist to work on a theoretical idea? Or, anything else you may have in mind related to astronomy, physics, or astrobiology. Please feel free to either of us and let us know your ideas so we can bounce them back and forth ahead of time. Our addresses are at the end of this letter. To learn more about PARI, please take a look at the PARI web site PARI has plenty of space and a completely outfitted multimedia room with computer/internet//dvd/vcr projector and overhead projector for seminars and presentations. We are looking forward to seeing you in July and working with us on some very exciting research! If you have questions or concerns about any aspect of the program at PARI, do not hesitate to call or us. We are more than happy to work with you. Best Regards, Michael Castelaz, Ph.D. Duke TIP Instructor, Above and Beyond: Astronomy, Physics, and Astrobiology PARI Science Director PISGAH ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE One PARI Drive Rosman, NC mcastelaz@pari.edu web: Christi Whitworth Duke TIP Instructor, Above and Beyond: Astronomy, Physics, and Astrobiology PARI Science Educator PISGAH ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE One PARI Drive Rosman, NC cwhitworth@pari.edu Office: FAX: web: