Astronomical Laboratory - ASTR:4850 - Fall 2015
Research Projects
Research projects:
Students must complete a research project during the semester.
Students are allowed to work in teams of 2 or 3 on the research
project. Each research project should represent a
substantially body of work (far in excess of the work done for
research projects in General Astronomy). Each project should
include acquisition of a significant number of astronomical images,
writing of software in Python for data analysis, presentation of the
results to the class, and preparation of a written report.
Images must be obtained with either the VAO, using the SBIG cameras
from the labs (with a lens or telescope of your choice), or using
the SBIG AllSky-340 on the roof of Van Allen.
Research project schedule:
- 9/28 - Project proposals - Proposals should be 2 pages and
describe the context and motivation for the project, the
observations or instrumentation work to be performed, the data
analysis to be performed including any software to be written,
the results to be obtained and their expected impact and
significance.
- 11/2 - Project status presentation - Each team will give a 15
minute presentation on the status of their project including the
scientific motivation and goals, the observing and analysis
plan, and any results obtained so far.
- 11/16 - First draft reports - First draft reports should
contain complete text for the Introduction and Motivation
section and outlines for the remaining sections including
descriptions of all of the figures and tables that will appear
in the final report.
- 12/7 - Final project reports - Presentations will occur on
12/7. Final project reports will be handed in to Prof. Kaaret by
12/10.