Using Authentic Data in Astronomy Classes
This page was originally written to provide a ready reference and quick starting point for participants in the Using Authentic Data in Astronomy workshop at CONASTA 59, Sydney, Session AB (11.10 - 13.15 Monday 5th July 2010) at UTS. It was updated in July 2011 for the session: Astromining: Using Astronomy Datasets to Develop Critical Inquiry Skills at CONASTA 60 in Darwin. It includes links to all the projects and sites discussed in these practical session plus more.
The CONASTA 59 workshop handout is available to download as a Word .docx or a PDF.
The updated handout for the Astromining workshop at CONASTA 60 is also available as a Word.docx or a PDF.
Projects
Data Sources and Other Projects
- ANDS, Australian National Data Service
- Chromoscope
- CSIRO Data Access Portal provides a searchable interface for all puldar observations on ANDS including those from P595 PULSE@Parkes project
- Portal to the Universe homepage has a wealth of real time data and images displayed. An excellent starting point for data.
- Project CLEA
- PULSE@Parkes
- PULSE@Parkes DM Module (distance determination to pulsars)
- PULSE@Parkes Single Pulse module is used to determine the period of a pulsar. (currently in beta testing mode)
- Parkes Online Monitor is used during observing sessions to provide a live feed of the data and exterior webcam view of the telescope.
- SkyServer
- SkyView Virtual Observatory
- Space2Grow
- Stellar Classification Online Public Exploration (SCOPE)
- The Network for Citizen Science Projects and Resources (Science for Citizens)
- WorldWide Telescope
Zooniverse Projects
- Zooniverse
- Icehunters.org
- Planethunters.org
- The Milky Way Project
- Old Weather
- Galaxy Zoo Hubble
- Galaxy Zoo Understanding Cosmic Mergers
- Galaxy Zoo The Hunt for Supernovae
- Moon Zoo
- Solar Stormwatch
- Zooniverse: Teach includes lesson plans and other resources specifically for teachers and educators
- The original GalaxyZoo project using SDSS data is now archived and is still usable for classroom activities though no longer being used for new classifications.
Image Processing & Analysis
- A Recipe for Cooking up Astronomical Images (tutorial by Jayanne English)
- FITS Liberator ESA/ESO/NASA plug-in for Photoshop
- GIMP, a free multi-platform image manipulation package
- IRIS, free astronomical image processing software for Windows PCs
- Jayanne English's Visualization Information
- Salsa J is a free Java-based astronomy image analysis package
More Information or an Activity or Resource to Share?
If you require more information or have an activity, resource or idea that other teachers would benefit from and are willing to have it available here please contact our Education Officer, Robert Hollow. He can be reached on:
Phone: 02 9372 4247
Fax: 02 9372 4444
Email: Robert.Hollow@csiro.au